LOS ANGELES, CA, December 14, 2006 -- A star-studded premiere of MGM’s new film Rocky Balboa starring Sylvester Stallone raised over $400,000 for the benefit of The Jordan River Village, a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Gang camp for seriously ill children located in Tiberias , Israel . American Friends of Jordan River Village, the American fundraising arm of the organization is located in Stamford , Connecticut.

The premiere was attended by Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Antonio Tarver, and other stars of the film.  Following the world premiere, a gala reception was held honoring the film’s stars and executive producer Irwin Winkler, and MGM Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios.  Many Board members of American Friends of Jordan River Village ("AFJRV") attended the event, including the founders of Jordan River Village , Murray and Marilyn Grant, AFJRV Chairman Michael Finkelstein and his wife, Sue-Ann Friedman, and AFJRV board members Robert A. Breakstone and his wife Eileen, Matthew Kayton and his wife Julia, Florence Sloan, and Sherry Lansing.  Other celebrities in attendance included Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Swayze, Danny DeVito and his wife Rhea Perlman, Carol Kane, and Bill Maher.

from left to right, Rick Sands, MGM chief operating officer, Sylvester Stallone, Harry Sloane, MGM Chairman, and Michael Finkelstein, Chairman, American Friends of Jordan River Village.

American Friends of Jordan River Village Chairman Michael Finkelstein hailed the event as a “…generous outpouring of support from the fabulous Hollywood community.”  Finkelstein said, “Initiated by MGM Chairman Harry Sloan, and with the help of Sherry Lansing, Jeff Blake, Joe Roth and Jon Feltheimer we were able to enjoy the premiere of a great new movie and provide incredibly important help to Jordan River Village and all of the work it will do.” Finkelstein further stated that “It was a wonderful event for a wonderful cause.  All of us feel deeply about Jordan River Village and the work it will do.  We’ve seen the results in other Hole in the Wall Camps, and they are spectacular. Every child who faces a serious illness deserves some time for fun.  This is what JRV will provide them.”

From left to right, Bob Breakstone, board member of AFJRV, Geraldine Hughes and Burt Young from the cast of "Rocky Balboa", and Eileen Breakstone.

Paul Newman founded the first Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut 1988 for children suffering from life-threatening diseases. Jordan River Village , an extraordinary new Hole in the Wall Gang camp in Israel , will open early in 2008 to enrich the lives of hundreds of Jewish and Arab children, providing them with a joyous, safe, and memorable camp experience, and a respite from their daily concerns.  No child ever pays to attend Jordan River Village .  The camp is supported by Friends in the US , Israel and around the world.

For more information on Jordan River Village , or to learn how you can help, contact Arline Melzer at American Friends of JRV via e-mail at arline@afjrv.org or by telephone at 203-973-0602.

For further information about this release, please contact Rick Lund at Tavrow|Lund Consulting, LLC, 203-861-0777.