WAFF partnered with Lollipop Theater Network, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing first-run films to children in hospitals, to create the highly successful Mattie's Movie & Poetry Slam program. 

Named in honor of 13-year-old best-selling poet, peacemaker and movie enthusiast, Mattie J. T. Stepanek, the original Mattie's Movie & Poetry Day started nationwide soon after his death in June 2004 as a way to bring his message of peace to children with chronic illnesses, to give them a break from their difficult medical regimens and routines, and to help them express and deal with their feelings. These children often feel the sting of intolerance, and Mattie’s Movie & Poetry Day helps them feel “normal.” 

In 2006, WAFF renamed the program Mattie’s Movie & Poetry Slam and introduced a highly interactive and motivating poetry development session utilizing musical instruments and spoken word improvisation. The poetry slam encourages the children to actively participate by getting their creative juices flowing, and allowing them to collectively develop a poem that reflects tolerance/diversity issues and the positive messages of the film they just saw together. 

A typical program consists of a reading of Mattie's poems, a “preview” of the "We Are Family" children's music video, followed by a screening of a specially selected first-run G, PG or PG-13 feature film and a 30-minute Poetry Slam. 

Participating Hospitals Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA

Oakland Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland, CA

Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford, CT

Children’s National Medical Center Washington, DC

Georgetown University Washington, DC

Children’s Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL

Children’s Hospital Boston Boston, MA

Duke Children’s Hospital Durham, NC

The Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE

Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ

Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital Charleston, SC

Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Nashville, TN

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian New York, NY

Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital San Antonio, TX