Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation Donates $650,000 To Global Poverty Project

NEW YORK, June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Poverty Project announced today that the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation has donated $650,000 to further its $100 Million Global Action Campaign. Mr. Redstone, the Executive Chairman of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation, donated $1.5 million to the Global Poverty Project in 2011, bringing his total giving to $2.1 million in support of the organization's vision of a world without extreme poverty.

"I am proud to further my support of the important work of the Global Poverty Project. I am also pleased that both CBS Corporation and Viacom are among the many organizations that are providing support to the Global Poverty Project and I urge other philanthropists, foundations and media outlets to join them to help end extreme poverty on our planet," said Mr. Redstone.

Mr. Redstone's original donation was used to support the Global Poverty Project's End of Polio campaign (www.polioeradication.org) in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.   "The progress that has been made by developing communities, governments and groups, like Rotary International, to tackle this disease is truly phenomenal," says Redstone.  "It is incredible evidence of what global collaboration can achieve. "

With cases down by 99% in the last twenty years, the fight against polio represents true progress.  Global Poverty Project emphasizes the importance of people working together to put an issue on the agenda, which can then increase funding to eradicate this disease.

"I am delighted with the continued generous support from Sumner Redstone.   We have important plans to lead an iconic campaign in New York to coincide with the UN General Assembly meeting in September. His donation will directly contribute to the campaign, helping us call for action from a generation who want to stamp their role in history and are looking to make a huge difference," said Hugh Evans, Founder the CEO, Global Poverty Project.

GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT
Global Poverty Project is an international education and advocacy organization working to catalyze the movement to end extreme poverty. An Australian-grown project, Global Poverty Project creates campaigns with the purpose of increasing the number and effectiveness of people taking action to end extreme poverty, with the vision of a world without extreme poverty, within a generation.  
www.globalpovertyproject.com

The Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation
In addition to his well know success in the media industry, through the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation and personal donations, Mr. Redstone has devoted himself to a wide variety of civic and community affairs efforts, contributing over $130 million to worthy charities around the world over the last several years. He has donated $2.1 million to the Global Poverty Project towards eradicating polio and funded the establishment of the Cambodian Children's Fund child rescue center along with research and patient care advancements in cancer, burn recovery, and mental health at several major non-profit healthcare organizations. Many of his major gifts have been focused on encouraging the acceleration of basic research into clinical trials and, ultimately, to individuals and their families.

Mr. Redstone has supported such internationally recognized programs as A Place Called Home, The Child Rescue Association of North America, Autism Speaks, FasterCures/The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions, based in Washington D.C., the prostate cancer research of Dr. David Agus at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, Boston Latin School and Harvard University and Harvard Law School.  He is also an active supporter of Los Angeles based organizations such as Friendly House and the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars Sinai.

Mr. Redstone began his career as Law Secretary with the U.S. Court of Appeals, and then served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. Subsequently, he was a partner with the law firm of Ford, Bergson, Adams, Borkland and Redstone in Washington, D.C. In 1954, he joined National Amusements, Inc., which he then organized into the successful company it is today. Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, National Amusements is one of the largest motion picture circuits in the United States.

Mr. Redstone served in the Military Intelligence Division during World War II. While a student at Harvard, he was selected by Japanese history professor Edwin Reischauer (later Ambassador to Japan) to join a special intelligence group whose mission was to break Japan's high-level military and diplomatic codes. In connection with these activities, Mr. Redstone received, among other honors, two commendations from the Military Intelligence Division in recognition of his service, contribution and devotion to duty. He is also a recipient of the Army Commendation Award.

SOURCE The Global Poverty Project