Eastern State Penitentiary Kicks Off Holiday Season with Toy Drive Benefiting Children with Incarcerated Parents

-- Visitors donate toys and children's book in exchange for "Buy One, Get One Free" admission to the historic site --

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Dec 01, 2014, 01:37 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern State Penitentiary celebrates this holiday season with a toy drive benefiting local kids whose parents are in prison, December 1 through December 14, 2014.

December 1 - 14: Donate a Toy or Children's Book for BOGO Museum Admission

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia Kicks Off Holiday Season with Toy Drive Benefiting Children with Incarcerated Parents

One in 28 American children has a parent behind bars. What are the holidays like for these families?

Eastern State Penitentiary partners with Philadelphia FIGHT's Institute for Community Justice to collect gifts for local children with incarcerated parents. From Monday, December 1 through Sunday, December 14, any Eastern State visitor who donates a new toy or children's book, in its original packaging (but please no gift wrap), will be granted a second admission free of charge.

Visitors may donate new toys or children's books at Eastern State during public hours, even if they are not planning to take a tour.

About Philadelphia FIGHT's Institute for Community Justice
Philadelphia FIGHT's Institute for Community Justice (ICJ) is a Philadelphia-based initiative committed to community justice: the community-inspired, community-led solutions for healing in a time of mass imprisonment. The Institute for Community Justice was founded to reduce not only the number of people in prison living with HIV, but also the lasting effects of mass imprisonment on communities most affected. ICJ delivers innovative, prevention focused programs that empower, educate and support people affected by the parallel crises of HIV and mass imprisonment with the goals of protecting community health and raising consciousness around issues of social justice. For more information, visit fight.org.

About Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and Al Capone.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The penitentiary is open seven days a week, year round. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students and children ages 7-12. (Not recommended for children under the age of seven.) Tickets are available online at easternstate.org or at the door, subject to availability. Admission includes "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; Hands-On History interactive experiences; history exhibits; and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.

For more information and schedules, the public should call (215) 236-3300 or visit www.easternstate.org.

Images and B-roll available at easternstate.org/press

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141201/161563

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SOURCE Eastern State Penitentiary