ELWOOD'S DREAM BIG ADVENTURE PAGE

ELWOOD MET THE LONE RANGER MANY YEARS AGO. CLAYTON MOORE HAD BEEN BANNED FROM WEARING THE FAMOUS MASK, BECAUSE A NEW LONE RANGER HAD BEEN NAMED AND THE MOVIE COMPANY DID NOT WANT TWO PEOPLE CLAIMING TO BE THE LONE RANGER. MY CLASS LIKE THOUSANDS OF CLASSES ALL OVER THE WORLD SENT PETITIONS IN MR. MOORES BEHALF. THE COMPANY FINALLY RELENTED AND GAVE MR. MOORE BACK THE RIGHTS TO BEING THE LONE RANGER. HE WAS SO GRATEFUL HE INVITED ELWOOD OUT TO SPEND A FEW WEEKS WITH HIM. HE EVEN TOOK ELWOOD TO THE MOUNTAINS WHERE HE WAS FILMING THE AMOCO SILVER GAS COMMERCIALS. MR. MOORE WILL ALWAYS BE THE LONE RANGER.

ELWOOD VISITS EVERY CHILD'S HERO.

ELWOOD, THE DREAM BIG CHARACTER DOLL CREATED BY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER DOUG HAND IN OCTOBER 1980, HAS TRAVELED OVER 4
MILLION MILES, MET THREE U.S. PRESIDENTS, LUNCHED ON THE TERRACE OF PARLIAMENT, AND EVEN TRAVELED TO OUTER SPACE WHEN
HIS FACE WAS ABOARD THE DISCOVERY SPACE SHUTTLE. EARTHBOUND ELWOOD HAS VISITED 50 STATES, 17 COUNTRIES AND 5
CONTINENTS VIA U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, TRAVELING SINCE 1989 IN HIS PERSONALIZED RUBBERMAID REFUSE CONTAINER.

THIS IS MY HOME AWAY
FROM HOME.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THE RUBBERMAID PEOPLE HEARD THAT HE TRAVELED IN A GARBAGE CAN. THEY INVITED HIM TO THEIR MAIN OFFICE AND LET HIM HANG AROUND. ONE DAY THEY SHUT DOWN THE PRODUCTION LINE AND PRESENTED HIM WITH A NEW TRAVEL CAN. HIS ORIGINAL CAN WAS DONATED TO THE COMPANY ARCHIVES. AFTER YEARS OF GETTING CRUSHED IN BOXES, ELWOOD IS SURE GLAD HE HAS HIS RUBBERMAID ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE.

I SHARE MY BIRTHDAY WITH A FRIEND
AT "LITTLE TIKES" DAY SCHOOL.

WHEN ELWOOD VISITED RUBBERMAID, ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WAS TO STOP BY THE DAY SCHOOL AND VISIT WITH CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENTS WERE WORKING. THE KIDS AND ELWOOD PAINTED, PLAYED WITH CLAY, AND LISTENED TO STORIES. ON THIS DAY ELWOOD AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND SHARED THEIR BIRTHDAYS AND EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

ELWOOD HELPS TEACH HAND'S ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AT THOME SCHOOL IN ROCK FALLS, IL AN IMPORTANT LESSON IN LIFE-TO ALWAYS BELIEVE IN A DREAM, TO HAVE THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW THAT DREAM, AND THE DETERMINATION TO SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END. IT TOOK FOUR YEARS OF LETTER WRITING TO GET ELWOOD'S FACE ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

EACH YEAR, THE STUDENTS THINK ABOUT NEW ADVENTURES FOR ELWOOD, AND WRITE A PERSONAL LETTER TO THE PEOPLE THEY THINK CAN HELP ELWOOD ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS. IN THE PROCESS THEY ALSO LEARN ABOUT LETTER WRITING, GEOGRAPHY, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATH AND SCIENCE. AND THEY LEARN THAT EVEN FAMOUS PEOPLE ARE APPROACHABLE.

