Only Make Believe Hosts SPiN Out Of Spring, 5/3

Only Make Believe, the New York City and newly, Washington D.C., based non-profit organization that brings laughter and imagination to children suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities will be hosting their first ever SPiN OUT OF SPRING event, an extravaganza for young professionals and the young at heart on May 3rd at SPiN: NYC from 7:00pm-9:30pm. The evening will include a ping-pong tournament, music, complimentary beer/wine, silent auctions, special guests, and more! Co-chairs for the event include, Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz, Petra Nemcova, John Hardiman, Brad Oscar, with Josh Lucas confirmed for attendance! For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: spin.charityhappenings.org.

Since 1999, Only Make Believe has brought interactive theater performed by professional actors to over 35,000 children and families in 55 hospitals in the tri-state area. With celebrity support from Jude Law, Mike Myers, Sir Ian McKellen, Julia Stiles, Rachel Weisz, Alan Cumming, Kathie Lee Gifford, Christopher Meloni, Petra Nemcova, and more, Only Make Believe has brought joy and hope to the hearts of families and children facing hard times.

Dena Hammerstein founded the non-profit Only Make Believe in 1999 in memory of her late husband, Broadway producer and director James Hammerstein, son of Oscar Hammerstein part of the legendary musical writing and composing duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. The organization was created to bring live interactive theater free-of-charge to children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Only Make Believe provides theatrical workshops conducted by teams of professional actors, once a week for six weeks, free-of-charge to hospitals and other medical institutions. In only 13 years, this organization has expanded from performing at just one hospital for 100 children to reaching over 6,500 children in 55 hospitals. With the recent opening of their Washington D.C. sector, they have already brought the healing power of laugher to almost 300 children in Washington D.C. within one year and do not plan to stop now!

Only Make Believe's interactive live performances encourage children to participate and perform alongside actors, transporting them from a hospital to the enchanting world of make believe. Director of Child Life at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center explained, "It was truly wonderful to see the patients clapping, singing and dancing to the music when often times we just see them lying in bed." While Only Make Believe does wonders to help bring happiness to the lives of children suffering from chronic illness and disease, it also helps to bring joy back into the hearts of parents. One parent explained, "After each play, I feel like a new person who's ready to face life. This show helps me gain my sense of humor again." For children and their families, Only Make Believe strives to uphold the principle that freeing a child's imagination is a valuable part of the healing process.

For more information, please visit: www.OnlyMakeBelieve.org