PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 26, 2012 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 20th Century Fox and Walden Media are looking to the new film, Chasing Mavericks, to inspire more men to become mentors.
As part of its release of the movie, Fox and Walden have produced PSAs to help Big Brothers Big Sisters raise money and recruit mentors, particularly men. In addition, the two companies have donated $25,000 to the national mentoring organization along with advertising time for the PSA to run in theaters for three weeks leading up to the film’s release. Big Brothers Big Sisters relies on donations to carefully match children who face adversity with volunteers in one-to-one long-term professionally supported mentoring relationships. Of children waiting for mentors, boys outnumber girls three to one.
CHASING MAVERICKS is the inspirational true story of surfing phenom Jay Moriarity (newcomer Jonny Weston). When 15 year old Jay discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, is near his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) to train him to survive it. As Jay and Frosty embark on their quest to do the impossible, they form a unique friendship that transforms their lives, and their quest to tame Mavericks becomes about more than surfing. Chasing Mavericks was made with the help of some of the biggest names in the surfing world, and features some of the most mind-blowing wave footage ever captured on film.
Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children growing up in single-parent, low-income or military families or households where a parent is incarcerated. Longstanding independent studies find when compared to peers from similar backgrounds, children enrolled in the mentoring program are more likely to improve in school, avoid risky behaviors and have higher self-esteem and aspirations.
“We are delighted that Walden Media and 20th Century Fox is partnering with and supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters in its release of Chasing Mavericks,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO Charles Pierson. “There are so many inspirational moments in the film. It vividly illuminates struggles, complexities and generosity so familiar to our staff and the volunteers, children and families we serve. I hope the movie inspires people to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters.”
Chasing Mavericks releases in theaters October 26.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littlesâ€) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigsâ€) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.
About Walden Media
Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family. Past award-winning films include: “The Chronicles of Narnia†series, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,†“Nim’s Island,†“Charlotte’s Web†and the Sundance Audience Prize Winning documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman.’†“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island†is Walden’s most recent release, upcoming films include “Won’t Back Down,†“Chasing Mavericks†and the Christmas family comedy “Parental Guidance.â€
About Fox Filmed Entertainment
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Pictures, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.