Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas & Uno Magnetic Designer Luis Pons Create a Product-With-a-Purpose in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month

USA - English

• Latin America - español

MIAMI, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas joins forces with Uno Magnetic designer Luis Pons to launch TR3S BLING, the network's product-with-a-purpose initiative under its pro-social campaign Agentes de Cambio (ADC).  100% of the net profits from the piece, designed to honor young Latinos creating positive changes in communities across the U.S., will benefit Ashoka's Youth Venture, a non-profit organization that supports young people to launch and lead their own social ventures. TR3S BLING retails for $19.95 and is available for purchase at www.bling.tr3s.com.  

"We wanted jewelry that reflected the entrepreneurial spirit of these young and influential Latinos who are implementing their positive projects in a creative way to unify Latino and U.S. cultures within their communities," said Mario Cader-Frech, Vice President of Public Affairs for Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas.  "Luis Pons was a natural fit for this project based on his renowned reputation as a Latin American designer who communicates a positive message and a creative vision in a beautiful, functional and simple manner."  

"This is an initiative that's near and dear to my heart as a Venezuelan who came to the United States nine years ago," said Pons.  "I am amazed to see the incredible success these Latin youths have made in communities all over the country and I am honored to take part in helping to support their continued success."    

TR3S BLING is the latest creative output from Pons' original Uno Magnetic collection, which received rave reviews at the famed Museum of Modern Art in both NYC and Japan, and has been sold at key retailers throughout the US, Europe and Japan.  The concept of Uno Magnetic is fueled by Pons' philosophy that design should inspire and enhance people's lives, as well as stimulate their senses through meaningful interaction.  Uno Magnetic exemplifies that philosophy through simple interactivity in which you become the designer, expressing your creativity and style through its unique magnetic properties.

TR3S BLING is a limited numbered edition, interactive piece of jewelry with two "U-shaped" magnets and a nickel-plated steel chain that can be worn in multiple variations as a necklace, ring or bracelet. The "U-shaped" magnets when connected symbolize the unity of Latino and U.S. cultures.  Additionally, each magnet is inscribed and when joined together read "I am a Changemaker" and on the reverse "Yo soy un Agente de Cambio" to capture the inspirational character of these Latino youths. Additional colors of the chain are also available for those who wish to further customize their TR3S BLING.    

About Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas

Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas, owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, reaches 6.1 million Hispanic TV households (45% of US Hispanic Total TV HH) and 34 million total TV households. The network's programming embraces the trilogy of cultures that represents Latino life – Latin American plus American equals US Latino – through original productions, key acquisitions, and content from Viacom Internationals' portfolio of entertainment brands. Tr3s embraces the key lifestyle aspects of Latino identity -- milestones, making it and music -- as well as social responsibility through its initiative "Agentes de Cambio", which tackles issues that affect Latinos today. The network also taps into the growing number of Latinos that are digitally connected through www.tr3s.com.

About Agentes de Cambio

Agentes de Cambio is a youth-driven pro-social initiative that empowers young people to put ideas into action to make a positive difference in their communities. It was launched in Latin America by MTV in 2006 in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Youth Program. Through strategic alliances, this award winning initiative gives young people an open forum to tell their stories of how they are making a difference and promotes young people's involvement on various development issues that affect them such as: Education, Employment, Environment, Health, Violence prevention, and Youth participation. The program now reaches 54 million households in 23 countries. www.tr3s.com/agentesdecambio

About Uno by Luis Pons

Uno was envisioned and created by Miami-based designer, Luis Pons. The Caracas, Venezuela native's work ranges from built environments, interior, lighting and furniture design worldwide. Pons believes that design should "inspire and enhance people's lives" by stimulating their senses through meaningful interaction. His philosophy behind Uno was to establish simple interactivity, in which you become the designer expressing your creativity and style through its unique magnetic powers. Uno by Luis Pons first hit the shelves at the Museum of Modern Art in both NYC and Japan where it received rave reviews and has also been sold select retailers in the United States, Europe and Japan.  Uno is a registered trademark.  www.unomagnetic.com.

About Ashoka's Youth Venture

Ashoka's Youth Venture aims to help an entire generation of young people develop as leaders who will improve their communities now and throughout their lives.  Youth Venture inspires and supports teams of young people to launch and lead their own civic-minded organizations and businesses.  Youth teams access workshops, tools, adult allies, a global network of like-minded young changemakers, and seed funding to establish their own ventures that solve problems around them.  We believe that the greatest contribution we can make to the world is to increase dramatically the number of changemakers today and in every future generation.  This is the key factor for success for every part of society, from a school to a company to an entire country.  Youth Venture operates in 17 countries and online at www.GenV.net and at www.ashoka.org.

SOURCE Tr3s