Award-Winning Actress Appointed Save the Children Artist Ambassador, To Present Clinton Global Citizen Award in New York City

Actress America Ferrera joins Save the Children to support education for children in marginalized communities.

WESTPORT, Conn. (Sept. 23, 2008) — Emmy- and Golden Globe-Award winning actress America Ferrera, star of ABC Television's popular series Ugly Betty, is Save the Children's newest Artist Ambassador. 

In her new role with the global humanitarian organization, Ferrera will help champion the importance of education for children in marginalized communities in the United States and in developing countries.

Learn more about Rewrite the Future in developing countries.

"I couldn't be more excited to support Save the Children in its effort to educate children around the world. When a child learns, the entire community benefits," said actress America Ferrera. "It's horrifying to think about the 72 million children who are not in school and may never have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment.  I believe that our world can become a much more productive and peaceful place when every child is given the opportunity to attend school."

"I feel so grateful for my own education, and I look forward to doing more to help Save the Children spread its message to as many communities around the world as possible," added Ferrera.

Some 72 million of the developing world's children — more than half girls — do not go to school, according to UNESCO. About 37 million of these children live in countries in armed conflict.

"We're delighted to have America Ferrera on board to help shine the spotlight on education and be a voice for millions of children around the world," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children.

As Save the Children's Artist Ambassador, Ferrera will attend the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York City this week, and will present a Clinton Global Citizen Award to an individual whose achievements have inspired change and made a positive impact on the world. The meeting brings together global leaders to address solutions to the world's most pressing challenges, including global education.

Global leaders also will meet this week at a United Nations Summit to review progress of the Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight commitments made by 189 rich and poor nations in 2000 to improve global development by 2015. One goal seeks to enroll every child in primary school globally.

"More children are in school today than ever before. Yet the dream of going to school for millions of children around the world remains unfulfilled," said MacCormack, who will represent the agency at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting and the U.N. Summit this week.

MacCormack added, "To reach more of these children, the global community must come together to increase and more efficiently allocate resources for education in impoverished and conflict-affected countries. Our experience has shown that by working with local governments and communities, even in challenging environments like Darfur or Afghanistan, education is attainable for all children."

Save the Children has education programs in more than 30 countries, including the United States. Two years ago, the global organization launched Rewrite the Future — a global campaign that seeks to help children in conflict-affected countries get an education.