9/25/2013, A Beary Special Musical

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

A beary special musical

by Sally Litchfield The Marietta Daily Journal

September 24, 2013 11:57 PM | 150 views | 0 | 5 | |

Staff/Jeff Stanton Merrill Baker, right, director of development for the Center For Children and Young Adults, checks to see if her promotional sign for the Oct. 5 appearance of the Berenstain Bears will fit on The Strand Theatre sidewalk signage. Helping Baker is Baileigh Borna, 7, whose mother Kim Borna is director of the center. Baileigh also holds some prized Berenstain Bears books for children.

On Oct. 5, “The Berenstain Bears Live! In Family Matters the Musical” comes to the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta for three shows at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Center for Children & Young Adults.

Adapted from the classic children’s book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, this show brings everyone’s favorite bear family to life in an exciting theatrical experience that kids and parents will treasure for many years to come.

The event is family friendly and family oriented.

“Family is something that all of our kids don’t have. We wanted to do an event that reflects how important family is and to raise awareness among families as to how lucky they are to be part of a family,” said Kim Borna, chief executive officer of CCYA. The Woodstock resident is married to David, and they have one daughter.

Started as an emergency shelter for Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services, CCYA’s mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment with comprehensive services for homeless youth and young adults who have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or are at risk.

The nonprofit provides shelter and comprehensive services to children ages 12 to 17 and a transitional living program to help youth ages 18 to 20 who are transitioning out of care.

“We help (children) reunite with family members or we help find other permanent homes or transition to independent housing,” Borna said.

CCYA must sell all tickets at each show to exceed their goal of raising $20,000. The money raised will support CCYA’s services such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation to medical appointments and extra curricular activities such as band, music and sports.

“By coming out, supporters are letting everyone in the community know that family is important to them at the Family Matters event. They’re coming out to support the organization that helps kids that don’t have family to be able to succeed and transition into adulthood despite the challenges they have,” she said.

CCYA provides an invaluable support system to homeless youth.

“If the kids didn’t have CCYA, they would literally have nowhere to lay their heads down, and they would not have a safe place to sleep, food to eat or clothes on their back. It’s important that we provide that for these kids and help them with life skills education and educational support and therapeutic support so that they can grow into productive adults in our community,” Borna said.

Tickets start at $12.50 and are available at www.earlsmithstrand.org. Special VIB (Very Important Bear) tickets include the best house seats, Bear Cub favor bag, and a free pass to Sister Bear’s Birthday Party in the second floor Event Room with Bear Country games and fun activities. All Honey Bears younger than 1 year old can sit on Mama and Papa’s lap.

The Strand is at 117 North Park Square, Marietta.

To make a donation and learn more visit www.ccyakids.org.