‘Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope’ Charity Campaign Launched in New York
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by Alan Sheckter, SmartTV & Sound news editor and Paul Pierog, correspondent
Digital consumer electronics giant Samsung launched a high-visibility fund-raising campaign in New York City May 16. Enlisting the service of four major sports celebrities — golf’s Arnold Palmer, basketball’s Magic Johnson, baseball’s Joe Torre and football’s Boomer Esiason — the year-long charitable event was dubbed, “Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope.”
Held on Pier 60 at Manhattan’s Chelsea Piers, the luncheon featured ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as well as Esiason and Torre. Palmer and Johnson were not present, but appeared in their respective charities’ video presentations. Approximately 650 people — Samsung employees as well as press, industry and charity respresentatives were on hand for the 90-minute event.
The fund-raising effort not only involves charities that bear the marquee names: (Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, The Boomer Esiason Foundation, The Joe Torre Family Foundation, and The Magic Johnson Foundation), but will be carried out in association with four national retail partners. Generally, the four charities seek to improve the quality of life for children and their families who face a variety of challenges.
The retailers are expected to tie sales promotions to the program, donating cash when customers purchase specified products. Best Buy (basketball), CompUSA (golf), Radio Shack (baseball) and Sears (football) are also slated to encourage customers to donate to Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope program by offering chances at special prizes, including a trip to the Super Bowl and a chance to play basketball with Magic Johnson.
In addition, Web site banner ads at sites including forbes.com, fortune.com, pcworld.com, dealerscope.com and soundandvision.com are planned. These ads will direct people to the primary fund-raising Web site, fourseasonsofhope.com.
Paul R. Drury, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of Cyctic Fibrosis Foundation gave one of the afternoon’s most moving speeches. Drury lived with and conquered the disease before becoming a foundation member. He told attendees that he got to caddy for Esiason (whose son has cystic fibrosis) on the golf course.
Samsung provided this information in regards to the specific charities:
Arnold Palmer & Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. Located in Orlando, Florida, the hospital is the only hospital in the southeast - and one of only six in the nation - dedicated to serving the unique needs of children and women. Samsung will provide technology products including computers and TVs for the children’s hospital, as well as the new women and infant’s hospital under construction.
Boomer Esiason & the Boomer Esiason Foundation to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis. Created by Boomer Esiason and his wife in 1993 after their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, the foundation works to raise money to find a cure for the genetic disease. To date, more than $12 million has been raised for the cause. Samsung will donate money to the foundation during Super Bowl week.
Joe Torre & Joe Torre Family Foundation. In conjunction with “Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope,” Joe Torre is launching a new charity dedicated to supporting women and children exposed to domestic violence. This year’s beneficiary will be the Center Against Domestic Violence based in New York City.
Magic Johnson & The Magic Johnson Foundation. Founded by Magic Johnson following his retirement from the NBA in 1991, the foundation aims to improve the lives of inner-city children. Under the aegis of “Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope,” Samsung will support technology centers for inner-city youths, and fund scholarship programs and social and cultural programs.