Big Issues Make the Big Screen in Times Square
Kelly Rowland Joins UN Officials and VIPs to Send the Message that “Everyone can Help Solve Global Problems”; the United Nations Foundation Debuts PSA at Crossroads of the World Before The UN Millennium Summit in New York City
New York, NY (Vocus) September 8, 2010
As world leaders convene in New York this September for a high-level summit to advance the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations Foundation unveiled a high-impact public service announcement about the most critical issues facing the world today on the Toshiba Vision screen in Times Square. During a launch event at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Assistant Secretary-General Sigrid Kaag, and the UN Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Rick Parnell unveiled a special Public Service Announcement inviting people to get involved to solve global problems — marking the first time that the work of the UN is featured prominently in this iconic space.
“The United Nations is grateful to Toshiba for its willingness to provide its Toshiba Vision screen to help raise awareness about the most pressing global challenges in one of the main crossroads of the world,” said UNDP Assistant Administrator Sigrid Kaag. “Only by working together with world leaders, the private sector, and individuals, can we make real progress towards ending poverty and hunger, improving the health of mothers and children, fighting preventable diseases, and protecting the environment.”
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-television host-actress Kelly Rowland helped premiere the new video message via a live call, saying, “We all can send the message to world leaders that we care about these goals and want to make a difference.” Rowland joined the call to action by inviting her friends and fans to get involved. “You don’t have to be a celebrity or a world leader or a billionaire to make a difference. Everyone can do something today to make sure that women get an education, children are born with health and safety and families can live without the threat of disease.”
“The MDGs are a to-do list for the UN, world leaders, and citizens alike,” said Rick Parnell of the UN Foundation. “By placing this important message on the big screen in Times Square, we hope everyone will see that they too can help the UN create a better world. We want people to share the urgent call to action in their respective town squares across the U. S. and the world. We are thankful to Toshiba for providing its Toshiba Vision screen at One Times Square to help amplify the discussion about these important goals.”
This month, all eyes are on New York where world leaders will meet at the UN headquarters for the MDG Review Summit - marking the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the eight goals by all 192 UN member-states. From September 20-24, 2010, President Barack Obama and other world leaders will deliver their plan to tackle the biggest problems facing the world today.
The 30-second PSA debuting today was produced by GOOD in partnership with the UN Foundation and Millennium Promise. It focuses on the eight MDGs: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development. The PSA will continue airing on the Toshiba Vision screen throughout the month of September as world leaders meet at the UN General Assembly, UN MDG Summit, the Clinton Global Initiative and other high-level meetings.
Three additional PSAs will air on the Toshiba Vision screen, focusing on how individuals can help the UN advance the MDGs by empowering and educating girls, ending preventable childhood diseases, and protecting the environment. They will be broadcasted along with the new MDG PSA throughout the month of September. The videos are available for viewing and downloading at http://www. unfoundation. org/mdgs. The UN Foundation encourages people everywhere to use these announcements and share them with networks through social media, broadcast, and other channels to raise awareness about how people everywhere can get involved in tackling global problems.
To watch the PSAs and to learn more about how to advance the MDGs, visit http://www. unfoundation. org/mdgs. For high-res images and b-roll footage of the PSAs on the screen, please contact klornsen(at)unfoundation(dot)org.
To learn more about the United Nations Development Programme and its work around the world to combat poverty visit http://www. undp. org.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The campaigns we conduct reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes. These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For more information, visit http://www. unfoundation. org.
About Toshiba Vision
Prominently positioned below the world-famous New Year countdown ball in New York City’s Times Square business and entertainment district, Toshiba’s massive dual LED signboards, known collectively as “TOSHIBA VISION,” serve a variety of promotional and public-service functions. In addition to illuminating the annual New Year countdown for upwards of 1 billion celebrants worldwide, the Interlocking System connects both boards in brilliant seasonal displays and animated sporting events. From atop One Times Square Building, one of the most valuable advertising locations in the world, TOSHIBA VISION ensures superb domestic and international media exposure, providing the Toshiba brand with unrivalled quantitative and qualitative promotional benefits. For more information on the TOSHIBA VISION LED signboards please visit http://www. toshibavision. com.
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