Community leaders and media celebrities will be selling The Advertiser's special-section KIDS DAY 2008 newspaper on O'ahu's streets May 7 to benefit Parents And Children Together (PACT).

The special section, themed "The Ocean and Me," will feature essays, poems and artwork done by students in grades one through 12 who entered an islandwide contest. Sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the special section — available only through volunteer sellers — will showcase the work of public and private schoolchildren, as well as home-schooled youngsters. Among the prizes are family four-pack of tickets to opening night of "Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy" at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

The special section will also feature stories detailing PACT services to the community, reported by Advertiser Island Life staff writer Mary Kaye Ritz. PACT's programs address early childhood education and childcare, child abuse and domestic-violence prevention and treatment, teen development, children's mental health, community building and economic development.

Among the KIDS DAY volunteers who will be selling newspapers are: Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona; Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann; Michael W. Perry, Larry Price and Sweetie Pacarro of KSSK Radio; The Sunrise Show from KGMB-TV; Mike Buck from KHVH; Stephanie Lum and Walter Makaula from KHNL-TV; Advertiser bloggers Lance Kwon, Treena Shapiro, Caryn Kunz, Kawehi Haug, Stephen Tsai, Kim Fassler, Rodney Lee and Wes Nakama; Manolo Morales and Trini Kaopuiki of KHON-TV; Beth-Ann Kozlovich of Hawaii Public Radio; Dawn O'Brien and Dave Lancaster of 95.5 The Fish; Ed Kanoi, Kap'n and Bart Da Silva from Oldies 107.9; Sistah Sherry and Chris Reiser from KRTR; Pipi from KCCN-FM100; The Society of Seven Las Vegas (on Kalakaua Avenue in front of the Outrigger Waikiki); Dita Holifield from KCMH County Radio; UH Coaches, including Football Coach Greg McMackin and Women's Tennis Coach Jun Hernandes.

In addition to on-street sales, an effort is under way to place the KIDS DAY special section in schools grades one through 12. Sponsors are being sought to underwrite the $1 KIDS DAY editions.

To sponsor a school or to volunteer to sell newspapers on May 7, interested organizations, businesses and individuals may call Norma Spierings at PACT, 847-3285.

PACT is a private nonprofit family service agency dedicated to promoting and supporting healthy individuals, families and communities. It has grown from a single Kuhio Park Terrace Parent and Child Center in 1968 to today's 14 family-strengthening programs on O'ahu. PACT's culturally relevant and community-based services emphasize innovation and collaboration.