Watch video of Randy Jackson on EXTRA!!
Westport, CT (February 28, 2008) — Randy Jackson, Grammy Award-winning producer and star of FOX Network's hit show American Idol, will serve as Save the Children's first-ever United States Programs Ambassador, working to raise awareness of America's children living in poverty.
Jackson, a 20-year music industry veteran, was first inspired by Save the Children's work during production of Idol Gives Back, a two-night fundraising special on American Idol that raised more than $75 million for children in poverty in the United States and Africa. During filming, Jackson returned to his home state of Louisiana to tour Save the Children's programs for children impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
"As a father, I know there is nothing more important than ensuring America's children have the opportunity to lead healthy, successful lives," said Randy Jackson. "Save the Children is not only helping to give a second chance to kids in my home state who are still struggling after Hurricane Katrina, but they are fighting for children all across rural America."
As an Ambassador, Randy will work closely with Save the Children to raise awareness of the critical needs of children in the United States, especially children in poor, rural areas, with a special focus on fitness, literacy and early childhood development, as well as programs that benefit children in emergencies. He will help raise funds to expand the agency's existing programs and advocate on behalf of children to elected officials, CEOs, opinion leaders and other individuals who can make a difference in the lives of the children.
"I spent a lot of time with Randy in Louisiana. He was fantastic with the kids and parents - he listened, he got on the ground and interacted with the children, and he asked great questions. So many Americans know and respect Randy - Save the Children's United States Programs are honored to join Randy in a partnership that will help these children grow as readers, develop healthy habits and get back on their feet when disasters strike," said Mark Shriver, vice president and managing director of Save the Children's U.S. Programs.
Save the Children, which works in poor, rural communities across America, received $13.5 million in Idol Gives Back funds with $7.5 million benefiting children in the United States and $6 million for Save the Children programs in Africa. In addition, as part of the Idol Gives Back program, Allstate Insurance Company announced a $1 million donation to Save the Children's U.S. Programs.
Idol Gives Back donations are supporting children in Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana through Save the Children’s early childhood education, literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs and projects to respond to the needs of children impacted by large-scale emergencies, such as the recent wildfires in Southern California.
Jul 18, 2008
Randy Jackson Named Ambassador for Save the Children's US Programs
Save the Children’s Mark Shriver Elected to Chair National Commission on Children and Disasters
Washington, DC (June 30, 2008) – Members of a new national commission on children and disasters have elected Mark K. Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director of Save the Children’s U.S. Programs, as the commission’s first chair.
The National Commission on Children and Disasters was created by an act of Congress last December. Shriver and the nine other commissioners recently were appointed by President Bush and bipartisan members of the congressional leadership to serve on the commission.The panel of experts will recommend changes that federal, state, and local governments need to make to meet the needs of children in emergencies, including planning, response and recovery efforts.
Large scale disasters are on the rise in the United States. The number of Presidential disaster declarations has risen steadily over the past two decades from 38 to an average of 57 per year.
“This is an incredible opportunity to help kids all across the country. America must do a better job of preparing to meet children’s unique needs during disasters,” said Shriver.
“In the wake of the devastating flooding in the Midwest and as we start the second month of hurricane season, it is especially important that children’s needs — such as physical and mental health services, functioning child care centers, and continuity of schooling — are taken into account. The recommendations of the commission will help communities make sure their children are taken care of when disaster strikes.”
Save the Children has decades of experience working with children in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts around the world, but Hurricane Katrina clearly demonstrated that there was no national mandate to safeguard children before, during and after disasters. Save the Children led a coalition of nonprofit organizations in advocating for the legislation and mobilizing support for the creation of a National Commission on Children and Disasters.
Candace Hanau Joins Save the Children as Chief Marketing Officer
Westport, CT (July 17, 2008) — Candace Hanau has joined Save the Children as Associate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Hanau most recently served as head of marketing and communications for AmeriCares in Stamford. In her new role, Hanau’s main focus will be on expanding brand building and marketing opportunities for the 76-year-old humanitarian agency.
In her new appointment, Hanau will be responsible for Save the Children's branding, public affairs and communications activities.
In addition to her AmeriCares experience, Hanau spent many years in the private sector, as Managing Director, Global Head of Marketing, for JPMorgan Private Bank, a division of JPMorganChase, and as Chief Marketing Officer of MarketAxess and Miradiant Global Network, two JPMorgan-funded internet companies. Hanau's previous positions also include marketing and communications roles with Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust Company and Avon Products, Inc.
Hanau obtained her MBA in Finance and Marketing from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a BA in Fine Arts and French from Tufts University.
