Advocacy group wins $25,000, visit from 'The View'
Posted Courtesy of The Post and Courier (http://www.charleston.net)
BY PRENTISS FINDLAY
Of The Post and Courier Staff
The ABC-TV show "The View" featuring Barbara Walters will broadcast live from the College of Charleston on Nov. 10, because the local organization From Darkness to Light won the show's The View From Your Hometown contest Friday.
The win means a prize of $25,000 for From Darkness to Light, an organization that campaigns against child sexual abuse. Anne Lee of From Darkness to Light submitted a brief videotape to the show about Charleston and the organization that beat out hundreds of other entries.
"The View" features Walters, moderator Meredith Vieira, prosecutor-turned-commentator Star Jones and comedian Joy Behar. The show, in its seventh season, features discussions of hot topics, interviews with celebrities and other entertainment.
College of Charleston spokesman Stan Gray said ABC location scouts stumbled onto the college's Cistern site while driving down St. Philip Street. "It just fell in our lap, and we're really lucky to have them," Gray said.
Tickets for 500 seats to the show are being provided to students, VIPs, sponsors and advertisers. At least another 1,000 people will be allowed to attend the show on a standing-room-only basis. Admission for standing room will be free, Gray said. The broadcast will take place from 11 a.m. to noon. "It's fantastic for the college. We're guessing that the primary target audience for that show will be a lot of parents who have children who are college age," he said.
"The View" has hired 10 students as pages, and several of the college's communications classes will be involved. Although the show is at The Cistern, it's business as usual for the college Nov. 10, and professors can decide whether students get out of class to see the show. Randolph Hall will be the "green room" for show guests, who will enter The Cistern set by descending the stairs from the hall.
Cindy Johnson, director of marketing and development for From Darkness to Light, said the $25,000 prize from "The View" is an incredible gift to the organization. The money will be used to edit a documentary for online training for people dealing with children. The documentary, aimed at teachers, nurses and coaches, will be about adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, she said.
Click to See Announcement by ABC
|
