DIRECTV Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank & Microsoft Launch ''Piedra, Papel y Tijera'' Initiative and TV Speci
April 03 2008 - 3:00PM
Business Wire
DIRECTV Latin America (DIRECTV) (NASDAQ:DTV), the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB), and Microsoft launched today Piedra, Papel
y Tijera (Rock, Paper & Scissors), an initiative aimed at
transforming the physical infrastructure of schools and educational
centers throughout Latin America. �We are excited to launch this
initiative with strong partners such as the IDB and Microsoft and
feel confident that it will bring a positive impact to the
community of Latinos United in Action,� said Jacopo Bracco, senior
vice president, DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA. �Through the Piedra, Papel,
y Tijera initiative, DIRECTV intends to raise awareness of the
condition of schools and educational centers in Latin America and
bring additional partners that will enable us to develop a
television series that not only will be entertaining to viewers but
also will support a worthwhile cause.� Piedra, Papel, y Tijera�s
inaugural activity took place in the U.S. today during the Youth
Volunteer Event of the Forty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Board of
Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The event
featured the transformation of the Latinos United in Action Center,
a community based educational center serving low-income Latino and
Caribbean youth in the City of Miami. �I can not think of a more
fitting way to kick off the IDB�s Annual Meeting,� said IDB
President, Luis A. Moreno. �This unique initiative represents
partnership building at its best all sectors of society coming
together to support low-income communities. What could be more
important than to equip our schools with adequate infrastructure
and strong educational content through the use of technology to
advance learning--the essence of a healthy society.� The
comprehensive physical transformation of the Latinos United in
Action Center involved repairing and improving the physical
infrastructure of the educational center (windows, doors, fa�ade,
roof, floors, bathrooms, office space and recreational areas) and
providing state-of-the art equipment and supplies (DIRECTV service
with educational television programming package, computers,
Microsoft software and technology training, furniture, boards,
etc.). All construction work and furniture was provided by Winmar
Construction, a key local partner to the initiative. Youth
volunteers actively participated in parts of the construction phase
as well as installing computers and performing landscaping,
painting and other beautification activities all of which were
coordinated through IDB and its local partners such as Hands on
Miami. Twenty-five computers, monitors and several printers were
donated by CompUSA, Lexmark and Systemax. Software for use by
teachers, students and volunteers will be donated by Microsoft,
including Windows Vista, Office 2007 Student Edition, Encarta and
Math and Learning Essentials. Microsoft will also train teachers,
students and volunteers at the Center on Digital Literacy including
access to self-learning courses, E-Learning for Windows Vista and
Office 2007, and Help Desk training course. �One of the best uses
of technology is to provide quality education to all regardless of
socioeconomic background,� said Ralph Young, vice president of
Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft. �We�re delighted to take part
in this program and offer technological tools and training that
will offer these students new opportunities and help them reach
their full potential as future leaders of this community. The
Center�s makeover has been filmed as a DIRECTV reality special and
will be broadcast by DIRECTV�s networks in the U.S., Latin America
and the Caribbean in the Summer/Fall 2008. DIRECTV has future plans
to produce and broadcast a Piedra, Papel y Tijera documentary
series or reality show featuring refurbishment of schools and
educational community centers in different countries of Latin
America. �Latinos United has used every dime developing a dedicated
staff, an inspired vision and coordinated programs for keeping
students in school as parents and students alike improve their
lives. But at the end of the day, little to nothing is left over
for creating a physical environment that reflects the love we feel
for our work and our pride in the achievements of the kids and the
parents we serve. Our kids will be most benefited by the makeover
in the self-esteem and pride in themselves that our new facility
will evoke,� said Amada Vargas, executive director of Latinos
United in Action Center. The results of the center�s makeover were
presented today in an unveiling ceremony with Luis Alberto Moreno,
IDB President; Manny D�az, Mayor of the City of Miami; Jacopo
Bracco, Senior Vice President, DIRECTV Latin America; Ralph Young,
Vice President of Worldwide Public Sector of Microsoft; Edwin
Villegas, President of Winmar Construction; Gilbert Fiorentino, CEO
of CompUSA/TigerDirect; Patrick Morris, President of Hands on
Miami, Jorge Arrizurrieta, Chair of the IDB Annual Meeting Host
Committee, as well as other local government representatives,
community leaders and officials from other partner organizations
(Hispanics in Philanthropy, Service for Peace, Generation Engage,
Genius and Global and National Youth Service Day). �I am extremely
grateful to the Inter-American Development Bank, DIRECTV, and
Microsoft as we celebrate this historic public-private partnership
which will help transform many lives in our community,� said Miami
Mayor Manny Diaz. �The potential for finding innovative solutions
to enhance educational opportunities for those most in need is
immeasurable when the corporate world invests in the communities
where it conducts business.� This youth volunteer event is also
part of the National and Global Youth Service Day, an annual
celebration commemorating the contributions young people have made
throughout the year in their communities through volunteer work.
