Eyes of Christmas

Bush, Sr. Narrates “It’s a Wonderful Life” on NBC in

RP International’s TheatreVision™ for the Visually Impaired on Christmas Eve 

— Bush, Sr. Public Service Announcement for RPI and TheatreVision™ Airs on Local NBC Affiliates —

LOS ANGELES -- (December 17, 2010) – Helen Harris’ RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) International (RPI) — a non-profit organization serving the visually impaired — announces the first national airing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in TheatreVision™, audio described by former President George Herbert Walker Bush. NBC will air the special nationally on December 24th at 8:00 p.m. ET. A public service announcement for RPI and TheatreVision that features Bush, Sr. will also be airing on NBC affiliates, including KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. The PSA can be seen at www.rpinternational.org.

Harris says, “Due to our newsletter that goes out to 50,000 people, this is the first time that so many visually impaired are aware that they can truly enjoy this holiday classic with their sighted friends and family. This year, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ features an optional simulcast audio track description by Bush, Sr., on the SAP channel.”

RPI recently initiated a fundraising campaign in an effort to save The School for The Blind, located in Van Nuys, California. Fundraising efforts include an online crowdfunding campaign hosted at FirstGiving.com (www.firstgiving.com/rpi/event/savetheschool) where third parties can start their own fundraising campaigns for the School. Donations can also be made directly to RPI at www.firstgiving.com/tbg. RPI intends to find 7,500 people to donate $10.00 each by December 31, 2010.

The TheaterVision™ airing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” falls under the banner of the 16^th Annual “Eyes of Christmas" television special that is the brainchild of blind activist and RPI founder Helen Harris. Funds raised by this year’s television event go towards saving the School.

“The Eyes of Christmas” culminates in a special 30-minute program on Christmas Day at 6:00 a.m. ET on ION Television. Participating stars sharing Holiday messages and support for RPI include Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Bob Costas and Natalie Cole. Hollywood studios supporting the show by featuring special film trailers include Universal (“The Dilemma,” “Little Fockers”), Disney (“Tangled”), Sony (“Country Strong”), Fox (“Gulliver’s Travels”) and Warner Bros. (“Yogi Bear”). 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 to seek early diagnosis and treatment, possibly averting vision loss.