ELWOOD WAS CREATED WHEN A PARENT OF ONE OF MR. HAND'S STUDENTS OBJECTED TO THE CLASS READING PINOCCHIO, THE STORY ABOUT A PUPPET COMING TO LIFE AND HAVING HUMAN DREAMS. SO HE DECIDED TO MAKE SOMETHING REAL. ELWOOD TEACHES THAT DREAMS ARE THE PUREST FORM OF IMAGINATION , AND IMAGINATION IS THE KEY THAT WILL OPEN ANY DOOR. ELWOOD CAN'T HEAR, SEE, WALK OR TALK, YET HE HAS BEEN ON MAJOR NETWORK TV SHOWS AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND HIS STORY HAS APPEARED IN MAJOR MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD.THROUGH IT ALL HE SMILES, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED, BUT BECAUSE HE'S BEEN ALLOWED TO FOLLOW HIS DREAMS. MAGIC HAPPENS WHEREVER ELWOOD TRAVELS AND HE INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND CULTURES TO BELIEVE IN THEIR DREAMS.

AND THE CHILDREN LEARN THAT THEY CAN, IN FACT, MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.

SOME OF ELWOOD'S VISITS..... ILLINOIS GOVERNOR JIM THOMPSON, WRITER RAY BRADBURY, MEL BLANC, (VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY), CHUCK JONES, ANIMATOR OF BUGS BUNNY, GRIM NATWICK, ANIMATOR FOR SNOW WHITE, ROY LEONARD, WGN RADIO, CHICAGO, BOB DORIAN, HOST OF AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS, THE LONE RANGER, CLAYTON MOORE, SENATOR PAUL SIMON, WASHINGTON D.C., REPRESENTATIVE LYNN MARTIN, WASHINGTON D.C, HARRY CAREY JR., FILM COWBOY, THE CLOWNS OF RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS, MALCOLM FORBES, ED BRADLEY, 60 MINUTES, MORLEY SAFER, MIKE WALLACE, STEVE CROFT, MEREDITH VIEIRA, DEBRA MARTARELLI, EDITOR INSTRUCTOR MAGAZINE, ERMA BOMBECK, DICK MCLAUGHLIN, EXECUTIVE READERS DIGEST DICK GRUNE, KARL MALDON, PRESIDENT MOTION PICTURE ACADEMY, PAULA ABDUL, BILLY CRYSTAL, DAN AYKROYD, TOM SELLECK, STEVEN SPIELBURG, JANE FONDA, GREGORY PECK, TOM HANKS, CHEVY CHASE, DUDLEY MOORE, DIANA ROSS, PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, BARBARA BUSH, LEE BETTERMAN PRESIDENT IEA, BOB CHASE NEA V.P., LT. GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN, TREASURER OF ILLINOIS, JUDY TOPINKA, REP. RICHARD MAUNTINO, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, BOB LEININGER, TED KIMBROUGH, SUPT OF CHICAGO, SEN. CAL SCHUNEMAN, COMPTOLLER ROLAND BURRIS, TREVER PHARO, ENGLISH CLOWN, MORT WALKER, BEETLE BAILEY, MUNDAKKAL M. JACOB, INDIA PARLIAMENT, CURT (SUPERMAN ARTIST) SWAN, BILL (RED EYE)YATES, BRIAN (HI AND LOIS) WALKER, R. LYNN BONDURANT (NASA), CARSON BARNES CIRCUS, DICK METHIA (HEAD OF CHALLENGER CENTER), BARBARA MORGAN (NEXT TEACHER IN SPACE), VANNA WHITE (WHEEL OF FORTUNE), BOB GOEN, INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA, NEW MEXICO, CAROL BURNETT, BOSTON CELTICS, LARRY BYRD, ART KIMURA (NASA), SIR MICHAEL MARSHALL MP, RON MOODY, WORLD'S INTERNATIONAL CLOWN FESTIVAL, ENGLAND, FRED DE CORDOVA, JOHN PERTZBORN NBC, FROSTY, RINGLING BROTHERS BOSS CLOWN, MAYOR LORRAINE INOUYE, HAWAII, PEACE