RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. — Samsung gathered with its partners and special guests — including former first lady Laura Bush, Jennifer Hudson, and Eli Manning — to celebrate eleven years dedicated to improving children’s lives across the U.S. The event, held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, brought together nearly 900 guests who together raised nearly $1.5 million — the highest total in Samsung’s gala history — to benefit children’s health, education, and sustainability programs. Additional celebrity partners at the gala included Drew Brees, Jimmie Johnson, Jason Taylor, Boomer Esiason, Dan Marino, and co-hosts Regis Philbin, David Alan Grier, and John Legend.
Samsung Hope for Children, the company’s global corporate social responsibility platform, brings together the company, its retail partners, and a network of charitable organizations associated with renowned public figures. Over the course of its 11-year history, Samsung Hope for Children has raised more than $16.1 million through the gala that has helped more than 425 schools, hospitals, and community-based foundations throughout the U.S. One hundred percent of the gala proceeds and additional funds raised by Samsung throughout the year under its Hope for Children platform go directly to the charities without stipulation.
“Technology is an enabler for breakthrough innovations. It has provided Samsung the opportunity to make progress and improvements in the lives of children over the past 11 years,” said Y.K. Kim, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America. “We will continue empowering young people to learn, create, and collaborate with the ongoing support of our influential business and philanthropic partners, both in the U.S. and around the world.”
Samsung Hope for Children has partnered with organizations such as TackleCF with the Boomer Esiason Foundation, Team Up For Technology with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, and TeamUp for Autism with the Dan Marino Foundation.
The New York City gala featured special performances by Grammy and Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson and the nationally recognized PS22 Chorus from Graniteville, Staten Island, NY. Children from select New York City schools also joined the celebration by introducing former first lady Laura Bush. Mrs. Bush was presented with the Samsung Hope for Children Ambassador Award for her work with The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.
To learn more about the Samsung Hope for Children initiative, please visit www.samsung.com/hope. You can also check out the Samsung Hope for Children Facebook Hope tab at www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA.
HD broadcast footage and photos from the event are available at http://www.epklink.com/2012samsunggala.
About Samsung Hope for Children
Since our founding in 1969, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has worked with passion and purpose to actively serve as a generous and ethical corporate citizen everywhere we operate. The Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare. By supplying Samsung products, lending our expertise, and providing financial support, we’re able to give thousands of children in communities around the world access to education, mentorship, leadership skills, and life-saving medical treatment. It is one of the way in which Samsung uses our innovation to create a better world. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/hope .
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com .
Samsung Celebrity Partners Quotes
Samsung Hope for Children works with the following celebrities to raise awareness and provide support to the following children’s organizations:
Jennifer Hudson, Julian D. King Gift Foundation
“My foundation is extremely close to my heart. Working with Samsung Hope for Children allows my sister Julia and I to take our foundation to the next level and to continue to honor Julian through positive experiences for children. I’m excited to join this prestigious group of philanthropists and celebrate all of these tremendous foundations tonight.”
Laura Bush, The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries
“Samsung is a terrific example of a corporation committed to investing in the education of America’s children. I’m thrilled that the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is a recipient of this year’s Hope for Children Awards and I’m honored to receive the Ambassador Award.”
John Legend, The Show Me Campaign
“I worked with Samsung again on their Solve for Tomorrow initiative this year and it was incredible to see first-hand how the company gets kids excited to learn about math and science. My organization, The Show Me Campaign, strives to ensure that all kids have access to a good education and Samsung Hope for Children works hard to give students incentives and opportunities to learn. It’s been a great partnership.”
Drew Brees, The Brees Dream Foundation
“Brittany and I started the Brees Dream Foundation because we felt we had the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference. We’re excited to partner with Samsung Hope for Children so we can expand how we are able to help kids across the country with a company that has already been doing so for years.”
Eli Manning, Friends of Children’s Hospital
“I’ve teamed up with Samsung for the last several years. Improving the lives of children is important to me and I’m humbled to be a part of this initiative again this year. Together with Samsung Hope for Children, we’ve been able to significantly impact the lives of children in Mississippi and I look forward to what’s to come.”
Jimmie Johnson, The Jimmie Johnson Foundation
“I am consistently blown away by the support Samsung gives to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Samsung Hope for Children has been great to work with over the years on programs like Team Up for Technology and I look forward to continuing to watch the positive impact the company has on children.”
Dan Marino, The Dan Marino Foundation
“Claire and I established the Dan Marino Foundation twenty years ago this year and over the past decade have partnered with Samsung Hope for Children. Samsung is amazing; their partnership has been beneficial in the Foundation’s ability to make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of children.
Boomer Esiason, The Boomer Esiason Foundation
“Cystic fibrosis is a chronic respiratory disease that affects more than 30,000 people in the United States — including my family. With the support of partners like Samsung, we’ve been able to raise millions of dollars to help find a cure, and also to establish and operate programs that support the CF community. We aim to help people with the disease live, breathe and succeed.”