On Monday, Oct. 3, celebrities will gather for Starry Night Stories, an event to benefit Bellevue Hospital’s Reach Out and Read program, which makes books and parent counseling an integral part of pediatric care. Co-chaired by actress Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich, the event features actors reading children’s books aloud, just as Bellevue’s volunteers do daily.
Last year, the event drew names like Paul Rudd, Claire Danes, Sandra Bernhard, John C. Reilly, Peter Sarsgaard, and Hope Davis as celebrity readers in support of the program. With the mission to prepare New York’s youngest children to succeed in school, the Reach Out and Read program engages both parents and children, and also facilitates in the act of families reading together with parent education and the donation of new books.
“For those of us who are fortunate enough to have had a terrific education and a lot of support in learning at home, we realize what that can do for a child and for a family”, explains Julianne Moore. “It really goes a long way just to have someone take that time with a child and read to them and tell them a story, it activates their imagination, it kindles their interest in literacy and learning.”
This year’s event – presented by Scholastic and sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger, The Dreyfus Corporation, and others – will feature the reading of children’s favorites including Don’t Let the Pigeons Stay Up Late, Olivia and the Missing Toy, and Freckleface Strawberry BFF (written by Julianne Moore), among others.
Although the hospital’s audience is primarily children, celebrities will put on an actors’ rendition to an adult audience to raise awareness and funds for the program. This year’s cast of Starry Night Stories includes Billy Crudup, Ana Gasteyer, Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Brooke Shields. The event is on Monday, Oct. 3 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. and will include hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a dessert reception.
Tickets run from $250 – $500, with VIP tickets to include a cocktail hour with the actors, priority seating, and more. Proceeds from the event benefit the unique program, which is a part of National Reach Out and Read, bringing early literacy and the importance of reading to children and parents throughout the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and on U.S. military bases overseas.
Starry Night Stories will take place on Monday, Oct. 3 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Florence Gould Hall, located at 55 East 59th Street (between Park and Madison). To purchase tickets to the event or for more information, visit the Children of Bellevue website.
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