CORP, GUATEMALA, USAF THUNDERBIRDS, DESERT STORM, SAUDI ARABIA, IRAQ AND KUWAIT, CHARLES SCHULTZ AND SNOOPY, HOUSTON NASA, USN BLUE ANGELS, JOAN EMBRY, SAN DIEGO ZOO, MEXICO, AMTRAK TO SEATTLE, TOP GUN TRAINING BASE, DONNY OSMOND, JOSEPH, THE COAT OF MANY COLORS, GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE, USAF PRESS CORP, GERMANY, KENYA AND SOMOLIA, GOVERNOR OF WEST VIRGINIA, BUSCH GARDENS, GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, GABOR BENCSIK, SEC. GEN. OF JOURNALISTS HUNGARY, GANI SHAFA, NIGERIA, DAVE THOMAS, WENDY'S, SHAMU THE KILLER WHALE, MICHAEL EISNER, DISNEY WORLD, COMMANDER PETER SQUICIRINI, USS CARON, JFK SPACE CENTER, FLIGHT ON SPACE SHUTTLE, SWITZERLAND, ARPAD GONEZ, PRESIDENT OF HUNGARY, HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, LEGOS TOY FACTORY , CHICAGO BEARS, AUSTRALIA, COLORADO ROCKIES BASEBALL TEAM, YELLOWSTONE, LITTLE TYKE TOYS, RUBBERMAID INC., CLEVELAND INDIANS, 95 WORLD SERIES, SEARS TOWER, RUSSIA, HAWAII, ALASKA, GOOD YEAR BLIMP, DALLAS MAVERICKS, CHINA, HONG KONG, LIVERPOOL ENGLAND, WALES, HASBRO TOYS, FRANCE, BELGIUM, COUNTRY GROUP ALABAMA, JUDY BLUME, STUNT MEN'S ASSOC., JAY LENO, TONIGHT SHOW, BEVERLY VAN HOOK, GEORGE LUCAS, INDUSTRIAL, LIGHT AND MAGIC, SPIKE O'DELL, WGN RADIO, CANADA, THE WHITE HOUSE, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA, JORDAN, THE KING OF JORDAN, THE BLUES BROTHERS, KING KONG, JAWS, HEARST CASTLE, ST. LOUIS ZOO, TIPPI HEDREN, SHAMBALA ANIMAL RESERVE , SOUTH AFRICA, NELSON MANDELA, QUEEN ELIZABETH, PRINCE PHILIP, PRESIDENT CHISSANO, MOZAMBIQUE, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OLD-TIME PIANO PLAYING CONTEST, ARGENTINA WITH ED "THE TRAVELER" KELLY, MISS JENNIFER'S KINDERGARTEN SMART START PRESCHOOL, FAIR HAVEN, NJ, LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL MAYOR'S CEREMONY, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES W/WHOOPI GOLDBERG AND CELEBRITIES, WISN CHANNEL 12 NEWS, THE MILWAUKEE CHANNEL, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, ORLANDO, FL, PAGE PRIVATE SCHOOL, ORLANDO, FL, FREEDOM RIDE, WINTER PARK, FL, RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ORLANDO, FL, MRS. MCCULLOUGH'S CLASS AT LUTHER ACADEMY AT GLORIA DEI, ROY ROGERS MUSEUM, CALIFORNIA, SAN BERNARDINO SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA TURTLE AND TORTOISE SHOW, POMONA VALLEY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROCK & RIDE FOR CHILDREN OF COSA, ROUTE 66 CELEBRATION, MARK SEAY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, DEREK PARRA, OLYMPIC SPEED SKATING GOLD MEDAL WINNER, 2002, FREEDOM'S FLAME TRAVELING EXHIBIT, BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, COOPERSTOWN, NY, ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN POTTSVILLE, PA, STEVE AXTELL & ALL HIS FRIENDS AT AXTELL EXPRESSION, VENTURE, CA, TINA HILL'S FIRST GRADE, GEORGE HALL ELEMENTARY, MOBILE, AL, BETH PATH'S CLASS, SPARTA, WI, KAREN PATTERSON'S