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WHEREAS, Blood Brothers is a documentary made by Pittsburghers, Steve Hoover and Danny Yourd about another Pittsburgher, Rocky Braat, who abandoned his creature comforts for a life helping an orphanage of children with HIV and Aids in India; and,
WHEREAS, whereas, Danny Yourd from Hastings, PA, and Steve Hoover from Moon Township, met as students at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where they became friends and creative partners working on school projects and music videos and, ultimately, both becoming employed by a Pittsburgh based production company, Animal. Steve Hoover met Rocky Braat at the Art Institute as well, becoming best friends and roommates until Rocky made an impromptu trip to India where he fell in love with a group of HIV stricken orphans in a small Indian village; and,
WHEREAS, Rocky Braat gave up a promising career as a graphic designer and moved to India where he lives in a village in a primitive hut supported by donations from friends and family and has devoted his life to the children of the orphanage in Tamil Nadu, India, children who live with illness, abandonment and death but for whom Rocky brings hope, health and the unmistakable power of love; and,
WHEREAS, Steve Hoover, the Director of Blood Brothers, tells the story of Rocky Braat in this remarkable documentary because he was inspired to tell this story of an average guy doing extraordinary things and to tell the story of his best friend who came from an unstable family life to create a life for children who are dispossessed; and,
WHEREAS, Blood Brothers, produced by Danny Yourd and directed by Steve Hoover, won the Audience Award and U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the famed Sundance Film Festival in January 2013.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the inspirational work of Rocky Braat and congratulates Danny Yourd and Steve Hoover for producing and directing the award winning documentary film, Blood Brothers, which chronicled the life and work of Rocky Braat; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, , that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare February 19, 2013, to be "BLOOD BROTHERS DAY" in the City of Pittsburgh.