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WASHINGTON (April 16, 2001) -- The Catholic Communication Campaign has selected its eight best public service announcements of the past four years to be re-transmitted over Hispanic radio stations in the coming year.
The ads are part of the La Familia Unida Esperanza en la Vida campaign, with the potential of reaching more than 35 million Hispanics. The ads have been widely accepted by the Hispanic community and garnered several awards for excellence.
The ads highlight diverse themes and will be aired between 2001 and May 2002.
The PSAs which will air include La Verguenza, which is about a father who initially rejects his AIDS-stricken son but later shares with a friend that he has repented and wants to ask his son for forgiveness. Others include Solo Me Caí, in which a recently divorced mother admits that she is physically abusing her daughter; and La Bendición, in which a grandmother, through love and prayer, leads her grandson to reconsider his ways and to leave a gang.
La Nueva Alumna shows two teenage girls who mock and criticize a new student, but then see their mistake and rush to befriend her. La Guitarra highlights a neighbor's intervention to make a father recognize the musical talent of his 13 year-old son. El Gol tells the story of Pedrito and his family at a soccer game who display solidarity when they invite Juan, who seems to receive little support from his parents, to join them for a celebration. Te Quiero Papá is about a son who calls his father just to tell him how much he loves him. And La Mamá Soltera Recibe Ayuda portrays a neighbor helping a single mother who is raising four children by herself.
Ramón Rodríguez, executive producer of the series, noted the series' aim.
"Our objective is to reintroduce the topics which have had great impact on our communities and which, unfortunately, portray the reality lived in many homes today," he said. "It is our duty to reach out with themes which encourage reflection on family values."
Silvia Martínez, program director at WRYM in Newington, Connecticut, noted the many uses of the ads.
"Not only are we going to air these spots during our prime-time hours, such as the morning and evening news, but we plan to include them in a series of conferences which we are organizing," she said.
Accent Media, a Hispanic owned company based in McLean, Virginia, produced the series.
The CCC has also produced documentaries and videos for home use, including the video Catechism of the Catholic Church. It also offers a toll-free movie review number, 1-800-311-4CCC, and a toll-free line for Mass schedules nationwide, 1-800 MASSTIMES.