Rooney and Tracys to help celebrate the 65th Anniversary of 'Boys Town'

Girls and Boys Town
Friday, 18 July 2003

A week-long series of events stretching coast-to-coast and featuring Mickey Rooney and the Spencer Tracy family will help celebrate the 65th anniversary of the unlikely blockbuster movie about a place that is still relevant in helping children and families today.

"Father Flanagan's dream is still part of the big screen of life for thousands of children and families who utilize the organization's services," said Father Val J. Peter, Father Flanagan's successor and national executive director of Girls and Boys Town. "We thank Mickey Rooney and members of Spencer Tracy's family for helping us celebrate the success of Father Flanagan's dream in 1938 and today."

Events will include:

Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town, a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, is a leader in the treatment and care of abused, abandoned and neglected girls and boys. In 2002, a record number of children -37,984 - received help, healing and hope from Girls and Boys Town's direct care programs at 19 sites in 14 states and in the District of Columbia. More than 450,000 children and families were helped through the Girls and Boys Town National Hotline, and more than 1.1 million more were served through outreach and professional training programs last year.

For information contact Girls and Boys Town Public Relations at (402) 498-1300.

For more information, or to contact Girls and Boys Town, see their website at: www.girlsandboystown.org