Bay Street Players and S.T.E.P. Celebrate and Support the Historical Venue while Changing the World

EUSTIS, Fla. - March 21, 2014 - PRLog -- [Eustis, Florida—March 17, 2014] – Tragedy and triumph. Themes in theater and real life.

Neither flood, nor FEMA, nor lack of money could stop one very determined young girl in doing everything she could to make this world we live in a better place. 12-yr old Olivia Russo-Hood and her family were displaced when epic floods hit their hometown in Georgia in 2009. They lost their home, neighborhood, school and friends. So what to do? Start a movement for change of course! S.T.E.P. stands for Save the Earth Projects and was developed by Olivia with the idea to reduce the negative impact our everyday choices cause. Her mission? Getting kids involved to live responsibly in their local communities, raise awareness of projects nationally, and give back globally.

When most kids are out playing or sitting in front of the television, Olivia is out giving presentations to big audiences and engaging people of all ages nationwide to join her efforts. Enter the Bay Street Players Young People’s Theater (YPT).

College friends, and now moms, Wendy Simpson and Denise Russo (Olivia’s mom) created a unique opportunity to have their children work together to raise funds for the historic Bay Street Theater as a part of Olivia’s cornerstone project, “Leave a GOOD Footprint” Campaign. Olivia has collected thousands of pair of shoes in less than two years and has raised thousands of dollars for charities across the United States and the UK. Wendy’s family are familiar actors at the Bay Street Theater and avid community supporters.

When Olivia described her project to Wendy – there was no question that the kids could make a big difference, together! As a community actress herself in her own hometown, Olivia is thrilled to partner with the young actors of Young People’s Theater (YPT) which is a part of the larger, historic Bay Street Players as the oldest continually running children’s theater program in Central Florida to stage full length plays.

For every pound of shoes collected, the theater will earn $.50 (local impact), our landfills will be less impacted (nationally), and shoes will be deployed to those in most need (globally).

The partnership between STEP and YPT is a perfect forum for young and old to S.T.E.P. up and help our local and global communities.

Bring your shoes (any time between now and Sunday) and meet Olivia, who will speak during intermission of Music Man Jr. on Sunday, March 23, 2014. Won’t you join us and take a S.T.E.P. toward a better tomorrow? The theater is located at 109 North Bay Street in Downtown Eustis. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students with ID. For reservations call 352-357-7777 or visit www.baystreetplayers.org to purchase tickets.

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Bay Street Players, Inc.  is a 501( c )( 3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide entertainment and education for the residents of Central Florida through production of theatrical arts which allow students and artists to learn and practice their craft.

ABOUT STEP

Save the Earth Projects (S.T.E.P.) is a youth social entrepreneurship idea organizing social change. S.T.E.P. participants recognize social problems and then organize, create, and/or manage a social venture to make change. Corporate businesses typically focus on profit and return, whereas social enterprises also measure the returns to society. For more information visit www.SaveTheEarthProjects.com or www.facebook.com/SaveTheEarthProjects