Dena Hammerstein, Founder of Only Make Believe and the President of James Hammerstein Productions along with Actor Sir Ian McKellen were on-hand at the Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony on Monday, November 1st in anticipation of the Only Make Believe Gala later that evening. The Empire State Building, the world's most famous office building, glowed brightly in the colors of Only Make Believe - purple, blue and yellow - in celebration of their 11th Anniversary.
Only Make Believe is a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals and care facilities. Only Make Believe is dedicated to the principle that freeing a child's imagination is a valuable part of the healing process.
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions and is the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, visit www.esbnyc.com.
Only Make Believe was founded in 1999 by Dena Hammerstein, in memory of her husband James
Hammerstein. James was the son of Oscar Hammerstein of Rodgers and Hammerstein. In 1999,
Only Make Believe visited one hospital and reached 132 children. Eleven years later, Only Make
Believe will have reached more than 21,000 children in 40 hospitals and care facilities throughout the New York metropolitan area. Only Make Believe is free-of-charge to all hospitals and care facilities. For more information on Only Make Believe, visit www.OnlyMakeBelieve.org.
Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski
Sir Ian McKellen
Amy Horrocks
Sir Ian McKellen
Amy Horrocks and Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen and Dena Hammerstein
Iain Armitage, Lee Armitage, and Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen with children from Only Make Believe Kids
Sir Ian McKellen and Dena Hammerstein
Sir Ian McKellen and Dena Hammerstein
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen
