Samsung Launches an Industry First: An Online Celebrity “Social Auction” to Benefit Children’s Charities

Ridgefield Park, NJ, June 11, 2013 /3BL Media/ ─ Samsung launched a first-of-its-kind social engagement experience called the Hope for Children Social Auction in conjunction with Samsung’s 12^th Annual Hope for Children Gala which takes place tonight at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Through an innovative widget that delivers rich content directly to people’s Facebook Newsfeed, fans can vote for one of five social media experiences. Voting enters them for a chance to win experiences such as a Skype call and a YouTube shout out from DeStorm Power, having Mark Teixeira help manage their Fantasy Baseball Team, or a personalized song sung by Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel posted on YouTube.

Celebrities will be promoting the auction through social media, and the celebrity experience with the most votes will receive a $25,000 donation from Samsung to a charity of their choice. In addition, Samsung is donating $10,000 upfront to all five celebrity-selected charities. The five-day auction closes at noon EST today and the winning celebrity charity will be announced at the Hope for Children Gala an annual fundraiser expected to raise more than $1.5 million to benefit children’s health, education and sustainability programs. One winner for each celebrity social experience will be chosen at random from the voting pool and announced June 14, 2013.

Celebrities donating personalized social experiences to raise funds for their named charity include:

Mark Teixeira (@teixeiramark25) for Harlem RBI, a sports program for inner-city youth:

     Fantasy baseball team management

Taye Diggs (@TayeDiggs) & Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) for A Broader Way, an arts program for underprivileged girls:

     A song written just for winner, posted on YouTube

iJustine (@ijustine) for Base Camp, a children’s cancer charity:

     Prize package and a YouTube shout out

DeStorm Power (@DeStorm) for Covenant House, a shelter for homeless youth:

     Skype video call and a YouTube shout out

To enter, visit www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA.

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 12-year history, Samsung Hope for Children has raised more than $30 million that has helped more than 500 schools, hospitals, and community-based foundations throughout the U.S.

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. 

About Samsung Hope for Children

Since our founding in 1969, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has worked with passion and purpose to actively serve as a generous and ethical corporate citizen everywhere we operate. The Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare. By supplying Samsung products, lending our expertise, and providing financial support, we’re able to give thousands of children in communities around the world access to education, mentorship, leadership skills, and life-saving medical treatment. It is one of the way in which Samsung uses our innovation to create a better world. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/hope.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.