CLASS, EL PASO, TX, HARRIET STOLZENBERG'S CLASS, BROOKLYN, NY, WORLD'S LARGEST TOY MUSEUM, BRANSON, MISSOURI, MRS. SARLITTO, KILDEERE ELEMENTARY, LONG GROVE, IL, KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, CA, GENE AUTRY MUSEUM OF WEST, CA, JOHN WAYNE BIRTHPLACE, WINTERSET, IA, CAROL LIECHTY, WINTERSET MIDDLE SCHOOL, NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM, BOWLING GREEN, KY, ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL, POTTSVILLE, PA LINCOLN MONUMENT, WASHINGTON, DC MRS. STOLTZMAN'S CLASS, BRONX, NY VENT HAVEN MUSEUM, FORT MITCHELL, KY CROSSROADS CHRISTIANSCHOOL, LA UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, CALIFORNIA, BOYSTOWN, NEBRASKA, MRS. STOLTZMAN'S CLASS, REVISIT, MRS. LINDSEY'S CLASS, LONGWOOD, FL, RIPLEY'S "BELIEVE IT OR NOT", GATLINBURG, TN, JENNIFER WAGNER'S CLASS, LOS ANGELES, CA, ELEPHANT SANCTUARY OF HOHENWALD, TN, MR. WOLF'S CLASS, PENNSYLVANIA, THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY, HOHENWALD, TN, ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, CLEVELAND, OHIO, NEW YORK CITY FIRE MUSEUM, BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, MRS. JULIE MC CUE'S CLASS, DURANGO, COLORADO, MRS. BARB STIGALLS CLASS, FOREST LAKE, MINNESOTA, KECIA DOMBROSKE'S CLASS, SYRACUSE, NY, ANN RAMSEY'S CLASS, BONNER SPRINGS, KANSAS, CRYSTAL PLANTE'S CLASS, HILL CITY, KANSAS, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHRISTIAN PUPPETRY & VENTRILOQUISM, CHICAGO, 1st BATALION 106th AVIATION REGIMENT, KOSOVO, WILL ROGER'S MUSEUM, CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA, KAY BARRIGER'S CLASS, SALINA, KANSAS, KIM COOPER'S CLASS, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, SUSAN HARRINGTON'S CLASS, WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, CANTON, OHIO RAGGEDY ANNE AND ANDY MUSEUM, ARCOLA, ILLINOIS EDDIE WRIGHT'S FOAM CREATIONS, BUFORD, GEORGIA OFFICIAL HOME OF SUPERMAN, METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS SHARON TOWNSEND’S CLASS, WEST SHORE ELEMENTARY, LANIER, FLORIDA MINDY WISE’S CLASS, ROYAL MANOR ELEMENTARY, GAHANNA, OHIO BRANDY WHITLEY’S CLASS, GREEN RIDGE ELEMENTARY, BISCOE, NC JO ANN REEVES CLASS, CENTRAL ELEMENTARY, PENN. VICKY PHELPS’ CLASS, CUSD 303, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PATTY TUCKER’S CLASS, WALDO ELEMENTARY. WALDO, FLORIDA ELWOOD'S VITALS...... Created: October 1, 1980 Age: Eternally a fifth grader Height: 4 feet, 4 inches Weight: 12 lbs. fully clothed Baccalaureate: Bachelor of Big Dreams (B.B.D.) Yale University, May 1994 Master's: Master of Arts (M.A.) in Big Dreams University of Central Florida, August 2001 Vocation: Inspiring children to believe in a dream, to have the desire to follow that dream, and to see it through to the end. Avocation: Traveling the world on behalf of others. Philosophy: Dreams are the purest form of imagination, and imagination is the key that will open any door. Motto: "DREAM BIG"