Hamilton Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Toys“R”Us®, Telemundo, HF, and R.Evolución Latina Spearhead Toys 4 Puerto Rico Drive
December 12, 2017 (New York, NY) – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Toys“R”Us®, Telemundo, Hispanic Federation, and R.Evolución Latina are partnering to bring toys and smiles to the thousands of children affected by Hurricane Maria this Three Kings Day with the launch of Toys 4 Puerto Rico. The toy drive aims to send 10,000 toys to children throughout the island and begins today online at Toysrus.com/Toys4PuertoRico, with donations accepted until Tuesday, January 2.
Supporters can visit Toysrus.com/Toys4PuertoRico to give a gift of $5, $10, and $20 which will be used to purchase from a suggested list of toys featured on the website. Hispanic Federation and partner organization R.Evolución Latina will handle the distribution of the purchased items, and ensure that dozens of community partners receive gifts for a mix of ages.
On Three Kings Day (Saturday, January 6, 2018), the donated toys will be distributed to towns throughout the island at local celebrations. Three Kings Day is one of the most important holidays for Puerto Ricans and Latin Americans across the world. Families celebrate through generous gift-giving to honor the gifts given by the Three Wise Men to Jesus Christ.
As the official media partner, under the banner of its corporate social responsibility initiative, “El Poder En Ti” (The Power in You), Telemundo will make a donation of $30,000 to the toy drive. The network will also air national and local promos encouraging viewers to donate, in-show segments across network shows including “Un Nuevo Día,” “Al Rojo Vivo” and “Noticias Telemundo,” daily digital and social amplification, and participation in numerous community events to support the drive. In addition, Telemundo talent will participate in the local celebrations to help distribute toys.
“One of the greatest and most indescribable pleasures I remembered as a kid was receiving a gift during Three Kings Day, a celebration we all keep in my family,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the award-winning musical Hamilton. “This holiday season in Puerto Rico, so many kids could go without gifts for Three Kings Day and that is truly heartbreaking. If there is anything the last three months have taught us, is that the spirit of generosity and unselfish humanity is alive and well in our country. All you have to do is visit the Toys“R”Us website and make a gift. Our partners at Toys“R”Us, Telemundo, Hispanic Federation, and R.Evolución Latina will take care of the rest. The more gifts you buy, the more families we can reach. Together, we can bring some holiday cheer to thousands of children in Puerto Rico on January 6.”
“We’re honored to partner with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hispanic Federation and Telemundo to bring joy and toys to children in some of the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico for this Three Kings Day,” said Dave Brandon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “The holiday season can be incredibly difficult for those struggling to regain normalcy after a disaster, and we wanted to help give kids on the island an opportunity to do what they do best – be kids. Thanks to Lin-Manuel and the generosity of our customers across the country, we hope January 6 will bring smiles and playtime where it’s needed most.”
“Restoring a sense of normalcy is key to any long-term recovery, and the holidays are the perfect opportunity to do that,” said José Calderón, President of Hispanic Federation. “Thanks to the tireless support of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Hispanic Federation and its partners have been able to raise tens of millions of dollars for the relief and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Now, with the holidays fast approaching, we are grateful to Toys“R”Us and Telemundo as they help to transform what could all too easily be a time of renewed uncertainty and fear into a cause for celebration and hope. If we can send 10,000 toys to Puerto Rico this year, we can reach kids in every part of the island, particularly those areas that were hardest hit and in most need of basic goods and services.”
“NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is committed to partnering with the Puerto Rican community to help them during the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria and beyond,” said Monica Gil, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “Under our corporate social responsibility initiative, ‘El Poder En Ti,’ our goal is to empower our viewers when they are in need and let them know that they are not alone. This collaborative effort is a small way in which we can share our support and commend the families and children of Puerto Rico during this holiday season.”
Since September 20, when Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico and devastated the island, Hispanic Federation and Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family have worked together to raise money and awareness for the 3.5 million American citizens whose lives were upended and changed forever. The outpouring of support from the rest of the country and around the world has been incredible, and has enabled Hispanic Federation and its partners on the ground to provide millions of pounds of food, clean water, and basic medical care to some of the hardest hit and hardest to reach places on the island.
# # #
About Hispanic Federation The mission of the Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.
About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a world-class media company leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. This fast-growing multiplatform portfolio is comprised of the Telemundo Network and Station Group, Telemundo Deportes, Telemundo Studios, Telemundo Internacional, Telemundo International Studios, Universo, and a Digital Enterprises & Emerging Business unit. Telemundo Network features original Spanish-language entertainment, news and sports content reaching 94% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 17 owned stations, 55 affiliates and its national feed. Telemundo also owns WKAQ, a television station that serves viewers in Puerto Rico. Telemundo Deportes is the designated Spanish-language home of two of the world’s most popular sporting events: FIFA World Cup™ through 2026 and the Summer Olympic Games through 2032. As the #1 media company reaching Hispanics and millennials online, the Digital Enterprises & Emerging Business unit distributes original content across multiple platforms, maximizing its exclusive partnerships with properties such as Buzzfeed, Vox, and Snapchat. Through Telemundo Internacional, the largest U.S.-based distributor of Spanish-language content in the world; Telemundo International Studios, a production unit focused on creating high-end short form, scripted formats for international markets; and Universo, the fastest growing Hispanic entertainment cable network, the company reflects the diverse lifestyle, cultural experience and language of its expanding audience. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
