Apr-2005

Hope in the Midst of Tragedy
AmericanLife TV Network^SM Spotlights the Courageous Volunteers of the Tsunami Disaster
Washington, D.C. – The tsunami that radiated across the Indian Ocean on December 26th, 2004 was one of the greatest natural disasters in recent history and the resulting human toll touched the hearts of people across the world. On April 29th, AmericanLife TV Network airs inspiring stories of courageous volunteers who made great personal sacrifices to help victims of the disaster.

Volunteers: Stepping into the Tsunami’s Wake, a one-hour special edition of AmericanLife’s weekly series “Volunteers: For the Sake of Others,” hosted by Doris McMillon, premieres Friday, April 29, 2005 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

Through interviews conducted within weeks of the disaster with volunteer workers, victims and aide officials in Sri Lanka, viewers will gain insight into the selfless motivation and determination that drives the volunteers. AmericanLife TV Network follows four groups of volunteers, each tackling different challenges throughout four separate regions of Sri Lanka.

Caring for the Orphans—Batiloica, Sri Lanka: On the east coast of the island, five Americans from Northern Virginia are brought over by Volunteer Sri Lanka to the war torn east coast of the island. Scott Dahl of Falls Church, VA and Jack Schwab from McLean, VA and their fellow volunteers provide grief counseling for the town’s 5,000 orphans. Through interactive play, art therapy and grief management, they help the children to begin to overcome the trauma of the tsunami.

Feeding 100,000 Refugees— Galle, Sri Lanka: On the south coast, a group of expatriates who survived the tidal wave organize relief efforts on the island. The group must coordinate the relief for 100,000 people from the area who lost their homes. AmericaLife TV Network follows two 22-year-old members, Logan Gee and Kevin Petrie from Seattle, WA as they run three camps, each with 1,000 people.

Attending to Hospital Bedsides – Jaffna, Sri Lanka: In the far north of the country, where a civil war has been raging for the past 20 years, Phyllis Thorn, a 30-year-old- volunteer nurse from Parkville, MD is one of the first to arrive at the hospital in a town were very few westerners are allowed. Thorn must overcome the suspicion and hostility that has been engrained in this culture and gain the trust of the patients that have been hit by the double blows of the tsunami and many years of civil war.

Providing Rapid Response Aid—Colombo, Sri Lanka: In the nation’s capital, IMPAKT is one of the most successful grassroots volunteer groups. The group consists of volunteers from Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain including: Pamela Porodo, Edmonton, Canada; Bruce French, Telluride, CO and Michelle Cornman, New York, NY. They respond rapidly and work diligently to get the first aid convoys to the afflicted areas within hours of the tsunami. Cameras follow this group from the planning meetings in a converted clothing design studios to the delivery of medicines and food to the groups up and down the coast, visiting schools in the area that now double as shelters.

“We are privileged to have been able to spend some time with these truly heroic volunteers,” said Mark Ringwald, VP of Programming for AmericanLife TV Network. “We are proud to show viewers of AmericanLife TV Network the amazing stories of these selfless people whose sacrifices helped save the lives of so many.”

For additional schedule information, please visit: www.AmericanLifeTV.com

Based in Washington, D.C., AmericanLife TV Network is the nation’s only full-time cable channel dedicated to Baby Boomers and their families, providing Classic TV, lifestyle, information and original programs.