"Idol Gives Back" Preschools Open in Mozambique
More than 3,000 Children Mark Their First Day of School
"Save the Children is grateful to American Idol fans who gave generously when asked to help children in need during the televised Idol Gives Back charity event," said Save the Children’s Mozambique Country Director John Grabowski. "With their support, children living in some of the poorest villages in remote areas of Mozambique are now learning their alphabet and numbers, and getting an early start on school."
Save the Children, which has preschool programs for children in need in 27 countries around the globe including the United States, knows from experience the advantages of giving children an early start on school. Research has shown that children who participate in these programs are more prepared for elementary school, and are more likely to stay in school and do better academically than children who do not attend preschool. Yet, only 4 percent of young Mozambican children go to preschool, according to the Mozambique Ministry of Women and Social Action.
Donations raised through Idol Gives Back are helping to fund teacher training; the purchase of school materials like floor mats, blackboards and pencils; and construction materials. Local community members in each village, including several skilled carpenters, volunteered their time to build classrooms. Other community members are donating their time to teach at the schools.
Additionally, funds are supporting a collaborative effort between local carpenters and students of a technical art school to build toys and playgrounds with environmentally sustainable and locally available materials. The preschool playgrounds will be built over the next year.
"On behalf of the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund/Idol Gives Back, we are very proud of our partnership with Save the Children," said Rick Scott, CPEF Board Member. "Through projects like this one in Mozambique the generous donations from the American public are making a real difference to people's lives across Africa as well as at home in the U.S."
The American Idol-funded preschools are preparing children for elementary school by teaching them Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique, and basic reading and writing skills.
"Many children drop out in first grade because they are not prepared for school," said Damião Mungoi, education program coordinator for Save the Children in Mozambique. "These children live in rural and remote villages where they speak dozens of local languages. When entering first grade, they are overwhelmed and confused because they don't know Portuguese, the national language used in schools. But now, by attending preschool, these children will learn basic Portuguese and will be ready for first grade."
The preschools also are offering a safe place for children to play and learn, especially children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Mozambique is home to some 370,000 children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS, according to UNAIDS. Children orphaned at a young age are frequently discriminated against and lack the same care and support of their older siblings. Preschools offer support to caregivers, many of whom are grandparents, and help reduce discrimination by including all children from the community in the classroom.
Save the Children received $13.5 million in donations from Idol Gives Back in 2007, and an additional $1 million from Allstate Insurance Company to improve the lives of children in need in the United States and Africa. Donations to Africa have supported health and education programs in six countries, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda.
Save the Children began working in Mozambique in 1988 with an innovative pilot program to help rehabilitate child soldiers. The program continued for seven years, well after the country's civil war ended in 1992. Today, the global humanitarian organization implements programs focused on education, emergency response, food security, health and HIV/AIDS in several provinces of Mozambique.
Jul 15, 2008
Save the Children Responds to G8 Leaders: Statement by Charles MacCormack
Westport, Conn. (July 11, 2008)—Save the Children welcomed renewed commitments by G8 leaders this week to improve health, education and child nutrition programs in developing countries, but cautioned that the world's eight leading economies need to back up their promises with additional resources.
"The lives of millions of the world's poorest children will be affected, for better or worse, depending on how the G8 lives up to its promises," said Save the Children President and CEO Charles MacCormack.
MacCormack noted that G8 leaders, meeting in Hokkaido Toyako, Japan, have renewed their commitments made three years ago at the historic meeting in Gleneagles to work with developing countries to meet specific goals in critical areas such as child mortality, school enrollment and child nutrition.
"While we welcome these reaffirmations on issues so central to the wellbeing of vulnerable children worldwide, we also recognize that these commitments are only meaningful if they translate swiftly into action and achievement," he said.
One hopeful sign, MacCormack said, was the G8's decision to establish a panel of experts to monitor implementation of its commitments. "We hope this will improve overall progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and we at Save the Children look forward to sharing our views with that group during the lead-up to next year's summit in Italy," he said.
MacCormack added that on September 25 the UN Summit meeting on the Millennium Development Goals will provide "an important, near-term opportunity" for G8 leaders, together with the rest of the international community, to take more decisive action on the global development agenda.
Looking to that summit and beyond, MacCormack encouraged G8 leaders to deliver more quickly on their noteworthy commitments to help reduce newborn and child mortality worldwide, provide quality education to children in areas of war and conflict and help combat the escalating food price crisis that is threatening hundreds of millions of poor children and their families across the globe.
"The current food price crisis threatens to reverse the progress we have made over the past several decades in reducing child mortality rates," MacCormack said. "Rather than continue to decline, death rates of children under 5 could very well spike upwards in the next several years as a result of severe malnutrition caused by the high price of food and basic commodities.
‘We urge the G8 to back its global food security commitments with decisive action and consider increasing its current commitment beyond the $10 billion already pledged in innovative safety net, nutrition and agriculture production initiatives.”
