绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan Hosts MOLLY OF DENALI World Premiere
On Saturday, June 22, more than 600 people attended world premiere of, in Fairbanks, hosted by the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan
鈥淭he premiere was an incredible success and the series is such a big deal for Alaska,鈥 said Lael Oldmixon, director of the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan. 鈥淲e appreciate Molly鈥檚 love of learning and are proud to sponsor this amazing series.鈥 鈥淚 know that families with small children will love this show. These are the same families that need to be saving for their childrens鈥 futures. This makes MOLLY OF DENALI an ideal partner in sharing our message.鈥
The event included the first public showing of the new PBS children鈥檚 animated series based on the life of an Athabascan child living near Denali National Park,and activities for children ages 3-9 and their families.
The 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan worked tirelessly on the red carpet event that gave children a taste of Molly鈥檚 life in fictional village of Qyah, Alaska. The lobby of 绿奴天花板F鈥檚 Charles W. Davis Concert Hall was filled with multiple kids activity areas and demonstrations. Children decorated a drum, learned an Alaska Native dance taught by the Pavva I帽upiaq Dancers, played basketball and pressed a plant. They also watched wood carving and beading demonstrations. There was also a MOLLY OF DENALI themed photo booth Each child received a MOLLY OF DENALI backpack and a Suki (Molly鈥檚 dog) plush dog.
The 绿奴天花板F Troth Yeddha鈥 dancers led the audience into the Davis Concert Hall with dancing and drumming. The dancers performed several dances and invited the audience to participate. Before the screening began, the audience heard from the creator of the series, Dorothea Gillim and the creative producer, Princess Daazhraii Johnson.
鈥淚t was so much fun to see everyone鈥檚 reaction to the two episodes we played. The producers have done a wonderful job of making the show educational in a way that鈥檚 both highly entertaining and even funny. There were a lot of laughs in the theater during the premiere,鈥 said Oldmixon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful that so many children commented that they can relate to Molly, and can even see themselves in her, or in her friends. 鈥楳olly looks like me,鈥 is something I鈥檝e heard over and over.鈥
The groundbreaking new PBS KIDS series,, will premiere nationwide July 15, 2019 on PBS stations, the 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and locally on K绿奴天花板C. The 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan is proud to sponsor the new series and its educational mission in Alaska.
MOLLY OF DENALI is the first nationally distributed children鈥檚 series to feature a Native American
lead character, Molly Mabray, a feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Gwich鈥檌n/Koyukon/Dena鈥檌na
Athabascan girl. The episodes weave together literacy skills with Alaska Native values,
such as respecting others, sharing, and honoring your elders. It showcases contemporary
aspects of rural life, including strong female role models and how technology aids
in communication.
The series includes Alaska Native voice talent in all aspects of the production, both
on camera and behind the scenes. Every Indigenoeus character is voiced by an Indigenous
actor, including the lead character of Molly, who is voiced by Alaska Native, Sovereign
Bill (Tlingit and Muckleshoot). WGBH Boston developed MOLLY OF DENALI with a working group of Alaska Native advisors, including Elders, who advise on many
aspects of the show, including culture and languages. Working group members residing
in Fairbanks include Adeline Peter Raboff, Dewey Kk鈥檕艂eyo Hoffman and Luke Titus.
The 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan is an affordable and tax advantaged savings method that helps families save for future education expenses. For more information visit www.uacollegesavings.com.