#62MillionGirls Campaign Announced by First Lady Michelle Obama Launches with Unprecedented Support

Girl Rising and Edelman Join Forces to Advance Let Girls Learn Initiative

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Oct 07, 2015, 02:52 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leveraging the UN General Assembly meetings last week, Girl Rising, the global campaign for girls' education, convened public and private sector partners in support of expanding access to education for the 62 million girls worldwide currently not enrolled in school.

Front and center of the week's activities was the launch of the new campaign #62MillionGirls, which was made possible through a partnership between Girl Rising and Edelman. In support of Let Girls Learn, the U.S. government initiative launched by the President and First Lady Michelle Obama, the campaign asks people to post yearbook-style photos on Instagram or Twitter and share what they learned in school. Photos are then added to the campaign yearbook at 62milliongirls.com.

Announced by the First Lady at the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park, the #62MillionGirls campaign has generated unprecedented engagement and support for the Let Girls Learn initiative in its first week, and has included participation by President Obama, Vice President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Beyonce, Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio, Freida Pinto, Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Charlize Theron, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and a host of other celebrities and leaders. The campaign was also featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during the First Lady's guest appearance.

To support the launch of this campaign, Girl Rising invoked the power of its platform and network of grassroots supporters around the world. Community-led change is key to tackling the barriers girls face, and Girl Rising is driving campaign supporters to take action in creative ways with the Peace Corps' Let Girls Learn Toolkit (letgirlslearn.peacecorps.gov). For its part, Edelman developed the creative concept for the campaign and produced all corresponding assets, including designing and launching the website 62milliongirls.com.

The campaign will continue to drive momentum toward addressing this issue through celebrity engagement, social participation and collaboration with additional partners in the upcoming weeks and months, and especially in advance of International Day of the Girl on October 11^th.

"We are very proud to partner with Edelman on the campaign in support of the Let Girls Learn initiative," said Holly Gordon, CEO of Girl Rising. "We hope we can keep this issue front and center, and inspire more people to take action in their communities to tackle the barriers these 62 million girls face in getting an education. Everyone has a role to play in helping girls rise."

"It's an honor to be able to work with Girl Rising in support of Let Girls Learn to drive a global conversation on such a significant issue," said Jen Cohan, president of Edelman, New York.

About Girl Rising
Girl Rising is a global campaign for girls' education that uses storytelling to raise awareness about the power of girls' education to transform societies. Girl Rising pairs powerful storytelling with a vast network of partners to inspire action at scale. Girl Rising's feature film has reached millions of people, raised millions of dollars for girls' programs, and ignited countless conversations and actions in communities around the world. Through the support of USAID, the Girl Rising campaign recently launched in India, and is working in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visit http://www.girlrising.com for more information.

About Edelman
Edelman is a leading global communications marketing firm that partners with many of the world's largest and emerging businesses and organizations, helping them evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Edelman was named one of Advertising Age's "Agency to Watch" in 2014; one of Forbes' "14 Most Influential Agencies of 2014"; and The Holmes Report's "2013 Global Agency of the Year." Edelman was awarded the Grand Prix Cannes Lion for PR in 2014 and was among Glassdoor's "Best Places to Work" for the third time in 2014. Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Berland (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, experiential), a joint venture with United Talent Agency.

About Let Girls Learn
Let Girls Learn is a U.S. government-wide initiative launched by the President and First Lady Michelle Obama that seeks to help the more than 62 million girls around the world – half of whom are adolescent – go to school and stay in school. These girls have diminished economic opportunities and are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, early and forced marriage, and other forms of violence. Yet, when a girl receives a quality education, she is more likely to earn a decent living, raise a healthy, educated family, and improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and her community. A key part of Let Girls Learn is to encourage and support community-led solutions to reduce barriers that prevent adolescent girls from completing their education. To take action and learn more, visit letgirlslearn.peacecorps.gov.

Media Contact:
Colleen Hamilton
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SOURCE Girl Rising