FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                           

November 15, 2008

Contact:
Jon Stock(310) 321-7667
The Genesis Initiative                                                                                    
Email: jon@genesisinitiative.org

Catholic Group Launches Media Initiative

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA           

A group of Catholics has responded to Pope Benedict’s call to impact the culture through media by launching THE GENESIS INITIATIVE to raise money through tax-deductible donations to fund Catholic-themed movie production for the big screen.

“In recent years Catholics and Catholic themes have been slowly squeezed out of mainstream movie making. As a result, we’re also being squeezed out of the culture,” said Dick Lyles, the founding Chairman and CEO. “To counter this trend a group of us are volunteering our efforts to turn things around and revitalize our culture by making Catholic ideas a visible part of its fabric.”

The mission of The Genesis Initiative is to enhance understanding about the positive impact of Catholic values, teachings, and historical figures on the broader culture through educational and training initiatives and by supporting the development and production of relevant movie and television projects.

“Through modern communication channels, including the Internet, we can reach thousands of people,” said Lyles. “We’re confident that when Catholics hear what we’re doing, they’ll support us, even if in some small way.”

Genesis is using the same grass-roots, internet-based approach that many political candidates have used successfully to fund campaigns. “Only there’s no campaign more important than this one,” said Lyles. “This time we’re campaigning for Jesus.”

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About Dick Lyles
For the past several decades Dick Lyles has devoted a significant amount of his life’s energies into projects that will make a positive difference for Catholics and our culture. As CEO of Leadership Legacies, LLC, he spearheaded the development of a comprehensive leadership development program for Catholic priests that is being delivered through the Catholic Leadership Institute in Exeter, PA. More than 1000 priests in 36 dioceses around the country have benefitted from this program. In support of the program he wrote a popular parable to introduce priests to the concepts of day-to-day leadership entitled, Good Leaders, Good Shepherds.

As a founding member of the Board of Directors of The Act One Program in Hollywood, Dick has worked alongside Barbara Nicolosi for the better part of a decade to train Christians for writing careers and executive careers in television and movie making. The Act One Program is having a powerful positive impact on both Hollywood and the broader culture.

Dick is past CEO of Relevant Radio, a thirty-three station Catholic radio network serving parts of the Midwest, South and Eastern portions of the United States.  Relevant radio played a key role in these markets in evangelizing, education, and nurturing Catholic values in support of our bishops. 

Dick has been a member of Legatus, an international association of CEOs and their spouses for more than a decade, having served as president of the San Diego Chapter for two years. He is a sought after speaker on the Legatus circuit, having addressed more than three dozen chapters and delivered a keynote at their International Summit.
All of these experiences point to Dick’s commitment to causing positive changes in the culture rooted in Catholic teaching and true Christian philosophy. This is a point of view that has been lost in Hollywood, where 75% of the world’s media is produced.  Dick is thus an excellent person to lead Genesis in its goal to re-establish Catholic values and world view as a normal element in mainstream movie making.

Note to editors and producers:  To arrange a print interview with Dick Lyles please contact Jon Stock at (310) 321-7667.