The Oklahoman

SUPERHEROE­S in the making

Film screening event gives Oklahomans chance to provide support for foster kids

- Matt Price mprice@ oklahoman.com

Alocal nonprofit needed some assistance raising funds, so who did they call for help? Batman. LegoBatman, that is. As voiced by Will Arnett, Lego Batman features an all-ages friendly version of the Dark Knight. And a screening of “The LEGO Batman Movie”will serve as a fundraiser for Citizens Caring for Children (CCC), a local nonprofit providing resources to Oklahoma foster children.

CCC’s Teen Board partnered with Harkins Bricktown Cinemas 16, 150 E Reno, for a benefit screening, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday.

“We are proud of our Teen Board for creating and hosting this fundraisin­g event for us,” said Lynne Roller, executive director, in a news release “We are grateful and excited for our continued partnershi­p with Harkins Theatres.”

This is the inaugural Teen Board working with CCC. The board involves area high school students who volunteer in a variety of ways for the

organizati­on.

“Activities range from volunteeri­ng for our Back 2 School and Joy 4 Kids events, work in the resource center and help with an annual fundraiser,” said Toni Lee, director of Operations & Communicat­ions of Citizens Caring for Children.

“Through our partnershi­p with Harkins Theatre, we have access to the showing of a first run movie as a fundraiser, and the CCC Teen Board has taken this on as their project.”

Tickets are available at cccokc.org/donate for $15; purchasers will receive movie admission, popcorn, a drink and a raffle ticket, with chances to win items including airline tickets, a pool table, and naturally, some Batman Legos. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit CCC.

“We hope to have a theater full of guests excited to see the movie and learn more about our work with Oklahoma foster children,” Lee said.

Organizati­on’s projects

Among the organizati­on’s projects is the Resource Center, aimed to be similar to a retail shopping experience, where children can use decision-making skills in selections of clothing. Volunteers are needed at this project to hang clothes, make hygiene kits and more.

“Our Resource Center provides clothing, hygiene items and books for 250 Oklahoma foster children each month,” Lee said. “This includes twooutfits, three pair of underwear, three pair of socks, a pair of shoes, a coat and pajamas at each visit. We are always in need of both monetary donations and groups interested in hosting a clothing drive for our needs.”

Citizens Caring for Children recently received a $2,500 grant from the Maximus Foundation to assist in funding the Resource Center. Another recent success of the organizati­on was the Joy 4 Kids event, in which 1,000 Christmas wish lists for Oklahoma foster children were filled.

Coming up next month for the organizati­on is the Brighter Foster Futures Luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. March 30 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown/Medical Center Oklahoma City. The event will feature Sue Mitchell, portrayed by Kathy Bates as “Miss Sue” in the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated movie “The Blind Side.”

For more informatio­n on all the Citizens Caring for Children events and programs, go to www.cccokc.org.

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 ?? [PHOTO PROVIDED] ?? A child looks through clothes provided by Citizens Caring for Children.
[PHOTO PROVIDED] A child looks through clothes provided by Citizens Caring for Children.
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 ?? [PHOTO PROVIDED] ?? A child tries on shoes provided by Citizens Caring for Children.
[PHOTO PROVIDED] A child tries on shoes provided by Citizens Caring for Children.

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