Approximately four million young people in 100 countries
participate in this event every year. www.gysd.net Latinos United
in Action Center is located at 3321 NW 17 Ave., Miami, Florida. THE
DIRECTV GROUP The DIRECTV Group is a world-leading provider of
digital television entertainment services. Through its subsidiaries
and affiliated companies in the United States, Brazil, Mexico and
other countries in Latin America, the DIRECTV Group provides
digital television service to more than 16.8 million customers in
the United States and over 5 million customers in Latin America.
For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit
directv.com. INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK The Inter-American
Development Bank, the oldest and largest regional bank in the
world, is the main source of multilateral financing for economic,
social and institutional development in Latin America and the
Caribbean. The IDB Annual Meeting brings together IDB governors,
most of whom are finance ministers and Central Bank presidents, and
representatives from multilateral financial institutions,
development agencies, and commercial and investment banks.
Private-sector corporations and nonprofit organizations also take
part in these annual deliberations. The IDB YOUTH Program promotes
youth development and participation in Latin America and the
Caribbean. www.iadb.org MICROSOFT UNLIMITED POTENTIAL Microsoft,
through its Unlimited Potential vision, is committed to making
technology more affordable, relevant and accessible for the 5
billion people around the world who do not yet enjoy its benefits.
The company aims to do so by helping to transform education and
foster a culture of innovation, and through these means enable
better jobs and opportunities. By working with governments,
intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and
industry partners, Microsoft hopes to reach its first major
milestone � to reach the next 1 billion people who are not yet
realizing the benefits of technology � by 2015. MICROSOFT Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
http://www.microsoft.com/latam/prensa/ WINMAR CONSTRUCTION
Recognized as a national leader in the commercial building
industry, Winmar�s strengths include general contracting,
construction and project management. The company offers innovating
thinking, strategic focus and 50 years of industry knowledge. Visit
www.winmar.net. COMPUSA The CompUSA companies serve the needs of
both personal and business computer users, selling consumer
electronics, computers, digital media technology and peripherals
via retail stores, catalogs and Internet channels. The CompUSA
companies are subsidiaries of Systemax Inc. (NYSE:SYX). In the
first quarter of 2008 the CompUSA companies acquired selected
assets from their prior owner (CompUSA Inc.), including the CompUSA
brand name and other trademarks, e-commerce business, domain names
and 16 retail outlets in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. The
acquisition preserves CompUSA's legacy of value pricing, service
and customer loyalty and continues to build the value of the
CompUSA brand. You can reach CompUSA online at
http://www.compusa.com. HANDS ON MIAMI Since 1993, Hands on Miami,
in partnership with United Way, is Miami Dade�s premier resource
for volunteering. Programs such as the Flexible Calendar Program,
Community Bridges, Youth Volunteer Corps, Corporate Services,
Citizen Academy, Annual Service Day and Volunteer Referral Network
have positively impacted the community for over 13 years. HOM
provides flexibility scheduled, meaningful, direct service
volunteer opportunities. In partnership with schools, social
services and environmental organizations, HOM organizes more than
95 service events each month.
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