Kids Pre-School TV Series 'Gina D's Kids Club(R)' Launches RAAP - Gina D's Reading Across America Program(TM);

Kids Pre-School TV Series 'Gina D's Kids Club(R)' Launches RAAP - Gina D's Reading Across America Program(TM);

~ Just Read, Florida! partners with Gina D's Kids Club to encourage love of books while bringing parents and children closer together ~

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "Gina D's Kid Club," the pre-school television series now airing on over 167 stations nationally, has launched Gina D's Reading Across America Program (RAAP), an innovative literacy initiative that will travel across the country, encouraging kids and their parents to share books and establish a lifelong love of reading at an early age.

With the support of Just Read, Florida!, Governor Jeb Bush's statewide reading initiative charged with establishing reading as a core value, the RAAP initiative launches in "Gina D's" home market of Orlando at the Orlando Science Center's Darden Adventure Theatre on Friday, October 14 at 10:30 am and Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. The RAAP program then hits the road, touring children's museums, science centers and libraries in cities and towns throughout America.

"Innovative programs like Gina D's Kids Club allow children to use their imaginations as they develop the key fundamentals of reading," said Governor Bush. "I encourage parents to continue to foster their child's love of reading to ensure that we meet our goal of having every child reading at or above grade level."

At the RAAP events, Gina's friend Simon Wannabe opens with a welcome and introduction, then presents a special viewing of the award winning "Journey to the Land of Dinosaurs" episode. At the end of the episode, he introduces the live Gina D who sings the songs "Good News" and "ABC's."

Gina D then reads the "Hammy Learns about Dinosaurs" story book and gives each child a free autographed copy of the book. Gina D closes with another song, "Do the Dino Bug". At the conclusion, Gina D and Simon Wannabe pose with families for pictures and hand out the RAAP Promise Certificate, a special 'contract' that asks parents and kids to promise to read at least one book a week together and visit their local public library.

Each event lasts approximately 1 hour long. There is no cost to the hosting venue.

"'Gina D's Kids Club' mission is to help kids grow and learn through an entertaining, interactive experience," comments Joey DiFrancesco, Chairman and CEO of Raven Moon Entertainment (BULLETIN BOARD: RVMN) and, along with Bernadette DiFrancesco, co-creator and co-executive producer of "Gina D's Kids Club. "We thank Governor Jeb Bush and Just Read, Florida! for acknowledging that the Gina D's Kids Club RAAP will bring families together while inspiring kids to open their imaginations while discovering all kinds of wonderful new worlds through books."

RAAP was created by Emmy Award Winning Executive Producers Joey and Bernadette DiFrancesco of "Gina D's Kids Club" with the support and input of "Gina D's Kids Club" educational consultants Dr. Janice K. Battenberg, Educational Child Psychologist and Mary Beth Leidman, Ed.D.

"Gina D's Kids Club," a weekly half-hour series for preschool aged children, launched in September, 2004 and now airs on over 167 stations nationwide. Taking up where Shari Lewis left off, Gina D invites children to join her in a familiar yet highly imaginative world filled with original songs, state-of-the-art animation, puppets and live action characters. "Gina D's Kids Club" is from Raven Moon Entertainment, Inc. and produced at MG Studios, a full service digital production studio, both based in Orlando, FL. The family friendly show provides educational content in an original and entertaining format that inspires children while reinforcing positive values.

In September, 2001 Governor Bush signed an executive order creating the Just Read, Florida! initiative. It provides for increased parent, business and community involvement with the ultimate goal of having every child reading on grade level or higher by 2012.

The initiative is designed to guide changes at every level of education that have an impact on reading outcomes in Florida schools. The National Assessment of Educational Progress data from 2003 show Florida as the only state in the nation to demonstrate significant improvement in fourth grade reading.

To learn more about Just Read, Florida!, please visit http://www.justreadflorida.com/.

Source: Raven Moon Entertainment

CONTACT: Alan Winnikoff, +1-212-679-2982, +1-917-797-4639, alan@sayleswinnikoff.com, Carina Sayles, +1-609-397-6200, +1-908-295-0177, carina@sayleswinnikoff.com, both for Raven Moon Entertainment

Web site: http://www.justreadflorida.com/

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