HOLLYWOOD, CA — October 11, 2005 — While many give so much for a lot of little reasons, the Elf Foundation attempts each year to acknowledge those extra special volunteers who have made a significant impact on the foundation’s mission of bringing the magic of music and film to sick children across the country. During the Awards Banquet at the 2005 CEDIA EXPO held September 9th in Indianapolis, the non-profit charity honored Matt Scalici and Gary O’Donovan as the Elf Foundation 2005 Volunteers of the Year. The award is an acknowledgement for exemplary efforts made over the past year and honors Matt, Gary and all of the folks at Birmingham, Alabama’s Front Row Media Systems.
“Over the past year, Front Row Media Systems worked incredibly hard to put the finishing touches on their ‘Signature’ Room of Magic theater at Alabama Children’s Hospital,” said Doug Weinstein, president and founder of the Elf Foundation. “Matt and Gary not only managed the project on a pro bono basis, but they were indispensable in raising funds on a local level to offset costs otherwise borne by the foundation. Additionally, they have been assisting in the project management at our Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital project in Orlando that we hope to complete in time for the holidays. All of this, and more, make them worthy recipients for our annual Volunteer of the Year award.”
The Alabama Children’s Hospital Room of Magic theater has room for 70 kids and features a Stewart Filmscreen and Runco International Hi-Definition projector. Significant man-hours of design work and installation labor was donated by Front Row Media Systems, which Matt and Gary co-own.
Through Matt’s involvement with the Golf Channel and his contacts in Orlando, he and Gary have been instrumental in championing the Elf Foundation’s project work at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children.
About The Elf Foundation
The Elf Foundation was founded in July of 2001, with the express mission of creating private entertainment theaters — ‘Rooms of Magic’ – for children’s hospitals across the country. Operating as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charity, the foundation acts as a catalyst within the consumer electronics industry and in local communities to advance their mission of bringing the magic of music and film to special kids in a time of need. To date, The Elf Foundation has opened over 35 ‘Room of Magic’ theaters in the U.S. and is beginning work on their first Canadian projects. For more information please visit www.elfsystems.org.
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