Kids Entertainment Professionals for Young Refugees (KEPYR), the grassroots, all-volunteer organization comprised of kids and family entertainment professionals, has set November 12 for “Kids Media Stays Up Late!” — a star-studded evening of comedy and music hosted by multiple award-winning actor and music artist Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants).
Produced by Guy Toubes (T.O.T.S., The Stinky & Dirty Show, Hello Jack! The Kindness Show), the virtual fund-raising event will feature sketches by Kenny and fellow voice acting luminaries Carlos Alazraqui (Rocko's Modern Life, The Casagrandes), Gary Anthony Williams, Matt Danner and others, and music from Kenny and his band The Hi-Seas, Grammy winner Lisa Loeb, and voice and recording artist Grey DeLisle (The Loud House, Fairly OddParents). All proceeds from the event will go to support UNICEF‘s vital relief efforts at the U.S / Mexico border.
Tickets are $35 and are available now at www.kepyr.org.
The evening will also cap a month-long online auction of one-of-a-kind and rare collectibles and gift items generously donated by Nickelodeon, Mattel, Netflix, Hasbro, Spin Master, Sesame Workshop, 9 Story Media, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Boulder Media, Animation Magazine and many other companies and individuals. Items include a personal video greeting from Steve Burns (Blue’s Clues); signed original artwork created specially for the event by, among others, Simpsons creator Matt Groening and the makers of the new My Little Pony: The New Generation; 2 VIP American Girl experiences, VIP badges to the 2022 World Animation and VFX Summit, and more than 70 other items, experiences and services. Bidding is open now.
The evening’s festivities will conclude with a special presentation honoring Aly Jetha, co-founder of Big Bad Boo Studios (16 Hudson, The Bravest Knight, 1001 Nights), who will receive the inaugural KEPYR Heroes Award in recognition of his many years of work developing and implementing innovative educational programs for displaced children around the world.
“This incredible night of entertainment is being made possible by a generous and big- hearted professional community for whom the wellbeing of all children is paramount,” says KEPYR founder Grant Moran. “It’s an opportunity to come together, have a ton of fun, and score some one of a kind holiday gift items while supporting UNICEF’s urgent relief work at the border. It’s a win-win-win.”
Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas are a Los Angeles-based rock ‘n’ roll/soul/R&B band most notably known for “bringing the party” wherever and whenever they perform. They are the embodiment of no-holds-barred, all-in rock ‘n’ roll. The Hi-Seas Band front man is Tom Kenny, who is the highly regarded voice actor behind the immortal SpongeBob SquarePants, The Ice King from Adventure Time, many voices on Rick and Morty (including the ever-helpful Mr. Meeseeks), and literally hundreds of other animated characters. He won an Emmy in 2018 for outstanding contributions to an animated program. The Hi-Seas’ Dave “Mustang” Lang is a composer, producer and songwriter based out of Pasadena, CA. He is a multi-instrumentalist who is equally at home in a funky honky-tonk or on a concert stage. Mustang is the Music Director and arranger for Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas and co-founder of the band Charlie Limousine.
Winner of the 2021 President’s Volunteer Service Award for “dedicated service to children around the world,” KEPYR was founded by industry professionals in 2017 to spread awareness in the global children’s media community about the current child refugee crisis, the worst since WWII, and to rally support for UNICEF’s heroic work serving displaced children everywhere. KEPYR’s Board of Directors comprises Grant Moran, Yang Chang, Chara Campanella, Aurora Simcovich, Johnny Hartmann, Scott Gray and Monica Dollive. Serving on KEPYR’s Advisory Board are Christopher Keenan, Jean Thoren, Greg Payne, Jo Kavanaugh-Payne, Maca Rotter, Danielle Gillis, Ryan Gagerman, Martin Baynton, Gushi Sethi, Sabrina Propper, Dave Palmer and Sebastian Rich.
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories and has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.
Originally published: October 19, 2021.
Original source: Animation Magazine.
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