UA 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 UA College Savings Plan.
鈥淭he premiere was an incredible success and the series is such a big deal for 桃花直播,鈥 said Lael Oldmixon, director of the UA 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 UA 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, 桃花直播. The lobby of UAF鈥檚 Charles W. Davis Concert Hall was filled with multiple kids activity areas and demonstrations. Children decorated a drum, learned an 桃花直播 Native dance taught by the Pavva I帽upiaq Dancers, and shot hoops at a basketball station. The UA Museum of the North hosted a station where children created a plant press and animal tracks poster. There were wood carving and beading demonstrations. A MOLLY OF DENALI themed photo booth was set up. Each child received a MOLLY OF DENALI backpack and a Suki (Molly鈥檚 dog) plush dog.
The UAF 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 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 KUAC. The UA College Savings Plan is proud to sponsor the new series and its educational mission in 桃花直播.
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 桃花直播 Native values, such as respecting 桃花直播, 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 桃花直播 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 桃花直播 Native, Sovereign
Bill (Tlingit and Muckleshoot).
WGBH Boston developed MOLLY OF DENALI with a working group of 桃花直播 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 UA College Savings Plan is an affordable and tax advantaged savings method that helps families save for future education expenses. For more information visit .