Univision’s ¡EDÚCATE! ES EL MOMENTO reach millions of Hispanics.

As part of its ongoing commitment to education, Univision Communications addressed the critical need for information with its unprecedented education week “¡Edúcate! Es el momento.” Millions came together to further impact Hispanic educational attainment through Univision-hosted workshops, forums, phone banks, special programming including an education town hall in Washington, DC, as well as a closing landmark event in Los Angeles, “La Feria, Es el momento.”
 
“Our country’s future will depend on our ability to prepare our future workforce,” said Cesar Conde, president, Univision Networks. “Working hand in hand with our partners, we are thrilled to have provided millions of families around the country with direct access to resources they need.”
 
The “¡Edúcate! Es el momento” seven-day effort (October 16 -22, 2011) counted with a line up of activities that featured:

• “La Feria, Es el momento” which included activities ranging from a book fair to a forum packed to capacity featuring Univision award-winning anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas, and information about the education and financial process, counted with approximately 50,000 attendees.

• Phone banks hosted in cities around the country and Puerto Rico received approximately 10,000 calls from people looking for information about the college and financial application process.

• More than 820,000 viewers tuned in to a special edition of “Al Punto.” Guests included Jose Rico, Deputy Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; Dr. Fernando Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of International Education at Harvard University; Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President of Miami Dade College; Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush; Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles; Cesar Conde, President of Univision Networks; Sylvia Mendez, Civil Right Activist and Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• “Aquí y Ahora” reached more than 1.7 million viewers in a special edition on education.

•  Through social media, the efforts garnered more than six million impressions on Twitter and Facebook. Moreover the Es el momento Facebook page grew by 136 percent.

• A first-of-its-kind town hall with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; Chairman of the Board for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Raul Romero; Miami Dade College President Dr. Eduardo J. Padron; and Dr. Fernando Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of International Education at Harvard University.

• Hundreds of exclusive hours aired across Univision Networks’ signature shows; integration on digital platforms including social media; special segments broadcast on Univision Local TV and Radio stations around the country.

• Special segments and interviews on Univision Radio’s FM and AM stations, including Dra. Isabel’s national syndicated show. Univision Radio stations also provided on-air support for parents and co-hosted education events with Univision local TV stations around the country.

• Dozens of Univision-hosted events including workshops, forums and phone banks in several cities.
 
Additionally, as part of Univision’s efforts, the company launched a new $300,000 scholarship program “Becas Univision” to provide more opportunities for college-bound Hispanic students.

Caption: On Thursday, Nov. 11, 2011, Bill and Melinda Gates and Univision Network’s President Cesar Conde marked the success of Univision’s recent week-long education efforts – “!Educate! Es el momento” – with at visit to Univision’s studios in Miami, Florida. Univision’s education week was part of the Company’s multi-platform, multi-year education initiative, “Es el momento,” in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the U.S. Department of Education, community, education and civil rights groups from around the country. (Photo credit: Jeffrey Boan)