MUMBAI: Children with cancer from around the world received the support of special angels this past week as thousands of Univision Radio listeners joined a nationwide effort to battle childhood cancer and other deadly diseases during the annual St. Jude Promesa y Esperanza (Promise and Hope) Radio Event, on February 2 and 3, benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the United States, partnered with St. Jude, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers, to bring the nationwide effort to its listeners, resulting in more than $5.25 million in cash and pledges. Univision Radio stations across the country and in Puerto Rico dedicated two days of programming to raising funds for St. Jude and its lifesaving medical research.
The St. Jude Promesa y Esperanza radio event has brought the hospital’s mission to life for millions of Univision Radio listeners across the country through moving patient stories, like Emilio’s. Emilio is a 14-year-old patient who was treated at St. Jude for astrocytoma, an aggressive and life-threatening brain tumor. Today Emilio is able to enjoy his favorite activities such as playing the guitar, singing and composing songs. Emilio, along with more than a dozen St. Jude patients shared their stories with millions of Univision Radio listeners who were encouraged to become Angeles de Esperanza (Angels of Hope) by making a donation of $20 per month. The funds raised during the two-day event help pay for treatment and research developed at St. Jude. Additionally, the funds help provide housing, transportation, food and services such as schooling and rehabilitation to help improve the quality of life for St. Jude patients and their families.
“At Univision our No. 1 job is public service, and there are few causes that are as important as the work of St. Jude and the fight against childhood cancer and other terminal childhood illnesses,” said Randy Falco, CEO & President of Univision Communications, Inc. “Our audience and our employees have risen to the occasion as we’ve reached out across all of our platforms to support an issue that makes a difference in the lives of children and families. We are honored to have played an important role in the success of the 2012 event.”
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This year, Univision activated 360-degree support of the event via its radio, television, online and social media platforms. Additionally, Univision personalities supported the effort via social media including El Show de Piolin’s Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo; Sabado Gigante’s Javier Romero; Despierta Am?©rica’s Poncho de Anda, Ra??l Gonzalez and Karla Mart?nez; Primer Impacto’s Pamela Silva Conde; El Gordo y La Flaca’s Lily Estefan and Raul de Molina, Julie Stav, Dra. Isabel, Raul Brindis, Ilia Calder??n from Noticiero Univision Edici??n Nocturna, Intimo’s Alberto Sardinias and more.
“As a leading Hispanic media company, Univision is an ideal partner to help share the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children with the Hispanic community,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “In addition to celebrating our remarkable partnership, Univision and St. Jude are both celebrating our 50th anniversaries this year. We are truly grateful for Univision Radio’s success in raising millions of dollars through our Promesa y Esperanza radio event and for helping St. Jude continue the pioneering research and care that gives hope to children in communities everywhere who are fighting for their lives.”
The Promesa y Esperanza event was further supported by a number of Latin celebrities who reached out to their fans through live interviews, recorded Public Service Announcements (PSAs), call-ins and continuous messages through their social media networks. Supporting celebrities included Luis Fonsi, Gloria Estefan, Daisy Fuentes, Luis Enrique, Prince Royce, Graciela Beltran, Karen Martinez, Dulce Maria and Natalia Jimenez.
St. Jude opened its doors in 1962, as the realization of its founder Danny Thomas’ dream that “No child should die in the dawn of life.” In the last 50 years, the hospital has treated children from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and around the world. Funds raised through events like Promesa y Esperanza help St. Jude researchers continue their work in developing treatments, which are shared freely with the medical community around the world to increase survival rates for children with cancer and other deadly diseases.
