Univision Radio Raises More Than $4.7 Million to Support Children with Cancer at St. Jude

USA - English

• Latin America - español

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a nationwide effort to help fight childhood cancer and other deadly diseases, Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the United States, and its listeners raised more than $4.7 million in cash and pledges during the 14th annual Promesa y Esperanza (Promise and Hope) radiothon, which took place on February 3 and 4, benefiting  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, the nation's top children's cancer hospital. Univision Radio stations across the country and Puerto Rico dedicated more than 30 hours of programming to raising funds for St. Jude and its lifesaving medical research. During the two-day event, listeners committed to becoming Angeles de Esperanza (Angels of Hope) by making a donation of $20 per month. All funds raised benefit St. Jude and help to provide treatments, housing, food and transportation to patients and their families free of charge.

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During the Promesa y Esperanza radiothon, St. Jude patients shared their stories live on air with Univision Radio listeners and volunteers. Additionally, several Latin celebrities joined the national event by motivating listeners to become Angels of Hope through live radio interviews, recorded Public Service Announcements (PSAs), call-ins and continuous messages through their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Participating celebrities included Luis Enrique, Luis Fonsi, Angelica Vale, Ricardo Montaner, Juanes, Thalia, Paulina Rubio, Prince Royce, Belanova, Julian Gil, Luz Rios, Noel Schajris, Alejandro Sanz, as well as some of Univision's most popular television personalities Karla Martinez and Raul Gonzalez from "Despierta America" and Ilia Calderon from "Primer Impacto" and "Noticiero Univision Edicion Nocturna." Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo, la Dra. Isabel, Javier Romero, Enrique Santos, Raul Brindis, Dra. Aliza Lifshitz, Alberto Sardinas, Jose Fernadez, Carlos Calderon, Luisa Fernanda, and many other popular Univision personalities gave their time and talent to help the children of St. Jude.

New this year, Univision Network and Univision Local Media used social media resources, such as Facebook and Twitter, and the St. Jude webpage, www.promesayesperanza.org, to motivate fans to support the radiothon. Fans were encouraged to share photos and videos from the radiothon on their social media sites, which helped to raise awareness about the work of St. Jude and the commitment of Univision to the hospital. Despite the bitter cold and icy roads in many of the cities hosting the event, committed volunteers made their way to the radio stations and radio listeners responded with tremendous support for the children of St. Jude.

"We are delighted to have been able to support St. Jude's mission via our Radio and Interactive platforms and through the work of some of Hispanic America's most beloved personalities. We are proud to leverage our stations across the nation in support of the important work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Peter Walker, president, Univision Local Media.

"We are truly thankful to Univision Radio for its continued support of the Promesa y Esperanza radiothon," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Univision Radio and its employees have been a dedicated partner by sharing the St. Jude mission with the Hispanic community and raising funds to help St. Jude find cures for cancer and other deadly childhood diseases."

Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world. From public donations such as the Promesa y Esperanza radiothon, St. Jude researchers and doctors are able to share medical discoveries around the world, including several Latin American countries, to help increase survival rates for children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. St. Jude was also named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the premier media company serving the U.S. Hispanic community. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, reaching 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company's platforms; Univision Local Media, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations and 70 radio stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, which includes Univision.com, the leading Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., and Univision Movil, the industry's most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings; and TuTv, U.S. outlet for pay television channels of Mexico-based Grupo Televisa. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.univision.net.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital