SOS Children's Villages Raises Awareness of 133 Million Orphans Through World Orphan Week Video Contest

Physician and Parent Ernest Brown Named 2008 Winner

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Every 2.2 seconds, a child somewhere in the world loses a parent due to war, natural disaster, poverty, disease or other causes. To provide a voice for these orphaned children, SOS Children's Villages launched WOW Us!, a video contest that challenged individuals to apply their artistic talents to raising awareness of orphaned children around the world. SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest non-governmental organization dedicated to raising orphaned and abandoned children. The video contest coincided with World Orphan Week, a week-long observance to raise awareness and support for the 133 million orphaned and abandoned children throughout the world.

Today, SOS is proud to name Ernest Brown, M.D., the winner of the WOW Us! video contest. Dr. Brown is a rare find in the medical community. He is a D.C.-based family physician who makes house calls to under-served patients in Washington, D.C. Further, Dr. Brown feels privileged to be a part of medical missions to other countries. He recently participated in medical missions in Belize and Cuba and has upcoming missions scheduled for Tanzania and Senegal where he hopes to provide medical services to children at nearby SOS Villages.

"For more than 60 years, SOS Children's Villages has been committed to providing the on-going support and security needed to embrace a child for a lifetime," said Heather Paul, Ph.D., President and CEO, SOS Children's Villages-USA. "We are proud that Dr. Brown and his six-year-old son are lending their voices to the needs of orphaned children around the world. Dr. Brown is a shining example of the dedication and creativity needed to address issues impacting children in need. We are proud to name him the winner of the 2008 WOW Us! video contest."

WOW Us! contestants were asked to create a short video addressing the issue of orphaned and abandoned children. A panel of judges, including Emmy award winners, reviewed the entries for creativity, originality, thematic appropriateness and effectiveness. The public made the final decision by casting votes online. To date, the World Orphan Week videos have been viewed over 11,000 times. SOS is optimistic that thousands more will be exposed to the messages of orphaned and abandoned children by watching these videos.

The contest yielded a competitive field with numerous compelling entries. In the end, Dr. Brown's powerful video came out on top. His entry, which features his six-year-old son, highlights the chasm between the innocence of children from loving families, and the disheartening reality of those without parental care. Brown's entry concluded with a call-to-action to help children in need.

"As adults, surviving life can be an overwhelming experience. For a child without parents, it can be even more daunting," said Brown. "Fortunately, organizations like SOS Children's Villages exist to provide homes for these children and help them overcome what sometimes seem to be insurmountable odds."

SOS partnered with mediabistro.com and Gate Gourmet to produce and promote the video contest. Mediabistro.com is the premier career, community and content resource for media professionals. Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering and logistics provider.

Brown's winning entry will be featured in SOS educational campaigns during the next year. Additionally, the video will be featured on TVNewser, a mediabistro.com blog, and he will receive a $1,000 prize, sponsored by Gate Gourmet. To view Brown's video and other entries, please visit www.sos-usa.org/vote.

WOW Us! was one of several activities held during World Orphan Week. During this time, SOS also asked the American public to join with them in supporting a petition to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC), which protects children from abuse, exploitation and neglect. The public was also asked to engage in fundraising and volunteer efforts. Through these efforts and its ongoing work, SOS strives to ensure that every child grows up in a home with the love, respect, and security all children justly deserve.

For additional information about World Orphan Week and SOS Children's Villages, please reference the multi-media press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/soschildrensvillages/35325.

About SOS Children's Villages

In existence since 1949, SOS Children's Villages is dedicated to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. SOS offers a family-based model of care essential for the successful transition from childhood into adulthood. SOS Children's Villages has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 14 times and has received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. For more information, visit http://www.sos-usa.org.

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Heather Paul http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=53513