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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov

OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE Tonya Daniels, E-mail: [email protected] Melissa Berthier, E-mail: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2017

Miami Beach Joins City of Kindness, , and Participant Media in support of the Wonder #ChooseKind Initiative — Culminating the Thoughtful Campaign with a Special Screening of Lionsgate’s Upcoming Wonder Held on November 16 —

Miami Beach, FL — Today, the City of Miami Beach announced its participation in the #ChooseKind City initiative — a campaign, inspired by the upcoming film Wonder, in partnership with City of Kindness, Lionsgate, and Participant Media that invites people in cities across the country to participate in kind acts as part of World Kindness Day on November 13 and beyond. This initiative will culminate with a special screening of the film Wonder in Miami Beach on November 16.

The theatrical debut of Wonder works hand in hand with Miami Beach’s City of Kindness initiative, which engages local communities by encouraging residents, visitors and employees to practice kindness in every area of their life — spreading love and positivity throughout the urban-island.

“In today’s age, kindness is something we could all use a little more of,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Micky Steinberg. “Its benefits are contagious and engaging the community in random acts of kindness creates a cycle of paying it forward — that’s what being a City of Kindness is all about.”

Based on R.J. Palacio’s New York Times best-seller, Wonder, which is set for release on November 17 from Lionsgate, in association with Participant Media and , tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August "Auggie" Pullman — a boy who was born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. The film stars Academy Award® winner and Oscar® nominee as the parents of Auggie, portrayed by .

We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.

The City of Miami Beach joined City of Kindness, Lionsgate, and Participant Media, in addition to the other U.S. cities involved, to deliver Auggie’s message of kindness to local community members.

“We are thrilled to see so many schools, businesses and community groups decide to participate this month by holding their own #ChooseKind initiatives,” added Steinberg. “What’s more exciting is to see residents of all ages find the smallest ways to lead kinder lives every day and make Miami Beach an even better place to live, work and play.”

The City of Miami Beach kicked off #ChooseKind observances with a movie ticket giveaway to Wonder’s pre-screening on Thursday, November 16. For a chance to win tickets, people followed the city’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and shared an act of kindness by tagging the city and using #MBeKind. Five lucky winners were selected at random. City employees also entered to win a free movie ticket to Wonder by participating in an internal giveaway.

Children in Miami Beach are not only spreading the love, but feeling it as well. Thanks to the generosity of Procter & Gamble’s Crest, at-risk families and youth enrolled in the All Stars, Success University and Parent/Child city programs will be encouraged to share a smile after receiving free toothpaste as part of Crest’s #ChooseSmile program, meant to show the power of smiles as a universal act of kindness.

Miami Beach believes every day brings an opportunity to be kind in the workplace, schools, at home, to strangers and more. That’s why the city is encouraging random acts of kindness from employees, residents and visitors – hoping to create a trail of kindness that crosses paths with each and every person in the vibrant metropolis. ###

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About City of Kindness City of Kindness is a grassroots initiative to work with kindness organizations and leverage the outreach strategies of brands that espouse kindness. By working together, City of Kindness aims to inspire people to think about what kindness means to them, adopt kindness as a daily ritual for living and use the Kindness Counter, an online aggregator of acts of kindness. City of Kindness launch partners include Born This Way Foundation, Kind Campaign, KIND Healthy Snacks and Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Learn more at cityofkindness.org.

About Lionsgate The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose , television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.

About Walden Media Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family, creating movies, books and television series that spark the imagination and delight all generations. A subsidiary of the Anschutz Film Group, Walden Media movies include adaptations of notable books, compelling biographies and thrilling accounts of historical events. The company’s films are entertaining and commercial, while also telling stories that are inspirational, aspirational and explorational. Past award-winning films include: “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” series, “Nim’s Island,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Holes,” “Amazing Grace,” and the Sundance Audience Prize Winning documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman.”

About Participant Media Participant Media (www.participantmedia.com) is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant’s content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. Participant’s more than 75 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, , , , Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient

We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.

Truth, have collectively earned 52 Academy Award® nominations and 11 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight. Participant’s digital entertainment division, SoulPancake (www.soulpancake.com), is an award-winning provider of thought-provoking, joyful, and uplifting digital content including such widely popular series as Kid President and The Science of Happiness and reaches an audience of nearly 9 million fans. Follow Participant Media on Twitter at @Participant and on Facebook and Instagram. Follow SoulPancake on Twitter @soulpancake and on Facebook and Instagram.

We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.