275,000 Students Receive Free Tickets to Academy Award®-Nominated "SELMA"
12 More Cities Join the Movement
"SELMA" is Nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for "Glory" by Common & John Legend
Due to the generous contributions by so many of the country's most prominent African-American business leaders, more than 275,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The new locations joining the movement are
"Paramount Pictures is extremely proud of this film, which is so clearly
resonating with audiences young and old," said
The business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new locations are:
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Dr.
Meria Carstarphen , Superintendent,Atlanta Public Schools ; Dr.Michael Lomax , President & CEO,United Negro College Fund ;Hala Moddelmog , President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber; andDr. John Silvanus Wilson, President,Morehouse College , inAtlanta
"This movie is an educational moment for more than 10,000Atlanta Public Schools students who we are inviting to see this film. I am proud and humbled by the immediate outpouring of support from ourAtlanta community who has joined this growing national movement," saidMeria J. Carstarphen , superintendent ofAtlanta Public Schools andSelma, Alabama native. "Our Atlanta education partners believe in our students, and I am grateful for the opportunity they are providing our students to see one of the most pivotal moments in American history."
"‘SELMA' is such an important film for young people to see now in the wake ofFerguson ,Cleveland andNew York . The struggle for justice is a long one, andSelma is history that a new generation needs to know more fully," said Lomax. "So, I felt it was imperative to join with others around the country who were raising funds so middle and high school students can see the film, learn their history and be inspired to make civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits." -
Robert F. Smith , Chairman and CEO ofVista Equity Partners , inAustin
"It is of the utmost importance to expose our young people to the courage, compassion and integrity that is brought to life in the film ‘SELMA.' It illuminates a period of American history that is very relevant today," said Smith. "Dr. King has been a source of inspiration for me and for many people of all races and ethnicities. I consider this not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to bring his message and his dream to the students of Austin." -
Sylvia Brown , Board Member,Johns Hopkins Healthcare Advisory Board , inBaltimore
"Baltimore is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort. We hope that young audiences find inspiration and encouragement in the film and inMartin Luther King , Jr.'s story," said Brown. -
Grant Hill , former NBA player;Harold Mills , Chief Executive Officer, ZeroChaos;Clarence Otis , retired Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants; andRon Williams , former Chairman & CEO ofAetna in CentralFlorida /Orlando
"The story of Dr. King's historic journey inAlabama is one that students all over the country should know intimately," said Otis. "It's an honor to provide the opportunity for students inCentral Florida to see Ava DuVernay's beautiful film." -
Dr.
Laurence C. Morse , Co-Founder and Managing Partner,Fairview Capital Partners, Inc. , inConnecticut
"I am privileged to have been able to join with an extraordinary group of concerned, civic-minded individuals in theState of Connecticut to provide an opportunity for a number of young people who might not otherwise have been able to do so, to see and experience this deeply moving, engaging film about a critically important period in our nation's recent history, and in the continuing evolution of our democracy," said Morse. -
Faye Alexander Nelson , President,DTE Energy Foundation ;Tonya Allen , President & CEO,The Skillman Foundation ;Lisa Dancsok , Vice President, Quicken Loans;Mariam C. Noland , President, Community Foundation forSoutheast Michigan ;Vivian R. Pickard , President,General Motors Foundation ;Laura Trudeau , Managing Director,Detroit ,Kresge Foundation ; andDarren Walker , President,Ford Foundation inDetroit
"Detroit students will have the opportunity to join with students across the country to view ‘SELMA' thanks to the generosity of a group of national and local foundations and corporations. We are pleased to help coordinate the generous commitments of theDTE Energy Foundation ,Ford Foundation ,General Motors Foundation ,Kresge Foundation ,The Skillman Foundation , and Quicken Loans," said Noland. -
T. Warren Jackson , Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, DIRECTV, andDebra Martin Chase , CEO,Martin Chase Productions , inLos Angeles
"It's important that the civil rights struggle depicted in ‘SELMA' reach as many young people as possible so that the enduring lessons of the civil rights movement can be harnessed to inspire them to transform their lives and communities. We appreciate the support of theCalifornia Endowment , and have enlisted theConstitutional Rights Foundation to work with the schools in creating a broader educational program to insure just that," said Jackson.
"As a filmmaker, I recognize the transformative power of film; that's why the overwhelming response to the ‘SELMA' initiative here inLos Angeles and across the nation is so heartening. It's a reminder of the importance of voting and civic engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through creativity and collective effort," said Martin Chase. -
Gayle S. Rose , Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Vaulting Services, inMemphis
"On behalf of former CongressmanHarold Ford , Jr., andMemphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., we are thrilled to provide 10,000 7th, 8th and 9th gradeMemphis students the gift of this film and what history has to teach us," said Rose. "We thank Paramount Pictures,Malco Theaters , and many generous donors who made this happen in a matter of days. This is a testament to the charitable nature of our people." -
Ira D. Hall , resident ofMiami Beach, FL , and Dr.Sherrlyn Scott , Supervisor,Department of Social Sciences Miami-Dade County Public Schools , inMiami
"Over 5,500Miami Dade and Ft.Lauderdale students can now see for free ‘SELMA,' the movie that so powerfully portrays the courage, tenacity, humanity and moral strength ofAlabama citizens, combined with the extraordinary brilliance and moral conviction of key civil rights and national leaders. That unstoppable coalition jointly fought for and won the rights of African Americans to vote! It is wonderful that students today can feel and sense this history so strikingly brought to life in ‘SELMA,'" said Hall.
"We are thankful to our contributors inMiami who quickly organized to support such a worthy endeavor," said Scott. "Their generosity will make a lasting impact on the students in our community." -
Alden McDonald , President,Liberty Bank , andNeill Wright ,First Tuskegee Bank President, inMontgomery
"This effort is an integral part of our corporate philosophy of linking our heritage to our vision of true equality for all the people we serve," said McDonald.
"In as much asMontgomery is part of the journey we took as a people to gain voting rights in the 1960s, we have joined with other business leaders and concerned citizens to provide free access to the ‘SELMA' film for local students. We believe that we continue to make the historical connections for this generation to ‘keep the dream' of true equality alive and well," said Wright. -
Dr.
Eugene Flood , Jr., EVP and President ofDiversified Financial Services , TIAA-CREF, inRaleigh ,Durham andChapel Hill
"We are pleased to support this unprecedented program forNorth Carolina students to be able to see this remarkable film," said Flood. -
Rev.
Starsky Wilson , President & CEO ofthe Deaconess Foundation , inSt. Louis
"It is important that students are aware of this moment in history and make connections between the struggles of earlier generations and the challenges facing today's youth," said Rev. Starsky. "We are grateful to theFord Foundation and other funders for joining us in this effort. We hope that this film will encourage civic engagement among young people and demonstrate to them that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and well-planned efforts."
These African-American business leaders are following the lead of those
in
"This was an important opportunity to educate our children about the
heroes of the civil rights movement and keep an important legacy intact.
I am proud that our community seized the moment," said Fletcher "Flash"
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in
Viacom's Paramount Pictures, which is distributing "SELMA," is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets.
The students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present "SELMA." Produced by
"SELMA" is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous
three-month period in 1965, when Dr.
"SELMA" is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com.
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Media Contact:
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