MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During the annual Promesa y Esperanza (Promise and Hope) radiothon with Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group, Hispanics across the country opened their hearts to help save kids battling cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R), one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers. On February 5 and 6, Promesa y Esperanza generated more than $6 million in cash and pledges to help St. Jude continue its groundbreaking research and lifesaving care.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090220/DC73645)
"We are very thankful for the incredible support that Univision Radio, its staff and listeners have shown for the children of St. Jude," said David L. McKee, interim CEO and chief operating officer of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "These pledges will help our doctors and scientists continue conducting the groundbreaking research and developing the lifesaving care that will create hope for thousands of children in communities around the world."
During the two-day radiothon, listeners from cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Diego, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Fresno, and El Paso and from Puerto Rico jammed phone lines to make a pledge of hope. With a monthly $20 donation, callers became Angeles de Esperanza (Partners in Hope). These monthly donations help St. Jude keep its promise that no child is ever denied treatment at St. Jude because of a family's inability to pay.
St. Jude patients joined Univision DJ's in radio booths across the country to share their story with listeners and volunteers, as well as with audiences from Univision's top rated syndicated shows such as "Piolin por la Manana" and "El Pistolero". Stars from the Latin music world also joined in the fight against childhood cancer, including singers Luis Fonsi, Fanny Lu, Chenoa and Monte Rosa, as well as some of Univision's most popular television personalities, including Neida Sandoval, Ana Maria Canseco, Karla Martinez, Fernando Arau and Raul Gonzalez from "Despierta America" (Wake Up America), Charytin Goyco, Felipe Viel and Lilia Luciano from "Escandalo TV" (Showbiz TV), Javier Romero from "Sabado Gigante" (Giant Saturday), and Carlos Calderon from "El Gordo y La Flaca" (The Scoop and the Skinny) and "Acceso Maximo" (All Access).
"We are extremely proud and honored to work with St. Jude on such a life-changing cause," said Gary Stone, president and chief operating officer, Univision Radio. "The response from our listeners and employees -- our Univision family -- during the radiothon has been inspiring and speaks to our commitment to contributing to the St. Jude mission of helping save children's lives."
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. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.
Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 97% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 64 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; and Univision Interactive Media, which includes http://www.univision.com, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., and Univision Movil, the industry's most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications 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
