Health & Fitness
The MY HERO Project 2013 Highlights
A look back at The MY HERO Project's family friendly community events in Santa Monica in 2013. The MY HERO Project, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, began its residence at the Capshaw-Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice in January 2013.
The MY HERO PROJECT Year in Review
It's almost 2014!In January 2013, The MY HERO Project and its Media Arts Education Program was selected to be one of ten nonprofit organizations to be housed at the Capshaw-Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice in Santa Monica, the cornerstone structure of the new Herb Alpert Educational Village.
As we look back at 2013, here are some of the highlights of our community events in Santa Monica and beyond!
2013 MY HERO International Film Fest
http://myhero.com/filmfestivalhttp://myhero.com/winners
The MY HERO International Film Festival is an annual event held in the George Lucas building at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, every fall. In 2013, the 9th MY HERO Film Festival received over 300 submissions from all over the world.
This year's festival was dedicated to USC Alumnus, Bill Sharman, who passed away in October. Bill was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach; he led the Lakers to an undefeated winning streak. Bill dedicated his life to working for humanitarian causes for children alongside his wife, Joyce.
During the festival the audience was moved by the heroes and stories featured in the winning films. Many filmmakers and heroes connected with each other at this event, sharing their own experiences and personal missions.
2013 MY HERO International Day of Peace Fundraiser Honoring Ron Kovic
The MY HERO Project honored activist, author, and artist Ron Kovic for his lifelong commitment as a peace activist during their 2013 fundraiser. There to give tribute were Frank Cavestani, director of Operation Last Patrol, a documentary about Kovic's cross country trip to protest the Vietnam War, documentarian Skip Blumberg, documentary filmmaker Loretta Smith, Joyce Sharman, wife of former Laker coach Bill Sharman, and Professor of Journalism at USC and founder of Truthdig.org, Robert Scheer.Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise who worked together on the feature film about Kovic, Born on the 4th of July, sent moving video tributes.
Each year, Kovic sponsors the Ron Kovic Peace Award at the MY HERO International Short Film Festival. The $1000 award goes to the short film that best represents the theme of peace. Past winners of the Ron Kovic Peace Award were also featured at this heartwarming event.
Local Hero Fests
The MY HERO Project teamed up with The New Roads School and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce to produce a video to highlighting heroes in public service and education for their annual event.Visit myhero.com/HeroFest to find out more about this program.
MY HERO Salon Series
The Salon showcases speakers, films, art and music to celebrate local and global heroes from the MY HERO archive. In 2013 some of the Salons hosted by MY HERO included:- Joanne Tawfillis founder of the Art Miles Mural Project http://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=art_miles_mural
- David Milch reading the poetry of Robert Penn Warren
- Refilwe Morake singing for the Nelson Mandela Tribute with Mike and Amy Eldon
- Paul Cummins, founder of the New Visions Foundation interviewed by the Santa Barbara Teen Press
- Former child soldier Mohamed Sidibay speaking about youth activism
- Jazz musician Stu Pearl playing for Jazz History Month!
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