WNET and Make-A-Wish® Grant the Wish of an 11 Year-Old Cyberchase Fan

The Emmy Award-winning animated math series invites a special guest to join the production crew at PIP Animation Studio in Ottawa

News provided by

WNET

May 27, 2015, 04:04 ET

NEW YORK, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When 11 year-old Trisha from Cincinnati, Ohio told Make-A-Wish^® that she wished to work with the director, producers and crew of her favorite television show, Cyberchase, WNET's Emmy Award^®-winning PBS KIDS animated math series for kids 6 to 11, the producers immediately went to work to make it happen.

Trisha's wish to help direct and guest star in an episode of Cyberchase comes true today, Wednesday, May 27 when she and her family go on location in Ottawa, Canada, to become part of the Cyberchase animation team. Trisha will work one-on-one with the crew to bring an episode of Cyberchase to life, including a special voice appearance by Trisha herself. The episode featuring Trisha's animated TV debut will be broadcast on PBS KIDS in November 2015.

Cyberchase inspires children to approach math with enthusiasm, confidence and a "can-do" attitude, serving a critical need in informal math education.

"Making an impact on the lives of our viewers is at the core of public media," said Sandra Sheppard, Executive Producer and Director of Children's & Educational Media, WNET. "We are so honored to work with Make-A-Wish to make Trisha's wish come true. Our hope for her is a wish experience that is very special."

"We are thrilled to partner with WNET to make Trisha's wish a reality," said Caitlyn Edmonds, Wish Program Manager at Make-A-Wish^® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. "This wish will be an incredible experience for Trisha and will provide her and her family memories to last a lifetime."

On average, every 38 minutes, a child with a life-threatening medical condition is granted their wish by Make-A-Wish. According to results of a 2011 Wish Impact Study cited by Make-A-Wish, when a kid is granted his or her wish, the experience improves the quality of life for not only the child but the child's entire family.

Trisha's wish experience will include assisting WNET and PIP Animation producers, director, animation director, lead designer and other crew members through various stages of animation production, including character design, background color, scene assembly and animation. She'll also step into the recording booth to voice a character in one of the episodes.

"We are so happy to be collaborating with WNET and Make-A-Wish to grant Trisha's wish," said Dulcie Clark, Founder and CEO of Pip Animation Services Inc. "We are pulling out all the stops to ensure an unforgettable wish experience for her and her family."

Cyberchase airs daily, Monday-Friday, at 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., on THIRTEEN in New York. Parents can check listings for their local PBS station for broadcast times in their area and can also stream episodes for free anytime using the PBS KIDS Video Player, the PBS KIDS Video App or the Cyberchase website. Cyberchase is a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET and PIP ANIMATION (FOR CYBERCHASE) INC. Funding for Cyberchase is provided by The JPB Foundation and Ernst & Young LLP. Additional funding is provided by the Volckhausen Family.

About WNET
As New York's flagship public media provider and the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore App where users can stream PBS content for free.

About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,200 in 2014 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org to learn more.

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SOURCE WNET