Samsung Honors Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation at 14th Annual Hope for Children Gala

NEW YORK, September 21, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Samsung hosted its annual star-studded Hope for Children benefit gala (#SamsungGives) today featuring celebrity guests Ben Stiller, Tony Bennett, Josh Lucas and Rob Thomas. The event, held at the Manhattan Center in New York City, honored Samsung’s guests and partners, including Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation, who have helped to improve children’s lives and communities in the United States.

With more than 700 guests in attendance, the event raised $2 million to benefit children’s health and education programs.  One hundred percent of the gala proceeds and additional funds raised by Samsung throughout the year under its Hope for Children initiative go directly to the charities. New to this year’s gala, lucky Galaxy Samsung+ members were invited to attend an exclusive gala party and live music showcase featuring Nick Cannon and Icona Pop followed by a concert performance by Demi Lovato.

Samsung Hope for Children, the company’s global corporate social responsibility platform, brings together the company, its retail partners, and a network of charitable organizations associated with renowned public figures. Over the course of its 14-year history, Samsung philanthropic efforts have contributed more than $46 million helping more than 1,000 schools, hospitals, and foundations throughout the U.S.

“At Samsung, we believe that our business success goes hand in hand with being a good corporate citizen and it begins with children and young adults in the places and communities where we live and work,” said Gregory Lee, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics America. “Tonight’s gala pays tribute to building hope for children around the world by providing access, applying innovation to solve problems, and raising awareness in health, education, and community impact.”

Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation Honored
Make It Right, founded by Brad Pitt, was honored with the “Champion of Hope” award for the organization’s efforts building hundreds of solar-powered, affordable homes for families in need around the United States. Ben Stiller presented the award to homeowner Leslie Archie, who talked about her journey and the impact the organization had on her community, the Lower 9th Ward, after Hurricane Katrina.

To learn more about the Samsung Hope for Children initiative, please visit www.samsung.com/hope. You can also check out the Samsung Hope for Children Facebook Hope tab at www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA. 

HD broadcast footage and photos from the event are available at: www.image.net/SamsungGala2015

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, mobile products and wearables, wireless infrastructure, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com.  

PR Contacts
Laurie Spindler-Jones
Samsung Electronics America
Tel: 201-229-4000
laurie.sj@sea.samsung.com

Rob Manfredo
Fleishman Hillard
Tel : 212-453-2499
Rob.manfredo@fleishman.com