The Cisneros Group and Venevision will drive the fundraising campaign for UNICEF Venezuela to ensure the continued support of the measures for protection, disease prevention and nutrition of children and adolescents in Haiti who are at risk after the January 2010 earthquake.
Caracas, April 27, 2010 – The Cisneros Group and Venevision, in alliance with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Venezuela, support Haiti's recovery through the dissemination of a fundraising campaign to benefit Haitian children and adolescents by way of television commercials that invite the audience to send a text message in solidarity with the humanitarian work of reconstructing the country.
During the first three weeks of air time, there were more than 12,000 new text messages with the word UNICEF to 327 (DAR), a figure which represented an increase of 51 percent in cumulative revenue, that is equivalent to Bs 37,000.00 to date. Nadya Vasquez, UNICEF Representative in Venezuela, expressed her enthusiasm and deep gratitude to the Cisneros Group and Venevision for this Social Responsibility initiative and for the contribution of its strong communications platform to reach viewers to increase awareness on the situation of children and adolescents in Haiti and to make them part of the reconstruction.
“This disaster has been an emergency for children with nearly 1.5 million children directly affected. UNICEF has made progress in ensuring life-saving services for women and children after the crisis, but it is crucial that we ensure that the children of Haiti are always at the center of the recovery program," she added. As a sign of solidarity of the Venezuelan people, UNICEF Venezuela will contribute all funds collected from this initiative, via SMS, to help create a better Haiti for children and adolescents.
María Ignacia Arcaya, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Cisneros Group, stressed the importance of these joint initiatives. "For our organization and, in particular for Venevision, the increase in fundraising is very pleasing and immeasurable achievement that demonstrates the success of joint efforts for a common goal, which in this case is to safeguard the survival and development of children in an emergency situation."
Adriana Vasini, Miss Venezuela World 2009, and the young actor Victor Drija are responsible for disseminating these messages of solidarity for the continued support of efforts to help rebuild the devastated nation. A commitment exists to direct contributions to benefit the generation of Haitians under 14 years of age, which represent 40 percent of the population.