DETROIT- As part of Major League Baseball's league-wide initiative to celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson, the Detroit Tigers, in partnership with Detroit Public TV, will screen a segment of Ken Burns' documentary "Jackie Robinson" to a group of middle school and high school students at the Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Detroit on Friday, April 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (MEDIA IS WELCOME TO COVER THIS EVENT)
Following the screening, students will participate in a brief Q & A featuring representatives from the Detroit Tigers front office, including Ellen Hill Zeringue, Vice President of Marketing and the first African American and woman to serve in her capacity at the Tigers and Sam Abrams, Manager of Player Relations and Youth Sports Programs. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the film and talk about the impact of Jackie Robinson on and off the baseball field.
"We are excited to partner with Detroit Public TV to share this important story of courage and determination with the students at Detroit Edison Public School Academy. With the Detroit Tigers on the road in Houston, we are proud to use this special event as a platform to be a part of Major League Baseball's national celebration of Jackie Robinson Day," said Ellen Hill Zeringue, Vice President of Marketing for the Detroit Tigers.
"We are very excited to be partnering with the Detroit Tigers to screen this important film and share it with students at the Detroit Edison Public School Academy," said Rich Homberg, President and CEO of Detroit Public Television. "This film is a great tribute to Jackie and his legacy and the power of pursuing one's dream and passion to effect change."
Participating students will be given a t-shirt to wear during the program with the Jackie Robinson quote "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" and the number 42 on the back.
The program will be hosted by Greg Williams (also known as Big Greg), host of the Hot 102.7 Morning Show on WGPR a Radio One Station.
The film "Jackie Robinson" is a two-part, four-hour film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon that tells the story of an American icon whose lifelong battle for first class citizenship for all African Americans transcends even his remarkable athletic achievements.
WTVS Detroit Public Television is the viewer-supported PBS member station serving the nation's 11th largest television market Detroit Public TV is notably active in the community producing local programs that showcase arts, culture, news and analysis; and educational outreach campaigns that use the power of media to provide knowledge and understanding.