Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Curt Ritter (212) 788-2971
The Mayor was joined by Fran Reiter, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NYCVB; Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library; John Dyson, former owner of E.P. Dutton & Company; Ashley Rose Orr, 7 year-old star of The Sound of Music; and 25 second-graders from PS 158 at the Donnell Library in midtown Manhattan, where Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends reside.
"What better way to mark the 11th Anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh's move to the New York Public Library -- where he, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Kanga are on display for children across the City to see -- than by celebrating reading and encouraging writing," said Mayor Giuliani. "The Winnie-the-Pooh Essay Contest will help kids in both New York and London tap the same creative energy that inspired A. A. Milne and his son, Christopher Robin, to create the world of Hundred Acre Woods. And the City's Summer Reading Program will encourage children to explore the world of books this summer.
"Pooh has asked me to pass on the message that he and his friends are happy in the New York Public Library, where thousands and thousands of New York City children visit them every year," the Mayor continued. "And, because he is a Bear of Very Little Brain, he is thrilled that New York City children aged 7-11 will be writing intelligent letters that explain their favorite things about New York City. I would like to thank the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau and the sponsors -- the Polka Theater for Children, Virgin Atlantic Airways, The New York Palace Hotel, The Athenaeum Hotel, and the New York Public Library -- for making this contest possible for the children of New York City," the Mayor concluded.
The New York City winner and up to three members of his or her family will receive an all-expenses paid trip to London, Pooh's native homeland, from July 15-20. While in London they will see a performance of The House at Pooh Corner at the Polka Theater for Children on July 18th and will experience a VIP (Very Important Pooh) tour of the City. The London winner and up to three members of his or her family will receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, Pooh's adopted homeland, from August 4-8 where he or she will take a VIP (Very Important Pooh) tour of New York City and its world-renowned sights.
"For many years, children and adults all over the world have shared in the magical adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh through A.A. Milne's stories," said Fran Reiter, President and CEO of the NYCVB. "And now with this essay contest children throughout New York City and London will actually have the chance to experience a real-life journey to Pooh's native and newly adopted homelands, where the two lucky winners and their families can explore all of the cities' most spectacular sites and attractions. Everyone at the NYCVB and Winnie-the-Pooh are truly looking forward to welcoming these families to New York City and hope to show them the time of their lives."
New York City essay contestants will write to Winnie-the-Pooh and tell him what their favorite thing is about New York City. Contestants can pick up entry forms at any public library in the City. The deadline for New York City essay contest entries is June 5th. The NYCVB will judge New York City entries based on creativity, style and mechanics and select the finalists by June 17th.
Each London essay contestant will write a letter to Winnie-the-Pooh and tell him why he or she would like to meet him and his friends in New York City. Contestants can pick up entry forms from the Polka Theater for Children, the deadline for London essay contest entries is July 1st. The Polka Theater for Children will judge London entries based on creativity, style and mechanics and select the finalists by July 15th.
The Winnie-the-Pooh essay contest is being sponsored the NYCVB in partnership with the New York Public Library and the Polka Theater for Children in conjunction with Dutton Children's Books and with cooperation from the City of New York. In addition, Virgin Atlantic Airways will provide air travel for both contestants to and from New York and London; the New York Palace Hotel will host the London winner and his or her family on their New York trip, which will include a Winnie-the-Pooh tea event given by the hotel; and the Athenaeum Hotel in London will host the New York City winner and his or her family.
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, said, "We'd love to offer Pooh and his friends a ride to England, but as he seems to be enjoying his life in New York City, we're pleased instead to give the contest winners the opportunity to experience Virgin's K-iD inflight entertainment and what we offer kids of all ages."
Maria Razumich, General Manager of The New York Palace Hotel, said, "What could be more appropriate as a home away from home for the London winners of this delightful competition than a place just a few blocks away from the Winnie-the-Pooh residence at the Donnell Library. We look forward to welcoming these special friends of Pooh to The New York Palace for the family experience of a lifetime."
Sally Bulloch, Executive Manager of The Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments, said, "We at the Athenaeum couldn't be more pleased to be hosting the winner of this contest, as the hotel is, in a sense, part of the Winnie-the-Pooh family; tradition has it that the mother of A.A. Milne lived at the Athenaeum at one point in her life. Everyone at the hotel will make sure that the child who claims victory in this contest will be treated to a very special London vacation."
For the past five years the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Queensborough Public Library and the Board of Education have encouraged schoolchildren in grades K through eight to participate in the Summer Reading Program at their local library branch. The Summer Reading Program attracts tens of thousands of kids each summer and studies have shown that a child who signs up for a summer reading program and reads maintains vocabulary and reading skills acquired during the school year. Skill levels drop, however, when children don't read over a sustained period. This year's program focuses on discovery, mystery, and adventure, and special booklists are available for children and teenagers reflecting these themes. At the end of the summer each library will host a party to recognize those who have participated in the program.
"Winnie-the-Pooh, and the much loved books about him by A.A. Milne, show perfectly how the magic of stories read to children when they are young stays with them all their lives," said Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library. "This year, Pooh and his friends encourage children to have fun and keep up their reading skills after school is out by signing up for the Summer Reading Program at their local library."
In 1921, British author Alan Alexander (A.A.) Milne gave his one-year-old son Christopher Robin a stuffed bear named Winnie-the-Pooh and later a tiger, kangaroo, pig and donkey. These stuffed animals later inspired Milne to write the Winnie-the-Pooh series of children's stories. Milne gave the original stuffed animals to his publisher E.P. Dutton & Company, and in 1987 E.P Dutton & Company donated Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends to the New York City Public Library's Donnell Branch, where they remain today.