From Very Special Events: Boys & Girls Club Plans "HOP" Drum-A-Long Event to Celebrate Blu-ray™/DVD Release of the Animated Hit Comedy HOP

CANOGA PARK, Calif., March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of youths from the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley in Canoga Park with support from Canoga Park High School will be the stars of a HOP Drum-A-Long on Friday, March 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.  Canoga Park High School Band Director Dennis Clancy and percussion members of the school's marching band have volunteered to teach a drumming class at the Club.  The lesson finale is a performance by the Boys & Girls Club and high school band members led by the costume character of E.B., the star of the animated live-action comedy, debuting March 23 on Blu-ray and DVD.  

The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, located at 7245 Remmet Avenue in Canoga Park, is one of just six Clubs – among more than 4,000 -- across the U.S. selected to host the HOP Drum-A-Long, a unique event themed to Universal Studios Home Entertainment's upcoming release.  Other drumming events will be held at Boys & Girls Clubs in Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, San Diego and Tampa. 

The goal of the HOP Drum-A-Long event is to engage youths interested in music with high school band members, inspired by the film's story line.   In HOP, E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) is the teenage son of the Easter Bunny more interested in following his dream to become a rock star drummer than taking over the family business of delivering Easter baskets. 

E.B. will join youths at the HOP Drum-A-Long from 3:30 – 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16.  The public is invited to bring cameras and take pictures of the event.

"We are proud that the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley was selected to participate in this unique event," said Ruben Rodriguez, the Club's Program Director.  "The movie's theme is a wonderful way to showcase the drum program we have at the Club.  I know our youths will be inspired by the musical talent of the high school marching band members."

The Canoga Park High School band members will earn community service credit for giving the Boys & Girls Club members the drum lessons and joining them in the HOP Drum-A-Long performance. The Boys & Girls Club members will receive colorful HOP drumsticks and other HOP themed activity sheets.  

ABOUT HOP

From the creators of Despicable Me comes an all-new comedy about candy, chicks and rock 'n' roll!  He was destined to be the Easter Bunny, but all he wanted to do was rock!  When teenage E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream to become a rock star drummer, he meets Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals.  Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family.  "The laughs don't stop in this movie treat for all ages!" writes Pete Hammond, Boxoffice.  For further information visit  www.hopmovie.com

ABOUT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WEST VALLEY

The nonprofit Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley was founded in 1992 as a response to the need for safe, healthy, productive activities for local youth during non-school hours. Eighty-one percent of the Club's 3,100 members come from families below the poverty line.  Approximately 125 youngsters visit the Main Clubhouse in Canoga Park each day, in addition to more than 500 children provided after-school activities at Blythe, Reseda, and Topeka Drive Elementary Schools; Tierra del Sol; Canoga Park High School; and Hale Charter Academy. Thousands of underprivileged children in the West Valley community have benefited from after-school programs offered by the Club at various sites over the course of 20 years. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, visit www.wvbgc.org. 

VSE CONTACTS:
Nancy Walters 858.682.1171
Cindy Hestand 760.644.3317

SOURCE Very Special Events