WHO ARE ACTIVELY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, IN NEW EDITIONS OF “MAKE YOUR MARK,”
BEGINNING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
New segments that showcase kids and teens from around the country whose uplifting stories can encourage their peers to get inspired, to connect to the world, and to communicate in positive ways will be presented as part of the Emmy Award-winning “Make Your Mark” series, beginning FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 on Disney Channel. The interstitial series is designed to reach kids age 6-14 with a wide array of empowering, relevant stories and to augment the Channel’s themes of communication, diversity and optimism.
The seven individuals chosen for the 2014 edition of “Make Your Mark” range in age 11-15 and are from Long Island and Ulster, New York; Manchester, Connecticut; Los Angeles and San Diego, California; Mesa, Arizona; and Miami, Florida.
The “Make Your Mark” series of over 25 stories also rolls out this week on WATCH Disney Channel, allowing consumers to watch on tablet, phones, computer and set-top boxes. They will also be scheduled on DisneyChannel.com and Disney Channel’s YouTube channel.
Disney Channel’s Vice President, Marketing and Creative, Ron Pomerantz, who won an Emmy Award and PROMAX Gold Award for previous installments of the series, said, “Peers can have a great influence on kids and teens, and through these stories about young people making a real difference, we aim to inspire a generation of kids to take action that can change the world and themselves through service, a sense of optimism and values they uphold.”
The kids and teens recognized in the upcoming “Make Your Mark” series are:
Dylan Brady, age 15, from Sea Cliff, New York – Dylan takes a stand for all suffering from the physical, emotional and social stigma of Tourette Syndrome (TS), which he was diagnosed with at age 12. Now, as a Youth Ambassador for the Tourette Syndrome Association, Dylan helps to inform and enlighten others about TS and share his message of acceptance and tolerance for all. He advocates throughout Long Island, New York and speaks to student assemblies, all while attending high school and pursuing his passion to perform music. He is currently the lead singer and drummer in a band, The Brady Brothers. His “Make Your Mark” story premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
Mallory Kievman, age 16, from Manchester, Connecticut — An aspiring physician and an inventor, Mallory wants to help cancer patients, who often suffer from hiccups as a side effect of their treatment. She devised a proprietary recipe for a lollipop, made from natural ingredients including apple cider vinegar and sugar, that can affect the nerves in the throat and mouth believed to cause the hiccup reflex. She has been awarded for both innovation and patentability for her “Hiccupop.” Her “Make Your Mark” story premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
Judy Adams, age 15, from New Paltz, New York — Working tirelessly for three years, Judy started Dimes for Downs to raise funds to help grant wishes for others with Down Syndrome. Her organization now has 10 branches across the U.S. Her “Make Your Mark” story premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
Cameron Cohen, age 16, of Los Angeles, California — During his nine month hospital recovery from surgery to remove a tumor, Cameron taught himself a computer programming language and developed his first app, the popular “iSketch,” which allows users to draw and share pictures from smart phones and tablets. With his earnings, Cameron then donated funds to the hospital to purchase electronics for other young patients undergoing extended stays. Cameron continues his passion for technology and is developing more apps. His “Make Your Mark” story premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
Osama Abdulazeez, age 12, from San Diego, California — A refugee from Iraq, Osama works to help other refugee children in his community through the local organization Youth and Leaders Living Actively, which assimilates refugee children into American society through soccer and education. A natural leader, Osama serves as an ambassador for the organization and now routinely gives presentations to spread awareness of refugee issues and challenges to the greater community. His “Make Your Mark” story premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
Alana Smith, age 13, of Mesa, Arizona — As one of the few girls in a male-dominated sport, Alana started skateboarding at age seven and has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest medalist in X-Games history. Her “Make Your Mark” story premieres SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11.
Joshua, age 13, of Miami, Florida — Six years ago, Joshua started his foundation, Joshua’s Heart, to help needy families in his community. His goals include informing his peers about hunger awareness and motivating them to find solutions to the worldwide problem. His “Make Your Mark” story premieres SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1.
The creative directors are Artur Spigel for 7ATE9 Entertainment and Siobhan Murphy for Disney Channel. The director is Jonathan Del Gatto and the executive producer is Cindy Bradeen. The “Make Your Mark” series is a production of 7ATE9 Entertainment in association with Disney Channel.
