WARNER
BROS. CLICKS ITS HEELS TOGETHER WITH
HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY FOR “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME” CAMPAIGN
CELEBRATING
THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WIZARD OF OZ™
Warner
Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) and
Warner Bros. Entertainment Corporate Responsibility (WBE) announced today a
partnership with Habitat for Humanity to launch “There’s No Place Like
Home,” a campaign celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the classic
film, The Wizard of Oz™. The year-long program kicks off today with a
digital fundraising campaign and, throughout the year, will feature several
themed initiatives and events supporting Habitat for Humanity’s work to create
decent, safe and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.
“Warner
Bros. Consumer Products has been fortunate to delight fans of The Wizard of
Oz through the years with a multitude of products, and our ‘There’s No Place
Like Home’ campaign is an extension of our appreciation for this classic film
and those who love it,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer
Products. “The initiative will not only drive excitement among the iconic film’s
legions of fans, it will help generate important funds for Habitat for Humanity
– a fitting partnership as we celebrate this milestone anniversary.”
Ron
Sanders, president, Warner Bros. Worldwide Home Entertainment Distribution,
said, “Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is proud to be included in this
partnership with Habitat for Humanity. We’re hopeful the significant monetary
contributions it will generate will lead to the repair and rebuilding of
communities worldwide and provide safe and secure places for families to live.
What better way to be involved with this worthy organization than to arrange for
The Wizard of Oz and its famous phrase to provide the key sentiment for
this terrific campaign.”
“Warner
Bros. is committed to making positive contributions to the communities in which
we work and live,” said Susan Fleishman, executive vice president, Worldwide
Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “As
the studio has enjoyed a long partnership with Habitat for Humanity, this serves
as an ideal opportunity for us to use the affinity for a classic title like
The Wizard of Oz to create awareness and support for such a worthy
cause.”
“Every
day, in locations all around the world, we see how having a decent home can
change lives and transform communities,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat
for Humanity International. “Adequate and affordable housing is foundational,
and stable housing is inextricably linked to better health, education and
livelihood opportunities. The simple statement is true: There’s no place like
home.”
Warner
Bros. and Habitat for Humanity will offer a dedicated website and corresponding
Facebook application where consumers can support the “There’s No Place Like
Home” campaign throughout the year. All donations to the “There’s No Place Like
Home” campaign will support Habitat for Humanity’s mission to create housing in
partnership with low-income families. The campaign will also feature local
Habitat for Humanity build events around the country, kicking off with a marquee
event in the greater Los Angeles area’s city of Long Beach on September 24. The
event will be co-sponsored by IMAX and will be supported by the Chuck Jones
Center for Creativity and Café Press.
Additional
WBCP licensing partners supporting the national “There’s No Place Like Home”
campaign include Hallmark, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, Workman
Publishing, Westland Giftware, Café Press, Trendsetters, Harper Design, Tonner
Doll, Thomas Kinkade and Jersey Jack Pinball, who will donate product for the
tiered-level reward program. More partners and activities for the “There’s No
Place Like Home” campaign will be announced in the coming months.
Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz musical, which is currently touring
nationwide, is also participating in the “There’s No Place Like Home” campaign.
Venues in select markets will facilitate donations each time a patron checks
into the local theatre on Facebook.
Beginning
September 20, The Wizard of Oz 3D will be presented in the immersive
IMAX® 3D format and return to the big screen for an exclusive
one-week engagement in IMAX® theatres across North America. Following
the IMAX® theatrical release, on October 1, Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment (WBHE) will release a limited and numbered The Wizard of Oz
75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, which will consist of a
five-disc set including Blu-rayTM3D, Blu-rayTM, DVD and
UltraVioletTM versions of the film. Loaded with exclusive
collectible 75th Anniversary memorabilia, a new documentary, The
Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz; and over 16 hours of extras. Three
more editions will be available separately: a two-disc 3D/Blu-ray, a single-disc
Blu-ray, and a two-disc DVD. All four will contain the new documentary and extra
content.
For
more information, visit www.thewizardofoz.com
About
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Warner
Bros. Entertainment, a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a
global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing
of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. A Time Warner
Company, Warner Bros. stands at the forefront of every aspect of the
entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD,
animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand
licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.
About
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat
for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place
to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a
critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more
than 3 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976.
Habitat also advocates for fair and just housing policies and provides training
and access to resources to help more families improve their shelter conditions.
As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70
countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to
partner in its mission. To get more information, to donate or to volunteer,
please visit habitat.org.
WIZARD OF OZ and all related
characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment
Inc.
(s13)
Donors may receive gifts donated by several of Warner Brothers Consumer Products fine licensees. Such as:
Already Home song download from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Production of The Wizard of Oz
Café Press commemorative t-shirt
Hallmark Canvas Tote Bag
Wizard of Oz Scanimation Book by
Rufus Butler Seder
Workman Publishing
Westland Giftware 65 mm waterglobes
Glinda the Good Witch, Tin man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Toto
Trendsetters Custom There's No Place Like Home Framed Film Cell
Wizard of Oz Official 75th Anniversary Companion by
William Stillman & Jay Scarfone
16" Glinda the Good Witch by Robert Tonner
Signed by Robert Tonner
Framed 18" by 27" Follow the Yellow Brick Road Canvas
Jersey Jack Wizard of Oz Pinball Machine
Donation gifts available while supplies last