Hispanic Heritage Month Members of Congress Stress Importance of Education

Hispanic Heritage Month Members of Congress Stress Importance of Education

CHCI and Comcast Unveil Bilingual PSA Campaign Featuring Fourteen Hispanic Members of Congress & Young Leaders

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), in partnership with Comcast, announced today the 2007 launch of "Our Youth, Our Future, Our Legacy," the first-ever bilingual Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign with an online streaming video component that features fourteen Hispanic Members of Congress and CHCI's 2007 Congressional Interns. The focus of the PSAs is to encourage youth to pursue higher education and explore the opportunities provided by CHCI.

"Thanks to Comcast's support, we are able to showcase our youth and inspire others to reach for the stars," said Hon. Joe Baca (CA-43), CHCI Chairman.

"Since 1978, CHCI has led the way in empowering young Hispanics to assume leadership roles in every sector," said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President and CEO. "CHCI is making a difference by developing leaders for America's future."

The PSAs will air during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 -- October 15, in all Comcast markets throughout the country, reaching more than 24 million homes, and the Spanish-language versions will be available via streaming video on Comcast Latino, Comcast's Spanish-language portal at http://www.comcast.net/ . The campaign will also air in Time Warner markets in California and Texas from November 15 -- December 15.

"Comcast is proud to bring these important PSAs to communities across the country," said Comcast Executive Vice President David L. Cohen. "Our ongoing partnership with CHCI is yet another example of our commitment to the Hispanic community, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to encourage Hispanic youth to take advantage of opportunities that will lead them to successful futures."

Susan Gonzales, Vice President of the Comcast Foundation added, "These PSAs are a powerful and creative way to spread the message about the availability of these unique education and leadership programs for Hispanic youth. The students in these programs represent our future leaders and we are very proud to support them."

This is the second year CHCI and Comcast have collaborated on a PSA campaign, one element of a larger partnership to educate Hispanic students and families on the opportunities available through CHCI's nationally recognized Graduate Fellowship Program, Public Policy Fellowship Program, Congressional Internship Program and Scholarship Program.

According to a June 2007 article in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 98 percent of Hispanic high school students say they want to attend college. Yet, only 25 percent of Hispanics are currently enrolled at the nation's colleges and universities, according to the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau Report.

"Participating in the internship program was a great opportunity for me," said Keith Fernandez, a Miami native currently in his junior year at Florida International University, who recently completed his CHCI internship in the office of Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). "These PSAs truly underscore the importance of Hispanic youth furthering their education, attaining a degree and fulfilling the leadership potential we're all capable of," Fernandez added.

The PSAs feature U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) and Members of Congress:

CHCI Chairman Hon. Joe Baca (CA-43), Hon. Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Hon. Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20), Hon. Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), Hon. Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Hon. Grace Flores Napolitano (CA-38), Hon. Ed Pastor (AZ-4), Hon. Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), Hon. Linda Sanchez (CA-39), Hon. Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Hon. Albio Sires (NJ-13) and Hon. Hilda L. Solis (CA-32).

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and corporate executives. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit http://www.chci.org/ .

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) (NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 12.4 million high-speed Internet customers, and 3.5 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, Comcast SportsNet and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

   Media Contacts:    Scott Gunderson Rosa -- (202) 548-5876   sgunderson_rosa@chci.org    Brooke Manbeck -- (215) 286-5092   brooke_manbeck@comcast.com  

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Source: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

CONTACT: Scott Gunderson Rosa, +1-202-548-5876,
sgunderson_rosa@chci.org, or Brooke Manbeck, +1-215-286-5092,
brooke_manbeck@comcast.com

Web site: http://www.comcast.com/
http://www.chci.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment