20th Anniversary Covenant House Vigil for Homeless Youth Unites the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, NY Homeless Teens, UNICEF, NGOs, Multi-Faith Religious Leaders and Broadway Stars in Nation's Largest Advocacy Event for Homeless Kids

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The 20th Anniversary Covenant House Candlelight Vigil in Times Square (November 16) is the year's largest national advocacy event for poor, exploited and homeless children in New York and throughout the world. Additional vigils will occur at Covenant House shelters throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America, as well as in churches, schools and private homes. For the first time, the Candlelight Vigil is joining worldwide commemorations on the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children being held in more than 25 countries and 30 cities, making the vigil an international call to action on behalf of all children.

On November 16th at 6 p.m., Times Square will be transformed into a center of hope and solidarity for homeless youth as child advocates and hundreds of kids from Covenant House stand side by side with UNICEF, Religions for Peace, World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, Multi-faith Religious Leaders, Broadway Stars, Child Advocates and United Nations Diplomats. The vigil is open to the public.

The 20th Anniversary of the Covenant House Vigil in Times Square will feature performances by Billy Elliot star Jacob Clemente; Phantom of the Opera and Fiddler on the Roof star Rita Harvey; and current Phantom of the Opera lead Hugh Panaro.

• Homeless youth from Covenant House will share stories of their journey through homelessness to independence as well as their hopes for the future and will join with Broadway stars to sing "The Climb."
• Former First Daughter, Barbara Bush will speak.
• Liz Murray, the author of "Breaking Night" subject of the Lifetime Television movie, "Homeless to Harvard, the Liz Murray Story", will speak about surviving homelessness at 15 to become a Harvard graduate.
• NY Religious leaders from different faith traditions will offer their prayers for the well-being of children around the world.

"On November 16th and everyday, we are the voice of the 2 million US kids, and millions more worldwide, who will experience homelessness this year," said Kevin Ryan, president of Covenant House. "With our advocacy partners, this year's vigil is giving a voice to the 158 million children worldwide engaged in child labor and trafficking and the 8.1 million children worldwide who died in 2009 before their 5th birthdays due to impoverished and unhealthy living conditions. We want the forgotten and exploited children in the US and the world to know that people care and we are trying to improve their lives."

Covenant House provides 24/7 crisis care and on-going support for homeless young people in need of a safe haven. Assistance can be found by simply calling the Covenant House NINELINE (1-800-999-9999) or visiting www.nineline.org. More resources for homeless youth can be found at www.covenanthouse.org.

SOURCE Covenant House