Top Stars Rally for Fighting Blindness, Sending Their Message out to 160 Million Homes on Multiple Cable Networks, December 25th, Preceded by President George Herbert Walker Bush Describing the Frank Capra Classic, 'It's A Wonderful Life' for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Broadcast Includes Eye Test for Early Detection of Visual Disorders and Degenerative Diseases

Top Stars Rally for Fighting Blindness, Sending Their Message out to 160 Million Homes on Multiple Cable Networks, December 25th, Preceded by President George Herbert Walker Bush Describing the Frank Capra Classic, 'It's A Wonderful Life' for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Broadcast Includes Eye Test for Early Detection of Visual Disorders and Degenerative Diseases

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 15th annual "Eyes of Christmas" presentation is being telecast over multiple broadcasts, cable and satellite networks, as well as the Internet, to 160 million homes this year. Participating stars and other notables include Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Bob Costas, and Natalie Cole.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091223/DC30052)

Former President George Herbert Walker Bush kicks off the yuletide celebration with his audio track descriptive narration of the Frank Capra holiday classic, "It's A Wonderful Life," broadcast on NBC December 24th. The President's dramatic audio description of the much-loved film on TheatreVision(TM) is an optional, simulcast available on the SAP channel. "The Eyes of Christmas" telecast benefits RP International, the nation's leading non-profit fighting RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) and other degenerative eye diseases. The telecast will also be available for viewing via RP International's web site, www.eyesofchristmas.org.

"The Eyes of Christmas" is the brainchild of blind activist and RP International founder Helen Harris. Mrs. Harris has partnered with many of the biggest stars and movie studios to produce described-for-the-blind TheatreVisionTM versions of major films including James Cameron's "Titanic." Cameron described his megahit for TheatreVision and sat with Ms. Harris and President Bush for a TheatreVision screening of "Titanic."

Ms. Harris invites sighted viewers to tune into "The Eyes of Christmas" broadcast this holiday season and take the "traveling eye test." This simple visual test is designed to help people spot possible signs of eye disorders to seek early diagnosis and treatment, possibly averting vision loss.

This broadcast will begin at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning, down from the usual two and a half hour show, due to budget cutbacks. Contributions are especially needed; at this time the cure for blindness is through stem cell therapy. Funding can expedite its application to those in need. For information please contact Helen Harris at 818-992-0631, or email info@rpinternational.org, Contributions can be made via mail to: RP International, PO BOX 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, or online at www.rpinternational.org.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091223/DC30052
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: RP International

CONTACT: Mary Ellen Sanders of RP International, +1-818-992-0631

Web Site: http://www.rpinternational.org/

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