Additional Pledge to
Support $100 Million
Global Action Campaign
The Global Poverty
Project announced today that the Sumner M. Redstone
Charitable Foundation has donated $650,000 to further
its $100 Million Global Action Campaign. Mr. Redstone,
the Executive Chairman of Viacom Inc. and CBS
Corporation, donated
$1.5 million to the Global Poverty Project in 2011,
bringing his total giving to $2.1 million in support of
the organization's vision of a world without extreme
poverty.
"I am proud to further my support
of the important work of the Global Poverty Project. I
am also pleased that both CBS Corporation and Viacom are
among the many organizations that are providing support
to the Global Poverty Project and I urge other
philanthropists, foundations and media outlets to join
them to help end extreme poverty on our planet," said
Mr. Redstone.
Mr. Redstone's original donation
was used to support the Global Poverty Project?s End of
Polio campaign (http://www.polioeradication.org/)
in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. "The progress that has been made by
developing communities, governments and groups, like
Rotary International, to tackle this disease is truly
phenomenal,? says Redstone. ?It is incredible evidence
of what global collaboration can achieve. "
With cases down
by 99%
in the last
twenty years, the fight against polio
represents true progress. Global Poverty Project
emphasizes the importance of people working together to
put an issue on the agenda, which can then increase
funding to eradicate this disease.
"I am delighted with the continued
generous support from Sumner Redstone. We have
important plans to lead an iconic campaign in New York
to coincide with the UN General Assembly meeting in
September. His donation will directly contribute to the
campaign, helping us call for action from a generation
who want to stamp their role in history and are looking
to make a huge difference," said Hugh Evans, Founder the
CEO, Global Poverty Project.
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GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT
Global Poverty Project is an
international education and advocacy organization
working to catalyze the movement to end extreme poverty.
An Australian-grown project, Global Poverty Project
creates campaigns with the purpose of increasing the
number and effectiveness of people taking action to end
extreme poverty, with the vision of a world without
extreme poverty, within a generation.
http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/
The Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation
In addition to his well know success in the media
industry, through the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable
Foundation and personal donations, Mr. Redstone has
devoted himself to a wide variety of civic and community
affairs efforts, contributing over $130 million to
worthy charities around the world over the last several
years. He has donated $2.1 million to the Global Poverty
Project towards eradicating polio and funded the
establishment of the Cambodian Children's Fund child
rescue center along with research and patient care
advancements in cancer, burn recovery, and mental health
at several major non-profit healthcare organizations.
Many of his major gifts have been focused on encouraging
the acceleration of basic research into clinical trials
and, ultimately, to individuals and their families.
Mr. Redstone has supported such internationally
recognized programs as A Place Called Home, The Child
Rescue Association of North America, Autism Speaks,
FasterCures/The Center for Accelerating Medical
Solutions, based in Washington D.C., the prostate cancer
research of Dr. David Agus at the University of Southern
California's Keck School of Medicine, the Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, Boston Latin
School and Harvard University and Harvard Law School.
He is also an active supporter of Los Angeles based
organizations such as Friendly House and the Barbra
Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars Sinai.
Mr. Redstone began his career as Law Secretary with the
U.S. Court of Appeals, and then served as a Special
Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. Subsequently, he
was a partner with the law firm of Ford, Bergson, Adams,
Borkland and Redstone in Washington, D.C. In 1954, he
joined National Amusements, Inc., which he then
organized into the successful company it is today. Based
in Dedham, Massachusetts, National Amusements is one of
the largest motion picture circuits in the United
States.
Mr. Redstone served in the Military Intelligence
Division during World War II. While a student at
Harvard, he was selected by Japanese history professor
Edwin Reischauer (later Ambassador to Japan) to join a
special intelligence group whose mission was to break
Japan's high-level military and diplomatic codes. In
connection with these activities, Mr. Redstone received,
among other honors, two commendations from the Military
Intelligence Division in recognition of his service,
contribution and devotion to duty. He is also a
recipient of the Army Commendation Award.