Dan Marino Teams Up With Samsung to Launch Social Media Campaign to Raise Funds and Awareness for Autism

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January 31, 2011 11:25 AM Eastern Time

Dan Marino Teams Up With Samsung to Launch Social Media Campaign to Raise Funds

and Awareness for Autism

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Hope for Children, the national

philanthropic initiative of the world’s technology leader, today launched “Team

Up for Autism,” to help raise awareness and funding in support of medical

research, services and treatment programs for children with autism.

“We began our partnership with the Marino Foundation in 2006”

Samsung will contribute up to $100,000 by providing a donation of $5 to the Dan

Marino Foundation each time someone spreads the word on autism through Facebook

or Twitter. Samsung has made the process simple, and is encouraging people to

register their pledge of awareness by sharing a graphic icon created for the

campaign with Facebook friends, or sending a tweet with the hashtag,

#teamautism.

In the last five years, Samsung has donated more than $2 million to the Dan

Marino Foundation to support the drive for improved awareness, more research and

services for children and families living with the disorder. According to the

Centers for Disease Control, autism is the fastest-growing developmental

disorder in the United States. One in 110 children live with autism today.

Through its Hope for Children initiative, Samsung supports health, education and

social welfare programs for children throughout the United States.

" We began our partnership with the Marino Foundation in 2006,” said Steel,

Executive Vice President, Strategy, Samsung Electronics America. “Five years

later we are beginning to see some real progress in the public’s awareness of

autism and how it impacts families. We still have a long way to go, and we

realized that by leveraging digital technologies and social media we might be

able to accelerate public education efforts.”

Kicked off on the heels of the Dan Marino Foundation’s “WalkAbout for Autism” on

Saturday, January 29, at the Miami Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium, the social action

campaign will run through February. More than 6,000 turned out for the walk,

driven by individuals with autism and their families and friends, which

generated funds for the autism community.

“With more than one million children in the United States living with autism,

including our son, , my wife, , and I recognize the struggles

families face,” said Marino. “With the support of companies like Samsung, we are

able to provide funding, resources, and, most importantly, support to people and

families facing the challenges of life with autism.”

For more information about autism or to learn how you can get involved, please

visit: www.teamupforautism.com. To learn more about Samsung Hope for Children

initiative 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 Electronics America, Inc.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a

subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of

award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance

products, as well as oversees all of Samsung's North American operations

including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc.,

Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a

result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung

organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry.

The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand " 100 Best Global Brands, "

and named as one of Fast Company's " 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010. " For

more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on

www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.

About Samsung Hope for Children

At Samsung we are dedicated to making products that inspire passion and create

moments of wonder in people's lives. In that spirit Samsung Hope for Children

was developed with a strategic focus on programs dedicated to helping children

share the wonder of life, learning and our planet. Through our flagship program,

Samsung Electronics America and its retail and business partners have raised

more than $25 million for more than 300 schools, community-based foundations,

and charities throughout the U.S. For more information please visit:

www.Samsung.com/Hope

About the Dan Marino Foundation

The Dan Marino Foundation was established by Dan and Marino in 1992. The

Foundation’s mission is to “open doors” toward independence for children with

autism and special needs, teenagers transitioning from foster care, and young

adults with disabilities. The Foundation fulfills this mission by supporting

comprehensive integrated treatment programs, providing outreach services,

advancing scientific research, and building independence through employment and

daily living transition programs. The Foundation has raised over $30 million

since its inception which has been used to fund major medical research, build

the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, and operate life-changing

programs. For more information, please visit www.danmarinofoundation.org.