Public Invited to Free Screening of “New York Says Thank You”

Iowa City, IA – United Way of Johnson County and The Englert will host a free, public screening of New York Says Thank You—a powerful documentary about a landmark public service initiative that each year commemorates the anniversary of 9/11 – on Thursday, October 13, 7 pm at The Englert, 221 E. Washington Street, Iowa City.  Doors will open at 6:30 pm.  The event will honor our firefighters, police, veterans and public officials, and the caring power of volunteers who have helped our own community recover from local disasters, as well as celebrate the daily acts of volunteerism in our community. 

On September 11, 2001, New Yorkers witnessed their fellow Americans' potential for inspiration, generosity and sacrifice as aid from across the nation flowed into the city that was emotionally and physically ravaged by the terrorist attacks of that same day.  Volunteers from cities and small towns all across America showed an outpouring of support for the people of New York City, and demonstrated the unity of a compassionate nation through their service.

In 2003, a five-year-old boy named Evan learned of a disastrous firestorm that was devastating the landscape and residents of California. Evan expressed a wish to help the children affected by this disaster by sending his own toys to them.  From that innocent gesture of empathy and generosity, a movement was born.  Evan’s father, Jeff Parnes, grew this idea into the New York Says Thank You Foundation. 

Each year on the 9/11 Anniversary, The New York Says Thank You Foundation sends hundreds of volunteers – firefighters, police officers and others from New York, along with disaster survivors from around the country—to help rebuild communities recovering from disaster. It’s their way of saying “Thank You” for all the love and support Americans from across the country extended to New Yorkers in the days, weeks and months following September 11, 2001. 

New York Says Thank You follows the participants of this public service initiative as they rebuild homes, hospitals, schools, churches and lives destroyed by disaster. In 2009, participants came to Little Sioux, Iowa to help rebuild the camp and erect a chapel where four Boy Scouts were killed by a tornado the previous year.  In the process of rebuilding, they share stories of survival and hope, and bring a message of gratitude and solidarity to survivors of tragedy nationwide. 

As a HandsOn Network affiliate, United Way’s Volunteer Center has received a copy of this important documentary, and The Englert has generously donated the theatre for this special community event.

To view a trailer of the documentary, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFULUWFTgg0

To attend the screening, please RSVP to info@unitedwayjc.org or call United Way of Johnson County at 319-338-7823.