Thursday, July 8, 2010

WHAT: Columbus, Ohio -- Hope Street Kids will host the 11th Annual Family Night at the Zoo on Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 West Powell Road in Powell.

The event will feature performances by the Riverside Rats and Star Performance Academy as well as visits from everyone's favorite animals! Take some time out from monkeying around to enjoy the zoo-per delicious food served barbecue-style by Bob Evans Farms. Families can go on a wild private viewing of the gibbons and orangutans—but don't get caught in The Roadhouse nocturnal building after dusk! Bring the entire family and make some very special friends. The cost to attend is $100 per family, with proceeds benefiting Hope Street Kids a program of CureSearch for Children's Cancer.

CureSearch for Children's Cancer funds the lifesaving, collaborative research of the Children's Oncology Group, the world's largest, cooperative pediatric cancer research organization that treats 90% of children in the U.S., at more than 230 hospitals in North America.

This year, a record-breaking crowd of over 1,000 people is anticipated to raise nearly $150,000 in cash and in kind gifts. Proceeds from the event go directly to support Hope Street Kids' Pediatric Grants and Fellowships Program.

Founded in 1999 by former Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and Randy Walker, Hope Street Kids is dedicated in memory of their daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, who lost her battle that year to neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. Caroline's parents helped shape the mission of the program and continue to support it today. The program is committed to the elimination of childhood cancer through pioneering research, advocacy and education.

WHERE: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Powell, Ohio

WHEN: Saturday, July 31, 2010

TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

WHO: Co-Founders of HSK - Hon. Deborah Pryce (OH) and Randy Walker

President and CEO, CureSearch for Children's Cancer – John Lehr

Mistress of Ceremonies - Ellie Merritt, NBC 4 News anchor

Special guests - childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families and staff from

Nationwide Children's Hospital, A Kid Again and Kids N Kamp

Media are invited to attend and interview the HSK Founders and/ or physician and patient family attendees upon request. Please call Cynthia Duncan at (240) 235-2212 if you have any questions or would like more information.

For more information about Hope Street Kids, visit: www.hopestreetkids.org.

For more information about CureSearch for Children's Cancer, visit: www.CureSearch.org.