President George HW Bush Describes Film For The Blind "Eyes Of Christmas™”- Celebrity Broadcast

RP International 19th Annual Telecast - NBC Airing Classic “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Audio Described by George H.W. Bush Followed by Special Programming For Visually Impaired On ION Media Network, WE, and Fox/KCOP LA & Live Streaming on Youtube
 
Dec. 24, 2013 - PRLog -- BROADCAST INCLUDES EYE TEST FOR EARLY DETECTION OF VISUAL DISORDERS AND DEGENERATIVE EYE DISEASES

19TH ANNUAL “THE EYES OF CHRISTMAS™”  STARS TOM HANKS, NICHOLE KIDMAN, CELINE DION, GARTH BROOKS, REBA McENTYRE, JAY LENO, STING, AND U2, SHARING MUSIC AND HOLIDAY MEMORIES SO THE BLIND CAN EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC of HOLIDAY SEASON

LOS ANGELES -- (December 4, 2013) –  This Christmas some of Hollywood’s top stars, including Tom Hanks, Nichole Kidman, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks , Reba McEntyre, Jay Leno, U2, Sting and many others, will take part in “The Eyes of Christmas” international telecast on Christmas eve and morning, December 24th  and 25th. This special holiday programming allows millions of unsighted children and adults an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the holidays, through the “eyes” of Hollywood’s top stars who share their own personal holiday memories of the season.

The “Eyes of Christmas” telecast, produced by RP International, the nation’s leading non-profit organization fighting degenerative eye diseases, will air on multiple cable networks, including ION Media Network, WE -Women’s Entertainment Network and FOX-KCOP Los Angeles (check your local listings for days and times).The telecast  follows NBC’s 8 p.m. Christmas Eve airing of Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” also described for the blind and visually impaired, narrated by former President George Herbert Walker Bush and produced in TheatreVision™ by RP International.

This year’s “Eyes of Christmas” telecast is hosted by legendary sportscaster Vin Scully, will feature top celebrities’ personal holiday memories and Christmas songs, intercut throughout another holiday movie classic, Charles Dickens’ “Scrooge,” also narrated in TheatreVision™, which describes the on-screen action in-between the actors’ dialogue, so the blind can experience the magic of motion pictures.

The Eyes of Christmas telecast also features footage of Christmas from around the globe described by Bob Costas, as well as Christmas music from Sting, U2, 98 Degrees, Christina Aguilera, Brian McKnight, Jon Bon Jovi, Kenny G, Natalie Cole and Vanessa Williams, as well as live performances from The Blind Boys of Alabama and José Feliciano.

Hollywood studios supporting the telecast and participating in the broadcast with special holiday movie trailers include,  Paramount (“Jack Ryan”), Universal (“47 Ronin”), Disney (“Saving Mr. Banks”), Sony (“American Hustle”), 20th Century Fox (“Secret Life of Walter Mitty”) and Warner Bros. (“The Hobbit: Chase III”).

An abbreviated version of the Eyes of Christmas telecast can be viewed on the Eyes of Christmas Youtube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFJ8aAax26mNUOqGvI3iw7g

“The Eyes of Christmas” telecast benefits RP International (www.rpinternational.org) is the longest-standing non-profit organization leading the way for medical and technological advancements for the visually impaired.  “The Eyes of Christmas” telecast initiates a Holiday Season fundraising campaign for RPI.  Funds raised by this year’s 19th Annual “The Eyes of Christmas” television special will go directly towards the charity’s efforts to support the visually impaired.

“The Eyes of Christmas" television special is the brainchild of blind activist and RP International (RPI) founder Helen Harris. Mrs. Harris has tugged at the heartstrings of Hollywood’s elite, partnering with many of the biggest movie studios to produce TheatreVisionTM versions (described for the blind) of such films as, “Titanic,” “Star Wars,” “Forrest Gump,” “Twister,” “Apollo 13,” “Braveheart,” and many more. In this year’s broadcast, Harris invites sighted viewers to tune-in to take the "traveling eye test."  This simple visual test is designed to help people spot possible signs of eye disorders in order to seek early diagnosis and treatment, possibly averting vision loss.

In addition, RPI is pleased to announce the release of Harris’ book, How To Survive Losing Vision (AuthorHouse).  As a homemaker in her 30s, Harris and two out of her three sons were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).  For the next 40 years, she has engaged in a mission to find a cure for blindness.  The book offers her personal experiences, support and tips for anyone managing and overcoming progressive blindness due to retinal disease.  It can be purchased on Amazon.com and at AuthorHouse.com (http://www.authorhouse.com/) . The book is also available as an e-book and a Kindle version, which is text-to-speech enabled.  The audio book version—read by actors William Atherton (“Ghostbusters,” “Die Hard,” “The Last Samurai”) and Golden Globe winner Camryn Manheim ("The Practice," "The Ghost Whisperer") will be available on December 20th, 2013.

In addition, Mrs. Harris is a cancer survivor, having undergone years of chemotherapy and hormone treatments.  Harris feels that she has been given the chance for renewed life from her cancer and continues to dedicate her time, energy and emotions to improving the lives of the visually impaired.

The song, “The Eyes of Christmas ” in English, Spanish and Korean can be purchased at EyesOfChristmas.org or by calling RP International at (818) 992-0631. For more information, please visit www.rpinternational.org or www.eyesofchristmas.org

Contact
Mary Ellen Sanders
***@rpinternational.org
818-992-0631
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