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WABC-TV Special ‘Protect Our Children: Stress, Coping & Hope’ Airs Saturday, April 18, at 7 P.M. EDT
Inspiring Stories During a Pandemic
Click Here to View Promo
WABC-TV, New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation, will air “Protect Our Children: Stress, Coping & Hope” on SATURDAY, APRIL 18 (7:00 p.m. EDT). It will rebroadcast Sunday, April 19 (5:30 p.m. EDT). Hosted by Eyewitness News anchor Shirleen Allicot, the special raises awareness of the critical need to provide coping skills and hope to parents and children dealing with stress-related problems exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a time of global uncertainty, the special shares inspiring stories of individuals who faced challenges and conquered them when their hardships seemed insurmountable. Featured stories include the following:
- A Manhattan high school senior, who experienced mental health issues at age 14, shares the importance of receiving mental and medical care as soon as possible as well as his own journey of self-discovery.
- As the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase of homelessness and unemployment, a young man in Harlem coping with homelessness helps others who are experiencing poverty.
- A 10-year-old transgender girl on Long Island successfully finds her gender identity with the loving support of her family and age-appropriate professional care.
- A nonbinary advocate for the transgender community addresses the challenges that arise from changing one’s gender on a state-issued identification and shares their journey to pass the “Gender Recognition Act” in New York.
- Educators and students at a middle school in Staten Island work to counter the feelings of isolation during a time where public health orders advise social distancing. Together, they work on ways to help the student body feel unified and supported, in order to come out of these dark times together.
WABC-TV has long been dedicated to covering the important issues of health and safety of youth in the community. WABC’s “Protect Our Children” campaign, which launched in 1998, includes informational safety messages, a dedicated website and a missing children campaign that can be seen on every Eyewitness News program. The station has produced a number of compelling local programs addressing the stress-related problems plaguing a vulnerable population – children. The series has received six Emmy® Awards, six “Gracie” Awards from the American Women in Radio-TV-Film (AWRT) and awards from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, (NCMEC). Learn more about “Protect Our Children” at ABC7NY.com/Protect.
About WABC
WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
Media Contact
Jeelu Billimoria
“Protect Our Children: Stress, Coping & Hope,” Senior Producer
(917) 260-7148
Jeelu.Billimoria@abc.com