By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – OCT. 25, 2024 – Students from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) are set to showcase their talents for a worthy cause on Monday, Oct. 28, with the premiere of a documentary – "Stand Together for Children" – highlighting the global issue of child displacement.

This compelling documentary, produced and edited by UTRGV students, is a collaborative effort between UTRGV and renowned industry professionals, capturing the journey of creating a new song designed to raise awareness and funds for more than 50 million displaced children worldwide.

Open to the public, the documentary premiere will be held at 7 p.m. at the historic Cine El Rey Cinema in McAllen.

This documentary is part of a larger campaign envisioned by producer Jeff Oppenheim in collaboration with Arigatou International, an organization that works globally with organizations like UNICEF, among many others. 

A COLLABORATIVE MUSICAL ENDEAVOR

At the heart of the documentary is the production and recording of a new song composed by Michael Orland, a music director known for his work on "American Idol," alongside songwriters Brian Seth Hurst, Julia Winger Quay, and studio engineer Miklos Malek.

The song features performances by 88 members of UTRGV’s Master Chorale and 12 students from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest High School.

Facilitated by a partnership through the Rotary Club in Mission, Texas, this project garnered support from UTRGV School of Fine Arts Dean Jeffrey Ward and UTRGV Choir Director Sean Taylor who brought the recording to life.

Co-produced by Oppenheim, a New York-based filmmaker, and Alibe V. Hamacher, a Chilean consultant from Prayer and Action for Children, the mission is to generate awareness and inspire action.

The song will be presented live at Arigatou International’s 6th Global Forum of Religions for Children in Abu Dhabi in November and at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Dec. 18 for the International Day of the Migrant. They also plan to submit the documentary to the 2025 film festival circuit.

The premiere will be followed by a reception and a panel discussion with the filmmakers and producers, including Oppenheim, Hamacher and UTRGV’s Ward and Peter Mikolasky, chair of the UTRGV Theatre Department.

Tickets, which range from $15-$75, can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stand-together-a-documentary-by-the-students-of-the-rio-grande-valley-tickets-1044932048887?aff=oddtdtcreator               

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

"Stand Together for Children" is more than a documentary; it's a call to action. The team aims to raise over 50 million pennies – symbolizing the more than 50 million displaced children worldwide – through creative social activation and strategic public-private partnerships.

Arigatou International works globally with organizations like UNICEF and many others who are collectively working on addressing this crisis. Through its Global Network of Religions for Children, it leverages an interfaith approach to advocate for and protect children's rights.