Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1010567
ANSWERING THE CALL The Lollipop team was preparing for its second annual Lollipop Superhero Walk, a parade and community event to raise awareness for the organization. To Constancio, the idea that Costume Designers' skills and talents were something we could make a gift of was deeply meaningful, and he helped Iocolano connect with CDG President Salvador Perez. Perez saw an opportunity for the Guild to contribute to the community and a call for volunteers went out in January. The original plan was for five Costume Designers to each work with a hospitalized child to create a one-of-a-kind super- hero costume to wear on the walk. Eight designers: CDs Kym Barrett, Michael Crow, Kristi Hoffman, Camille Jumelle, Arefeh Mansouri, Maranda Nichols, Gabrielle Sciabbarrasi, Ariyela Wald-Cohain, signed up and were paired with eight young patients. Chris, the child assigned to Barrett, would be undergo- ing treatment rather than attending the walk. Knowing he would be in a closed area for eight weeks, she worked with LOLLIPOP SUPERHEROES In an example of goodness begetting more good- ness, the Costume Designers Guild's collaboration with the nonprofit Lollipop Theater Network began with an act of kindness. English actor Tom Holland, best known for playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, makes frequent vis- its to children's hospitals in costume. Local 705 key costumer Steve Constancio was hired to manage the Spider-Man suit during a visit to New York in the fall of 2016, where he met Lollipop's executive director and co-founder, Evelyn Iocolano. ORIGIN STORY The primary focus of the group is to bring current mov- ies to children in treatment for chronic or life-threatening illnesses while they're in the hospital. The brainchild of co-founder Janis Fischer, the organization began with a screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where she was volunteering. Getting to watch a new release was both a special treat and a bit of much-needed normalcy for the young patients, and all they could talk about for days. Realizing she was on to something, Fischer enlisted friend and children's book publisher Joshua Gaspero to help her formalize the organization and entertainment industry vet- eran Iocolano was introduced by a mutual friend. The new team got to work and the first official event was a screen- ing of 20th Century Fox's Star Wars: Attack of the Clones at MSKCC the summer of 2002. Over 400 films have since been screened at hospitals all over the country and Canada. The organization also expanded its programming, working with the artists from Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and Blue Sky Studios to screen animated TV shows and movies, and the Rhythm of Hope program, teaching young patients the building blocks of music and then giving them the opportu- nity to write their own songs. By Christine Cover Ferro 32 The Costume Designer Summer 2018 CD Ariyela Wald-Cohain Photos: Lollipop Theater Network