WE Empowers Women Launches New Campaign With Fashion Week Press Conference September 14, Featuring Supermodel Petra Nemcova
Grammy Winner Alicia Keys and Model Emme Among the Celebrity Participants
New York, NY, September 14, 2005 – WE: Women's Entertainment announced today a new component to its recently established nationwide public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women. The network is launching a unique on-air campaign, Minute of Empowerment, featuring celebrities, sports figures and other notable personalities who are dedicated to the WE Empowers Women mission of supporting health, education and mentorship programs designed specifically to address and support the modern lives of women and their families. Beginning October 1, Minute of Empowerment will air on the network and will include messages from such noteworthy celebrities as Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, Supermodel Petra Nemcova, WNBA star Becky Hammond, US Disabled Ski Team champion Sandy Dukat, and model and inspirational speaker Emme.
"In the five months since we launched WE Empowers Women, the initiative has grown tremendously, providing support to so many women and young girls," said Kim Martin, General Manager, WE: Women's Entertainment. "The Minute of Empowerment campaign provides a unique and powerful platform for a diverse range of important women leaders and is another way WE is providing a strong and active voice on relevant and meaningful issues. It is our hope to use this new campaign as a means to share the personal stories of some, to empower the changing force of many."
Minute of Empowerment was established to give women a strong voice by bringing valuable ideas and discussion into the marketplace. WE: Women's Entertainment will air personal messages from a diverse range of cultural leaders. Each will have the opportunity to address specific passion issues and a variety of important subject matters. From children's issues, to eating disorders, to heart disease, to local issues, these spots will cover a wide range of topics affecting the lives of women with the hope of educating, updating and informing.
Officially launched in May 2005, WE Empowers Women seeks to create various projects and programs that foster and celebrate the intelligence, strength, confidence, diversity and leadership of women, both in the workplace and at home. The initiative was established to provide meaningful and needed social change and support, while being a valuable information tool for the lives of the WE viewer. Minute of Empowerment is the latest component that builds on that foundation.
To officially launch Minute of Empowerment, WE: Women's Entertainment held a press conference at Olympus Fashion Week in New York on Wednesday, September 14 at 4pm in Bryant Park. WE's Kim Martin was joined by Supermodel Petra Nemcova to present all attendees with an exclusive sneak-peek at Petra's nationwide, on-air message.
Petra Nemcova and Grammy Award Winner Alicia Keys were among the first celebrities to participate in the new campaign. Nemcova, who nearly lost her life in the South-East Asia Tsunami, taped her announcement in support of the Happy Hearts Fund; Keys' taped her announcement in support of the Keep A Child Alive organization. Following are their scripts:
Petra Nemcova's "Do Something Good":
…So I went back to Thailand recently and was struck by what I saw: so many children who looked scared, lonely and lost. Sure, the physical damage of the tsunami has been largely cleared away, but the psychological damage remains and it's devastating. So I decided to do something. I've created a charity: the Happy Hearts Fund. We're working to provide counseling for children who survived the tsunami, and offer the stability and support these kids really need. So join me and do something. Do something that creates a better world. Do something good.
I'm Petra Nemcova, and WE empowers women.
Alicia Keys, "Three Reasons":
Okay…so these are the three reasons I support Keep A Child Alive, a great organization that provides life-saving medicine to children with HIV/AIDS in Africa…(holds up finger to camera as she counts) One: because I went to Africa. I saw the tragedy and suffering up close, and it changed my life completely. Two: because I'm excited to be a part of something that can radically and directly improve children's lives and three (pauses)…because giving those kids hope gives me hope-hope for a better world. Now that's a reason!
I'm Alicia Keys, and WE empowers women.
For more information on WE Empowers Women and the Minute of Empowerment campaign, visit: www.we.tv/weempowerswomen.
About WE: Women's Entertainment
WE: Women's Entertainment is the only cable network dedicated to helping women connect to one another and the world around them. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Three Men and A Chick Flick," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests in pop culture, relationships and personal style. WE: Women's Entertainment is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 55 million homes.