Hoosiers, Rudy Director to Feature Child Philanthropist Zach Bonner and Lazydays in Movie Premiering in Tucson November 2 and in Tampa November 9

SEFFNER, Fla. and TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Director David Anspaugh (Hoosiers, Rudy) knows a thing or two about crafting inspirational movies that feature ordinary people doing extraordinary things. His latest film, Little Red Wagon, builds on the veteran filmmaker's ability to showcase the human spirit. He tells the true story of Zach Bonner, the boy wonder philanthropist from Valrico, Florida, who with the help of his family and a donated RV, set out to show the world the power of selfless giving.

Premiering in Tucson on November 2 and in Tampa on November 9, Little Red Wagon tells the story of Zach Bonner's inspiring quest to end youth homelessness. The cinematic journey begins with 6-year-old Zach gathering supplies for victims of Hurricane Charley in his little red wagon. It then culminates with 10-year-old Zach, his mom and sister piling into a Class A motorhome (donated both in the film and in real life by Lazydays) as the family embarks on a walk from Lazydays in Seffner, Florida to the steps of the State Capital in Tallahassee. The walk to Tallahassee depicted in the film was just the beginning. Bonner ultimately walked across the entire country to raise awareness for homeless youth.

Bonner hopes the film will resonate with audiences and be instrumental in raising global awareness on the issue to which he's dedicated his young life. "I really want this film to bring a lot of awareness to youth homelessness," said the now 15-year-old about the film's prospects. "Hopefully the Little Red Wagon will find a huge audience in theaters and educate people on this issue. That's been my attitude from the beginning." Bonner encourages the public to see the movie, debuting in Tucson at the Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 Theater, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 2, 3 and 4; and in Tampa at the AMC Veterans Theater, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 9, 10 and 11, so that its initial run is extended and it can create more awareness.

The film's message has already produced a rippling effect in both Tampa Bay and Tucson. Tampa has one of the largest populations of homeless youth in Florida according to the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition. Inspired by Zach's passion, the Lazydays Employee Foundation, a nonprofit organization comprised solely of Lazydays employees and funded by weekly payroll deductions, has made it their mission to help underprivileged youth have a better life. They have created the Lazydays Homeless Youth Program to serve this growing population, and partnered with the USF College of Medicine to create Florida's first medical clinic for homeless and street youth.

"Zach Bonner walked across this entire country so that homeless youth could one day stop walking and have a safe place to go to get off the streets," said Harold Oehler of the Lazydays Employee Foundation. "If our community will join the Lazydays Homeless Youth Program in helping these kids, one day, there won't be any more homeless kids to help." 

In Tucson the Lazydays Employee Foundation have worked closely with several Tucson-based organizations committed to ending youth homelessness, including Open Inn, Youth on Their Own and Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, and hope that others join them in the fight to help this at-risk population find a better tomorrow.

"Zach Bonner has dedicated his life to ending youth homelessness, which is all around us, but hidden from our view," said Bob Grady of the Lazydays Employee Foundation. "If our community seizes this opportunity to support our partner organizations, we will change the lives of these kids, one child at a time."

Little Red Wagon was produced by bestselling author and three-time Emmy Award winner Dr. Michael A. Guillen and stars Chandler Canterbury (Knowing, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Zach Bonner. 

To learn more about the film, including how to purchase advanced tickets, visit Little Red Wagon's official site: http://www.littleredwagonthemovie.com.

To see historic footage of Zach Bonner's walk from Lazydays visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmiVRxOf_iM.  

About the Lazydays Employee Foundation:
In 2005, the employees of Lazydays created the Lazydays Employee Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Today, over 70% of Lazydays employees contribute through voluntary payroll deduction to the Foundation. Administered solely by employees as volunteers, the Foundation has contributed more than one million dollars to make many historic changes in the Tampa Bay and Tucson communities. The Foundation supports the Lazydays House at A Kid's Place, an emergency shelter for foster children recently removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. It also funds the Lazydays Homeless Youth Program and the Ybor Youth Clinic which provide unaccompanied, homeless youth with the resources needed to break the cycle of homelessness. In addition, the Lazydays Employee Foundation contributes to other local charities, including Youth on Their Own, Open Inn, Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, the R.I.C.H. House, the Joshua House, Connected by 25 and Hillsborough Education Foundation, just to name a few.

Lazydays Employee Foundation Media Contact
Jordan Leonard
[email protected] 
813-246-4999, ext. 4342

SOURCE Lazydays Employee Foundation