‘Spider-Man’ cast kicks off amazing day of community service in NYC Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/spider-man-cast-kicks-amazing-day-com

 

It may be another whole week until “The Amazing Spider-Man,” but on Tuesday, the web-slinger is going to need everyone’s help to do a lot of good in New York, and across the country.

Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) and their co-stars from the blockbuster are sounding a nationwide call to community service with “Be Amazing, Stand Up and Volunteer,” an event

in which people of all ages can chip in to help their neighbors — just like your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man would.

The result will be a powerful web of generosity through all five boroughs — from the streets to the rooftops — and one that filmmakers, city officials and community leaders say will let ordinary people tap into their inner superheroes.

Other “Be Amazing, Stand Up and Volunteer” events will take place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Miami, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

At the site beamazing2012.com, volunteers can log in to pledge a day of service. For instance, the Momentum Project will work on bringing hot meals to the needy in the Bronx. Children will get help in tutoring, fitness and technology in Queens, and high school students in Harlem can get help with SAT test prep and college applications.

Garfield, Stone, Rhys Ifans (who play’s the movie’s villain, Dr. Curt Connors, aka the Lizard) and Denis Leary (Gwen’s father, Capt. Stacy) are lighting the Empire State Building in Spidey’s signature red and blue on Monday to launch the initiative.

The cast will join New Yorkers in many projects, from serving food to senior citizens in Manhattan to helping beautify a Bronx community garden.

Since Spider-Man’s first appearance in Marvel Comics 50 years ago, his alter ego, Peter Parker, has been an iconic New Yorker, says Diahann Billings-Burford, the city’s chief service officer with NYC Service.

“Peter’s choice has always been, how is he going to use his powers?” Billings-Burford said.

“We hope this will be a launching point for more New Yorkers to get involved to help our city become better.”

The day also will support the Stand Up to Cancer foundation in honor of Laura Ziskin, the charity’s co-founder. Ziskin, who lost her battle with cancer last year at age 61, co-produced every “Spider-Man” feature film, including this summer’s “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

The film’s studio, Sony Pictures, will make a donation to the charity in honor of Tuesday’s event.

“Laura knew that in order to galvanize people into action, you needed to use the media,” says Pam Williams, an Executive Leadership Council member of Stand Up to Cancer, who was also Ziskin’s production partner.

This day brings together both her first love — making movies, and making ‘Spider-Man’ — and motivating people to participate in something bigger than themselves.”

“I was asked to be in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ by Laura, who was my friend and my first co-producing partner,” says Sally Field, who plays Peter’s Aunt May in the new film. “She was an amazing hero. She raised millions of dollars for cancer research, and got teams of doctors together to work on the cause. She didn’t live, though, to see the amazing work she did.”...



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