HOLLYWOOD—“Look at the old girl now, fellas!” There appears to be no stopping Carol Channing, who recently flew to New York City to not only promote her new CD, but to announce that she is currently embarking on a national campaign to restore the Arts back into the public school system through The Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts. No sooner than leaving NYC, Miss Channing was performing in California again. Doing her best to promote YES and GVA, which you can learn more about by going to her website.

“We’re trying to make Stanislaus County a model county in the state of California for bringing arts back in the public schools and to help children structure their lives so they are better citizens,” said Harry Kullijian. “Art is the catalyst to learning and education and to being closer to one another and treating each other with more respect rather than dropping out of school and getting into all sorts of problems,” he added. “I hope that the example set in Stanislaus County will lead the way in not only the state, but that this call to action would be picked up across the nation.”

Carol and Harry continued their national tour on August 6. They will also co-host an event in L.A. on August 14 for Spirit of ”˜45, which will honor US Veterans of WWII on the 65th anniversary of the end of the war. Carol said, “My dear husband, Harry, and many others like him went to war so that their children could have liberty to study math, philosophy, geography, science, architecture, commerce and agriculture in order that future generations could study painting, poetry, dance, and music that could then enhance the knowledge their fathers had previously gained. Armed with these tools, they can reach beyond even the dreams their grandfathers had for them. The veterans of WWII achieved the goal of protecting these rights for today’s and future generations and should always be remembered for doing so.”

Carol recalls, “A general once addressed England’s Parliament, saying that they had to cut the Arts to support the war effort, and Winston Churchill said, ”˜Then what are we fighting for?’” On July 27, the U.S. House of Representatives approved by voice vote H Con Res 275, which is a concurrent resolution expressing support for designation of the week as Arts in Education Week that will begin on the second Sunday of September. The resolution had 101 cosponsors and was authored by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), with encouragement and support of Broadway legends.

Portions of the proceeds from Ms. Channing’s recently released CD, “For Heaven’s Sake,” will benefit the foundation’s efforts. The CD includes many of the songs she came to know and love as a child with spirituals that she learned from her family. The CD features handpicked spirituals from Carol’s childhood, taught to her by her father as well as hymns and rousing classic gospel tunes that southern gospel fans and people of all ages will know and love. In September, Carol is proudly releasing a new Patriotic CD, tentatively titled “American Carol,” that features songs such as “Over There,” “Dear Old Glory,” “God Bless America,” “America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” among others.

Ms. Channing recently produced a PSA for California featuring friends and colleagues Lily Tomlin, Alec Mapa, Florence Henderson, Kevin Sorbo, Donna Mills, Lesley Ann Warren, Stefanie Powers, Kate Linder, JoAnne Worley and Phill Lewis with plans to produce another for national distribution. The Link to the Foundation PSA is http://www.youtube.com/user/BHBPR#p/u/26/0d3Uf-QG3Zk

Is it any wonder why the nation’s museum, The Smithsonian Institute, chose to induct Ms. Channing into the new and first permanent Entertainment History Exhibit as one of the Legendary Ladies of Stage and Screen?

To learn more about Ms. Channing’s national efforts visit ChanningArts.org.

Photographs of Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian on the TODAY SHOW set and Carol Channing and Selena Gomez meet backstage at The View are Courtesy: Miss Channing and Harry Kullijian and Carol Channing present a check to YES Company’s, Melanee Wyatt (middle) and Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Courtesy: SCOE Communications Department