PARTICIPANT LAUNCHES IMPACT CAMPAIGN AND “RADICAL FUND” IN SUPPORT OF IMMERSIVE EDUCATION TIMED TO THEATRICAL RELEASE OF RADICAL ON NOVEMBER 3

Campaign and Fund Seek to Increase Educational Access to Under Resourced Latine Communities

WASHINGTON, DC – September 21, 2023 – Today, Participant, the leading global media company dedicated to entertainment at the intersection of art and activism, announced a partnership with Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) for the impact campaign tied to the film Radical. The Sundance Film Festival “Festival Favorite Award” winner, written and directed by Christopher Zalla and starring Eugenio Derbez, who also produces via his 3Pas Studios banner, will be released by Pantelion Films and Participant on November 3 in the US.

The Radical campaign will connect educators and organizations leading the movement to transform education with opportunities to strengthen their work, while elevating cultural conversations around creativity and equity in schools. Together, the partnership will launch the “Radical Fund” on HIPGive, Hispanics in Philanthropy’s bilingual digital platform that mobilizes resources for social impact projects throughout the Americas. The “Radical Fund” will support organizations working on closing the achievement gap, retention, graduation, STEAM, leadership development and healing-centered strategies to support Latine students at home, in school and in the community. The initial grantees are:

Colorado Nonprofit Development Center DBA In Lak’ech Denver Arts (Denver, Colo.)
Community Connections for Youth (Bronx, N.Y.)
Educational and Cultural Advancement for Latinos, Inc. (Evansville, Ind.)
Leaders in Training (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Miami EdTech (Miami, Fla.)
Piñones Aprende y Emprende Corp (Loiza, P.R.)
Salinas Valley Dream Academy (Salinas, Calif.)
ScholarshipsA-Z (Tucson, Ariz.)
Semillas (Semilla, Tenn.)
The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (Detroit, Mich.)
Yes We Can Foundation (Los Angeles, Calif., and Tijuana, Mex.)
Youth Rise Texas (Austin, Tex.)

The announcement was made during a special screening of the film for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual conference, featuring Derbez and producer Ben Odell of 3Pas.

“There are few things more important than the education of the world’s children,” says David Linde, CEO of Participant. “We love this film, and the Radical Fund will support organizations that are making a direct impact in the lives of Latine students, and we are proud to work with Hispanics in Philanthropy on this initiative.”

“We hope to champion educators and organizations who already put so much work into transforming how we inspire and support the next generation of Latine leaders,” says Ana Marie Argilagos, President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy. “Our communities are already very creative and resourceful, our digital tools provide us a way to celebrate and amplify their work to donors in the US and beyond.”

Based on a true story, the film takes place in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, where a frustrated teacher (Eugenio Derbez) tries a radical new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential… and maybe even their genius. Radical shines a light on the incredible opportunities children can manifest when an innovative teacher awakens their curiosity and allows them to discover the joy of learning.

Radical stars Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Haddad and Jennifer Trejo; is directed and written by Christopher Zalla; produced by Ben Odell, Eugenio Derbez and Joshua Davis; and executive produced by Javier Williams, Josh Bearman, Avelino Rodriguez and Patricia Sanchez. The film will be released in US theaters on November 3.

Audiences are encouraged to explore their own curiosities and get involved in the campaign by visiting www.radical.movie

To learn more about Participant’s long-standing impact work, please contact participant@sunshinesachs.com

Please see here the Radical trailer and still.

About Participant
Founded in 2004 by Chairman Jeff Skoll and under the leadership of CEO David Linde, Participant (www.participant.com) is the leading global media company dedicated to content that unites art and activism to create positive change. Participant’s films have secured 86 Academy Award® nominations, including All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, a 2023 nominee for Best Documentary Feature, and 21 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight and Green Book; Best Documentary Feature for An Inconvenient Truth, CITIZENFOUR, The Cove and American Factory; and Best Foreign Language Film for Roma and A Fantastic Woman. Participant also has earned 57 Emmy® Award nominations and 15 wins, including two wins for the groundbreaking When They See Us.

A pioneer of socially conscious storytelling, Participant partners with key nonprofits and NGOs to drive real-world impact and awareness around today’s most vital issues on a global scale, and is the only major US entertainment company whose social and environmental impact has earned a B Corp Certification. Participant believes that diversity is a source of strength, that inclusion is essential to progress, and that equity is an imperative for impact. Follow Participant on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Hispanics in Philanthropy
Hispanics in Philanthropy leverages philanthropic resources to mobilize and amplify the power of our communities. HIP has built, funded, and fueled Latine power for 40 years. HIP is a convener, creating spaces for organizations, the private sector, and philanthropy to connect and collaborate in order to dismantle the inequities that affect the well-being of Latines in the U.S. and our communities across the Americas