8 Affiliates Experience Christmas Joy at Red One Movie Event
Thanks for Grace Hill Media, Hope for New York recently had the chance to send around 50 youth and teens from eight affiliate partners to two unbelievable Red One movie events!
Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, and Kiernan Shipka, Red One is a new Christmas action movie focused on rediscovering holiday joy.
First, younger teens from A House on Beekman, Viva Uptown, and Young Life met the actors at the spinning tower on the Top of the Rock. At night, older teens from Garden of Hope, The Grace Place (part of Dream Center NYC), New Life CDC, New Life of NYC, Inc., Relume Foundation, and Young Life attended the NYC red carpet movie premiere at Lincoln Center!
We asked our affiliate partners and their young people about their experience—here are highlights of what they shared:
"Thank you so much, HFNY, for allowing us to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to our students, many of whom had never even been to Times Square, let alone the Top of The Rock Observation Deck. Our students were in awe of the city sights from the 70th floor, and then floored by the proximity of celebrities who not only signed memorable items but also took time to chat with them and record videos for their loved ones. It’s truly heartwarming to see my students think of their community as they experience such unique opportunities and step outside the South Bronx to explore what the city has to offer. Our students had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When we asked students to rate the event from 1-10, they responded with a resounding 1 million!" —Stephany/A House on Beekman
"Thank you so much, Hope for New York, for this amazing opportunity! I'm so grateful! I even got my mom to face her fear of heights, and I got to meet my idol, Chris Evans, along with The Rock and Lucy Liu. This has been such an unforgettable experience, and I really appreciate everything you've done to make it possible." —Jalice/A House on Beekman
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“The Red One premiere was an amazing experience both for me and for my students. Many of them were thrilled at the opportunity to experience something that they had never thought they would be able to do in their lifetime. Red One was a heartwarming Christmas film about family and stepping up to your potential while also encouraging a healthy dose of forgiveness. The action sequences were 10/10, and I would 100% recommend this film to the families that I work with and to my friends. It was such a special experience.” — Eunice/Garden of Hope
“The experience was surreal, meeting people you usually only see on the screen was special, and I had lots of fun. The movie was no different, the combination of comedy and action into a Christmas movie made it one of a kind.” — Kenny/Garden of Hope
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“An unforgettable night with a community close to me, a feeling of empowerment we had never felt before” — Ruby/New Life CDC
"For many of our kids, it was their first time attending such an extraordinary event, leaving a lasting impression on their hearts. From the red carpet photo shoot to the exciting merchandise and delicious treats, the evening was filled with joy and unforgettable moments. Thank you for creating a memorable experience that made our youth feel truly valued and inspired!" — Andrea/New Life of NYC, Inc.
"It was funnnnnnn." —Teddy/Relume Foundation
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Red One reminds us that Christmas may start with gifts and toys—like His Toy Store—but it's more about the providing hope and joy to lift the spirits of families during the toughest times.