ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 27, 2003 ELCA will Host 'Friends Of Davey And Goliath" this Fall 03-163-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host "Friends of Davey and Goliath" in special receptions throughout the country this fall. At the receptions, guests will view a special presentation of "Oh Davey ... History of the 'Davey and Goliath' Television Series," a documentary produced by the ELCA Department for Communication available for broadcast on ABC-TV starting Sept. 14. Friends of Davey and Goliath is a "group of individuals dedicated to bringing the important moral and spiritual messages of Davey and Goliath, the popular children's stop-motion animation television series from the 1960s, back to broadcast television for 21st century children and their parents," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication. Shafer said Friends of Davey and Goliath is also a fund- raising group with the goal of helping to raise $5 million to produce new Davey and Goliath episodes. "We hope the group will pray for this work, make donations, tell others about the work and purchase Davey and Goliath products," he said. The dates and places for the receptions are: + Sept. 7 at the Lutheran Center, Chicago, 4 p.m. + Sept. 15 at the Wyndham Washington (D.C.) Hotel, 8 p.m. + Sept. 21 at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 4 p.m. + Sept. 23 at the Interchurch Center, New York, N.Y., 5 p.m. + Oct. 19 at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, Boston, 4 p.m. The one-hour documentary showcases the development of Davey and Goliath and how stop-motion animation is created. It will also include interviews with original program creators. Clifton Davis, actor, best known from the television sitcom, "Amen" and Mary McDonough, actor, best known for her role as "Erin" on the television show, "The Waltons," are hosts of the documentary. McDonough will attend the reception in New York and Washington, D.C. Information about Oh Davey! is maintained on the Internet at www.daveyandgoliath.org -- the official Davey and Goliath Web site maintained by the ELCA. Davey and Goliath products, such as lunch boxes, bobble-head dolls, bendable toys, ties, shirts and more will be available at the receptions. Revenue from the sale of these items will be used for the development of new Davey and Goliath programs. -- -- -- Reservations for the receptions are encouraged. Please call Wendy Blanck at 800-638-3522 extension 2951. Reporters are welcome to attend the receptions. For more information about Davey and Goliath, please contact Melissa Ramirez at 773-380-2956. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news