NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Univision has launched its “Estamos con los Niños” (“We Are With The Children”) campaign that provides audiences with the opportunity to support the nonprofit organizations providing humanitarian relief and assistance to children fleeing life-threatening violence and extreme hardship in Central America, and seeking refuge in the United States.
Univision is inviting audiences across all of its media platforms to contribute to the charity, Save the Children, by dialing 1-800-NINOS-79, texting the word NINOS to 20222, or going online to savethechildren.org/ninos. Save the Children is collecting the donations to use in its critical programs supporting these children and will also grant funds to other well-respected national charities and service providers, including Catholic Charities USA, CARECEN (Central American Resource Center) and Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), which are providing much-needed support to these children across the nation. The funds will be used to provide a range of services to meet basic human needs such as nutritious meals and clothing; medical care; and legal representation as the children face immigration hearings that will determine their future.
The campaign launched Monday with special segments in Despierta America (Wake Up America), Hoy, and El Gordo y La Flaca (The Scoop & The Skinny). It will continue through PSAs airing across Univision’s national and local media properties and segments throughout its television and radio programs. In addition to the Company’s multi-platform campaign, on September 20, Univision’s Saturday night institution “Sábado Gigante” (Giant Saturday) will devote its entire first hour to the crisis, with host Don Francisco and special guests spotlighting the human side of the unfolding situation starting at 8pm/7pm Central. On social media, the conversation will be driven using the hashtag #EstamosConLosNiños in Spanish or #TheyAreChildren in English.
“Our continuing experience, both in reporting on the crisis and in providing aid, has convinced us that these children still need humanitarian support as they await the determination of their future," said Roberto Llamas, executive vice president of Human Resources and Community Empowerment at Univision. “By partnering with Save the Children and these other respected nonprofit organizations, we now have the mechanisms in place to provide those in our community with a way to contribute to aiding these children.”
Added Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles, “We are thankful for Univision’s leadership in getting the word out about the needs of these children. Many have fled violence and hardship in their home countries and faced a harrowing journey across the border. These children are extremely vulnerable, and we are working to provide them with the care and support they urgently need.”
Since June, Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has provided comprehensive news coverage of this humanitarian crisis, the root causes behind the situation and steps being taken to address it. Across its media assets including the Univision Network, Galavisión, Fusion, digital platforms, and local media, UCI has shared the stories of children and families who made the harrowing journey to the U.S. Additionally, the Company launched an awareness initiative to engage its audiences on this issue via PSAs, discussion on various programs, and social media. In addition, the Company has donated supplies to organizations currently caring for these children and continues to advocate for them by reaching out to elected officials at the local, state and federal level regarding the humanitarian response needed.
In August, Univision announced an unprecedented partnership with philanthropic foundations including The California Endowment, the James Irvine Foundation and the Marguerite Casey Foundation to begin raising funds for nonprofit organizations providing humanitarian relief to the children affected by this crisis. Monday’s launch of the public-facing campaign in partnership with Save the Children represents an expansion of that effort, inviting Univision’s television, radio, digital and social audiences to join the cause. Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) has contributed expertise to illuminate funding needs and priorities, and Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) is facilitating the distribution of a portion of the grants.
About Save the Children
Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the best chance for success. Our pioneering programs give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Our advocacy efforts provide a voice for children who cannot speak for themselves. As the leading expert on children, we inspire and achieve lasting impact for millions of the world’s most vulnerable girls and boys. By transforming children’s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 95% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 89% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of cable offerings - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; an Interactive network of online and mobile apps and products including UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America, Uforia, the leading Hispanic digital music service, Univision.com, the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. UCI’s assets also include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a new 24-hour English-language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, and a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion, a news, pop culture and satire TV and digital network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.Univision.net.