Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Center for Learning Disabilities Join Efforts to Continue Closing Education Gap for Latino Students

NEW YORK, May 01, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — –Enhanced Eselmomento.com Website Guides Parents and Students through Education System with New Interactive Tools

Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today announced the launch of the third phase of its highly successful, multi-platform education initiative, Es el momento (The Moment is Now). The initiative’s third phase underscores the critical importance of parents as lifelong advocates for education in their children’s lives, from their early years through childhood, teens and into young adulthood.

“Es el momento’s third phase renews Univision’s commitment to Latino educational attainment with an in-depth look at the importance of parents as a guiding force behind their children’s academic success,” said Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks. “Hispanics in the U.S. will continue redefining our nation’s fabric and we want to carry on our mission by raising awareness for parental advocacy to educate, inform and empower Hispanic America’s next generation of leaders.”

“We are proud of Es el Momento’s progress toward empowering Latino parents to be advocates for their children’s education and are excited about continuing our partnership in the next phase of the campaign,” said Allan Golston, president of the Gates Foundation’s United States Program.

“Parenting is the most important job that every parent takes on. Good parenting and family involvement in schools are essential if children are going to flourish and fulfill their dreams,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education.

Joining Univision are new partner organizations Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Along with the steadfast support of its advisory board and longstanding partners the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S. Department of Education and other educators and civic community leaders, Univision will continue its efforts to improve academic achievement among Hispanic students and foster a college-bound culture.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is thrilled to partner with Univision’s Es el momento initiative. Univision has the ability to help increase the number of young Latinos in achieving their educational dreams and we are honored to join forces in that mission,” said Hector Cortez, national director of Hispanic Mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“With its extensive record of championing diversity, ASHA is keenly aware of the demographic changes taking place and the need to deliver vital health information to new audiences,” ASHA President Shelly Chabon, CCC-SLP says. “We look forward to making our bilingual member audiologists and speech-language pathologists and their great health expertise available to the millions who tune in to the Univision Network.”

Es el momento’s newest phase focused on parental advocacy will kick off with a multi-platform premiere of its new public service announcement (PSA) campaign developed by Miami-based firm Republica. The first one of a series of motivational PSAs will premiere on Univision’s leading morning show “Despierta America” (Wake-Up America), followed by a special presentation on “Primer Impacto” (First Impact). The PSAs will also be leveraged via multiple online, mobile and social media platforms, as well as radio and for the first time video on demand.

With the help of collaborating partners, the initiative continues to develop new strategies and tools leveraging key platforms including its website, grassroots events and social media. Univision will also expand its grassroots efforts nationwide with numerous local events, education fairs and town halls, reaching new cities, including Atlanta, Raleigh, El Paso and Albuquerque.

This year, Es el momento will also award the first-ever recipients of “Univision Becas,” its national multi-year scholarship program that awards scholarships to eligible Hispanic students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. Furthermore, continuing the overwhelming success of its weeklong education event, Univision will hold its second annual ” Educate, Es el momento!” Education Week later this year.

Since its launch in February 2010, Es el momento has reached more than 16 million people across the country through the network’s multiple platforms. In its first year alone, Univision donated more than $21 million to the campaign in airtime for public service announcements and educational vignettes, increasing this amount in its second year to over $23 million and touching the lives of thousands of families through continued efforts at the national and grassroots levels. Local programs, including spelling bees, reading clubs and mentoring programs as well as the continued success of Univision’s multiple phone banks, have served as a powerful resource to Latino families coast-to-coast.

About Univision Es el momento

Es El Momento, launched in February 2010, is Univision comprehensive, multi-platform, national education initiative aimed at improving academic achievement among K-12 Hispanic students. The initiative focuses on college readiness, high school and college completion, as well as engaging Hispanic parents and the broader community. This effort is conducted in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, community, education and civil rights groups from around the country. Other partners include ASPIRA, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, The College Board and NASA. As the premier media company serving the U.S. Hispanic community, Univision mission is to inform, entertain and empower Hispanics. Es El Momento builds on Univision legacy of supporting the community through the creation of initiatives on issues affecting them, including education, health and civic engagement.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. 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 country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 88% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavision, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports and a suite of six cable offerings – De Pelicula, De Pelicula Clasico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Clasico TV; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, a network of national and local online and mobile sites including Univision.com, which continues to be the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Movil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. 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: Univision Communications Inc.