Back in 1941, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney amazed moviegoers with their spunk and ability in “Babes On Broadway” to rally their friends to create a production to send orphaned children on a country holiday. Today North Texas’ version of Garland and Rooney pulled off a 21st century version at AMC NorthPark 15 to help pediatric patients at Children’s Health.
In just 11 days, St. Rita Catholic School 8th graders Ella Kate Nayfa and Barrett Gibbins along with 80 of their pals held “Movie With A Mission” to benefit the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Instead of a Broadway production, NP AMC Theatre GM Bruce Perry opened one of the theaters for a screening of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”
But Ella Kate and Barrett decided to pull out all the stops for the kids on Thanksgiving holiday by having the Float Balloon Bar razzle-dazzle the red carpet walk that led to the Red Photo Booth set-up and loads of popcorn.
Inside the theater leading up to the showing, Booker T. Washington’s DJ K-Sprinkles had the near-capacity crowd of students literally dancing in their places and at the base of the mega screen.
But just before the lights dimmed for the movie, Ella Kate and Barrett revealed that their hoped-for $9,000 goal hadn’t just been reached, they had hit the $10,000 mark with donations still coming in, much to the delight of Children’s Medical Center Foundation VP Holly Hassman.
Word has it that there are plans in the works to hold another fundraiser next year. Without hesitating Barrett declared they would eventually hit a million, raising the eyebrows of his mother Kristen Gibbins and Ella Kate’s mom Andrea Nayfa.
When asked how this project came about, the moms simply said that they wanted their kids and their friends to get an early start in giving back to help others.
And speaking of their friends, the host committee included the following: Zoe Adams, Cameron Adams, Ausley Albert, Anna Albert, Braxton Barber, Alex Barr, Andrew Benyo, Beck Berry, Fin Boots, Nile Cail, Beaux Cail, Keegan Coffman, Oliver Collins, Sawyer Collins, Andre Cornejo, Aislin Cullen, Charles DeVoss, DJ K-Sprinkles, Dylan Drennan, Noah Drennan, Owen Fry, Mary Jane Galt, Margeaux Galt, Paul Gba, Grayson Gibbins, Merah Gonzalez, John Gregory, Judson Gunby, Kendall Hall, Lainey Howells, Christina Huseth, Luke Hutcheson, Sophia Impastato, Paddy Jacquart, Tessa Jahn, Landry Johnson, Charlotte Kidd, Stella Kenchel, Henry King, Luke Lary, PK Lary, Luke Lawson, Thomas Marinko, Ellie McMahon, Hatcher McMahon, Asher Meachem, Andrew Mills, Molly Mitchell, Teige Mitchell, Darby Morris, Mary Grace Mousa, Frank Mousa Jr., Sarah Munir, Cale O’Brien, Allie O’Connor, Sophie O’Connor, Andrew Paredez, Angeliki Paulos, Dimitri Paulos, Vasiliki Paulos, Will Pechersky, Diego Pina, Madison Riley, Keira Roppolo, Stella Rossics, Mark Scucchi, Bella Scucchi, Ellie Sharp, Harper Ann Sharp, Beau Shepelwich, Cade Shepelwich, Graham Shepelwich, Sky Sinelli, Story Sinelli, Marshall Sorokwasz, Jack Steinbach, Kingston Stephens, Dash Stodghill, Jack Travis, Andres Veloz, Mali Kate Venable, Jonah Webber, Cort Weidner, J.R. Whitman, Dylan Wilson and Luke Wilson.
Sponsors included a starry cast of:
- Presenting Sponsor — AMC NorthPark 15
- Best Picture Sponsors — Ben E. Keith Foods and Zirtue
- Best Actor Sponsors — Reed Gibbins Family, Robb Gibbins Family, Lantern Family Foundation and David Nayfa Family
- Best Director Sponsors — Anonymous, Balestri Family, Babe Bardin, Kidd Family, Johnson Family and Webber Family,
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