Monday, February 9, 2015

MEDIA THEATRE PRESENTS OVERBROOK SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND WITH 'MIRACLE' DONATION

The Media Theatre's "The Miracle Worker" is on stage through February 15, featuring 12 year old actress Lexi Gwynn as Helen Keller. The young actress earned her Actors Equity Association membership with this production, and is now a card-carrying member of the union of professional actors based in New York City.
The Media Theatre presents a check to Overbrook School for the Blind in the amount of $2646, which was garnered through ticket sales and a 'match' donation. Pictured are actress Lexi Gwynn of "The Miracle Worker" in her Helen Keller costume, with Overbrook Executive Director Gerald Kitzhoffer and Media Theatre Executive Director Patrick Ward.
Lexi, as determined as she is to focus on earning a great career, is also someone who remembers the value of helping others to achieve their own goals and dreams. To that end, she wanted to accompany the theatre's Executive Director Patrick Ward as he presented a donation check to the Overbrook School for the Blind. She attended the check presentation on Malvern Avenue in Philadelphia in full costume as Helen Keller, having just finished an interview at the NBC-10 television studio to discuss the show and the support for Overbrook School. 

The donation was through the region's support of the production, as $1 from each ticket sold for "The Miracle Worker" between February 1 and 8 was given to the school. Furthering the Pay-It-Forward style assistance, an anonymous donor matched the theatre's amount, so Overbrook School was presented with a $2646 check.
Actress Lexi Gwynn learns more about what it's like to be Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" with Overbrook School Executive Director Gerald Kitzhoffer.
Royers-Greave School will also receive support from "The Miracle Worker", with the same donation and match through ticket sales during the final week of the critically acclaimed show's run.

"Helen Keller is an inspiration," Lexi Gwynn said. "It's a valuable story about overcoming what might be perceived as a handicap but she did not allow it to hold her down. We, as actors, must always be concerned about helping others through what we do whenever we can."

Executive Director Patrick Ward agreed, "The Media Theatre is a part of this region and these schools are our neighbors. The opportunity with "The Miracle Worker" is not only to engage, inspire, and educate--but also to assist, to give support where it's needed and to continue to encourage through the story of Helen Keller."

For tickets to “The Miracle Worker” at The Media Theatre, call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org

About Overbrook School for the Blind
Overbrook School for the Blind offers a variety of programs for children of different ages and abilities. Since 1832, Overbrook has been developing and delivering education that enhances the options available for persons with visual impairment and other challenges so that they have the greatest opportunity to experience active and fulfilling lives. In addition to a full academic program, Overbrook students receive special training and participate in different activities that are important to the development of children who are blind or visually impaired. This includes orientation and mobility, daily living skills, assistive technology, music, art and a full sports program.

About Royer-Greaves School for the Blind
Dr. Jesse Royer Greaves, an educator who recognized that many blind children were being denied an education, founded Royer-Greaves School for Blind (RGS) in 1921.  For more than 90 years RGS has benefited students and adults requiring more intensive individualized attention and training for intellectual and physical disabilities.   Specialized academics and robust programs for vision impairments and special education include modern assistive technology to support the students/ clients in their classrooms and daily lives, as well music therapy, occupational and speech therapy, physical education, and orientation and mobility as well as horseback riding.  Our goal is to enable our students and adults to have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

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