The Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal Campaign: Ending Violence Against Women, One Pixel At A Time

DENVER, March 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net) is proud to launch the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign (http://reveal.thepixelproject.net) on International Women's Day (8 March 2014). This campaign aims to raise US$1 million in aid of the U.S.A.'s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org) and The Pixel Project while highlighting the important role men and boys play in stopping Violence Against Women (VAW). The campaign will launch with a series of live Google Hangouts featuring prominent anti-VAW activists and popular authors.

The Pixel Reveal campaign rallies the global audience to collectively unveil an online million-pixel mystery collage of world-exclusive celebrity male role model portraits by donating US$1 per pixel. Each donation triggers the automatic reveal of the equivalent number of pixels. For example, a $10 donation will trigger the reveal of 10 pixels. As more pixels are revealed, the cover picture will fade out to uncover the portraits underneath it. When a celebrity male role model is revealed, an exclusive anti-VAW public service announcement from him will be launched. The distinguished line-up includes a Nobel Laureate, a two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner and superstar Environmentalist; and their portraits are taken by award-winning international photographer, Jillian Edelstein. Donations start at as little as $10.

Through the Pixel Reveal campaign, The Pixel Project is working to accelerate a major paradigm change that is crucial for efforts to end VAW by highlighting positive male role models to inspire men and boys to join the anti-VAW movement. VAW has always been stereotyped as a 'women's issue'. In reality, it is a human rights issue that impacts families and communities. Men may be the majority of perpetrators of VAW, but good, non-violent men far outnumber them and have largely remained silent on the issue. For VAW to end, these men need to be involved in efforts to end the violence. The Pixel Reveal campaign intends to do just that by triggering conversations about VAW worldwide and inspiring men and boys to take action to stop VAW in their communities.

To launch the campaign, a special series of live Google Hangouts will be held between 8 - 31 March 2014 to kick-start conversations about VAW and to encourage donations in support of the campaign. Anti-VAW activist speakers taking part include UN Women, The Pixel Project, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the White Ribbon Campaign, Stop Street Harassment, feminist activists and writers Jaclyn Friedman and Soraya Chemaly, a panel of smartphone safety app experts (Circle of 6, PFO tech) and a panel of documentary filmmakers who focus on the issue of VAW (Evan Grae Davis, Lisa F. Jackson). The bestselling and award-winning authors doing readings with Q&A sessions in support of the campaign include Cornelia Funke, Isaac Marion, Jacqueline Carey, and Kelley Armstrong.

Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project, said: "Violence against women is one of the most widespread and entrenched human rights violations in the world and The Pixel Project is delighted that our world-famous male role models, fellow activists, allies, and acclaimed authors have stepped up to join us in raising much-needed funds and widespread support for this cause. Violence against women has long been seen as a women's issue instead of the community and cultural issue that it is, and we hope this campaign will change this by galvanising men and boys to join the cause."

Rita Smith, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence said: "The Pixel Project's Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign is an amazing and creative idea to help us engage more male allies, share information across the globe to those in need, and connect with activists around the world working to end violence against women. We must join together if we ever hope to reduce these kinds of crimes, and we are thrilled to be partnering with The Pixel Project on this journey."

SOURCE National Coalition Against Domestic Violence