Discovery Communications Celebrates #GivingTuesday with On-Air, Education and Employee-Driven Activities Designed to Make a Difference

November 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ - As part of #GivingTuesday on December 3, 2013, Discovery Communications is undertaking a number of activities designed to give back and make a difference in the communities where its employees live and work. The activities include the airing of #GivingTuesday PSAs across Discovery’s global networks, as well as an employee donation matching program benefitting victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Also in connection with #GivingTuesday, Discovery Education, the country’s leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, will hold a livestream event for students across the country.   During the livestream, a broad range of exciting careers available to students with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields will be highlighted.

The Discovery Education livestream event, which will take place online live on December 3 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. EST, will allow students nationwide to hear from some of the best and brightest employees at Discovery Communications, the parent company of Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Education.

“From the beginning, Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying viewers’ curiosity and making a difference through programs that educate and enlighten, and we also recognize that our mission extends beyond the screen,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications. “We are proud to participate in #GivingTuesday and join in this special celebration of generosity and giving more.”

“Discovery Education is a company fueled by innovation, full of forward-thinkers who are passionate about harnessing the power of media and technology to better engage today’s digital students in learning,” said Bill Goodwyn, CEO of Discovery Education. “Discovery Education’s #GivingTuesday livestream event will present to participants, through the perspectives of four revolutionary professionals, a glimpse into some of the careers utilizing STEM skills.”

During the Discovery Education livestream event, students will have the opportunity to hear first-hand about some of the unexpected and exciting careers that are powered by STEM. Presenters will include:

• Cory Key – Discovery Communication’s Interactive Creative Director, a graphic designer who weaves the "A" into STEM, creating remarkable imagery and visuals using advanced computer software programs.
• Julia Stewart – Sr. Director of Interface Design and User Experience, an innovator who used her knowledge of STEM to create one of the nation's first fully digital and interactive digital textbooks, now used by hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
• Amy Enchelmeyer -- Social Media Manager for Science Channel, a STEM storyteller, who collaborates with social media and print publications to engage the public in the important work being done by education leaders on the ground.
• Clare Roy -- Senior Manager for Post-Production and Editing, who creates and edits Discovery’s incredible footage with advanced technology to create engaging programming that makes STEM come to life in the classroom. 

These four individuals will give their time to students, answering questions and sharing insights that will inspire curiosity about the vast array of career options that are available to students who pursue STEM. The virtual experience will engage classrooms throughout the United States, inspiring thousands of students to dive in and discover exciting career paths that STEM subjects can lead to.

To register for the livestream, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/explore-stem-careers-at-discovery-tickets-9446036349

Discovery’s Typhoon Haiyan matching campaign will match all employee donations between November 11 and December 10 to Typhoon Haiyan relief funds through its partner, GlobalGiving. The campaign is a part of Discovery’s comprehensive Disaster Relief and Rebuilding initiative, responding to national and global disasters by launching matching campaigns for disaster-stricken areas, and partnering with rebuilding organizations to rebuild homes destroyed by disasters. The 30-day campaign aims to amplify the collective impact of Discovery employees’ generosity.

Discovery's #GivingTuesday activities are part of its Discovery Impact initiatives, which leverage the power of Discovery's brands, businesses, and employees to give back and make a direct impact on the communities in which we live and work. Discovery Impact hallmark initiatives include an annual day of global employee volunteerism and a pro bono creative marathon and conference.

Started in 2012, #GivingTuesday is a movement to create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In the same way that retail stores take part in Black Friday, the partners behind #GivingTuesday want the giving community to come together and create and commit to a project for #GivingTuesday and then help spread the word to their networks.

In 2012, more than 2,500 partners from all 50 states joined in the initiative, leading to more than $10 million in online donations a 46% increase in online donations and an average gift increase of 25%. More than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about #GivingTuesday – resulting in milestone trending on Twitter.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2 billion cumulative subscribers in over 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through more than 190  worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Hub Network and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also owns Discovery Education, the leading provider of educational content and services to schools including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Impact

Through its Discovery Impact programs, Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCAB, DISCK) leverages the power of its brands, businesses and employees to give back to the world. From programming that inspires and educates to annual events that make a direct impact on the communities in which we live and work, Discovery strives to celebrate, support and sustain the majesty of the earth's people, animals and natural beauty. For more information about how Discovery is making an impact, please visit: http://impact.discovery.com.