Global Movement for Humanity unite4:good Kicks Off the 4:inspiration Project to Empower Local Heroes

LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- unite4:good, the groundbreaking, new movement to inspire and empower positive, global change through acts of kindness, announces the kick-off of the 4:inspiration Project (http://inspiration.unite4.org/) which identifies and empowers local heroes who are making a difference in their communities.

Each month between now and December 2014, unite4:good's Founding Affiliates are invited to nominate one individual who is furthering their respective missions on the ground. These heroes will be given the opportunity to tell their story on inspiration.unite4.org. Supporters will be asked to vote for the individual who most inspires them.  A $4 donation will go towards the project, and will let the voter participate actively in raising funds for the nominee's good works. Half of the monthly donations will go to the winning local hero through a recommended grant process by the nominating Affiliate. The remaining funds will be split between all participating unite4:good Founding Affiliates, a coalition of well-recognized non-profits who have launched goodwill projects with unite4:good over the last year through unite4:good grants. In the first month, local heroes have been nominated by DoSomething.org, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Trevor Project, Keep A Child Alive and Points of Light.

"We are excited to participate in unite4:good's 4:inspiration Project.  They are providing a platform to recognize the everyday heroes who are bringing about positive change in the world.  We're hoping that their stories will inspire even more individuals to take action and get involved, both locally and globally," said Leslie Goldman, Vice President of Community Fundraising at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

In January 2015, these six monthly winners will be featured on the inspiration.unite4.org platform, and their stories will be chronicled by unite4:good entertainment, a newly-launched joint venture between WV Enterprises and Anthony Melikhov, global philanthropist and Founder of unite4:good. U4:G Entertainment was created by Wilmer Valderrama and Melikhov to develop entertainment properties that promote social good, positive messaging and launch inspiring content across broadcast and digital platforms. Each local hero will have the opportunity to be featured in his or her own U4:G Entertainment-produced documentary short that will help them share his or her story with the world.

"We started unite4:good entertainment to start changing the signal in media from negative to positive. We want to give empowering, uplifting and inspiring content a home and a champion in the entertainment industry," said Valderrama. "The opportunity to tell the powerful stories of these remarkable individuals – and to share these stories with the world – is at the core mission of U4:G Entertainment and we believe that through this project we can encourage many others to give back to their communities." 

In addition, beginning in January 2015 the six finalists and their video entries will be featured on inspiration.unite4.org for public supporters to vote once again – with the top three winners' organizations each receiving an additional $25,000 Inspiration Grant. The top vote recipient's charity will also receive a $50,000 Impact Grant, with all monthly finalists and a guest being invited to the 2015 unite4:humanity event which will be held in Los Angeles, CA, next February. The annual event, held in conjunction with Variety, will feature the stories of the finalists and will invite the three grant winners to the stage. The event was first held this past February and honored six local Inspiration Award heroes along with entertainment icons such as Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorcese, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Selena Gomez, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato. The event also awarded the Unity Recognition to keynote speaker President Bill Clinton.

"We are thrilled to partner with unite4:good for the unite4:humanity event in 2015 to honor these local heroes on a global stage. Every individual can have a profound impact on our world, and bringing together these leaders at unite4:humanity 2015 is both an honor and a privilege," said Michelle Sobrino, Publisher at Variety.

"We created an abbreviated 4:inspiration grant program earlier this year in conjunction with our Founding Affiliates in order to identify and enable local heroes who are making a positive difference in their communities. The program was very successful and resonated strongly with voters," said Melikhov. "Empowering individuals who are committed to acts of kindness and service is at the core of the unite4:good movement, and it made absolute sense to expand this program, enable the public to support these local heroes in a simple way, and honor their work by recognizing it at our global event. This is not simply a program we have created - it is a project - and by its very definition is something that requires all of us to work together in order to make it impactful."

For more information or to vote/make a pledge, please visit: inspiration.unite4.org

About unite4:good

unite4:good is a groundbreaking, new movement to inspire and empower positive, global change through acts of kindness. By empowering action, creating new programs, and uniting both individuals and organizations in innovative ways--we will inspire positive and lasting change on a global scale.

unite4:good will encourage everyone to inspire, empower, share and love. www.facebook.com/unite4good.org

About Variety

Variety and Variety.com provide the industry with the most comprehensive coverage of film, television and the digital space. With respected and experienced news reporters in Los Angeles, New York and around the world, Variety marries its historic coverage of the entertainment business with a recently revamped website and weekly print magazine offering readers the in-depth news coverage needed to remain competitive in the ever-changing entertainment industry. The Variety Group – Variety, Variety.com, Variety Insight, LA 411, NY 411 – is owned by Variety Media, LLC, a division of Penske Media Corporation.       

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shaila Arora
[email protected]
310.717.8255

Sophia Paliov
[email protected]
949.525.5022

SOURCE unite4:good