The Three Amigos PSAs win Peabody Award

The Three Amigos, a series of twenty (20) world-class animated Public Service Announcements (PSA?’s) designed to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the world, has been awarded the George Foster Peabody Award.

The citation from the Peabody Board of Directors reads:

?“A trio of anthropomorphic, cartoon condoms star in this hilariously memorable HIV/AIDS-prevention campaign that has been made available in 41 different languages?”.

Ottawa, Canada-based Director and Producer of The Three Amigos, Firdaus Kharas said: ?“I consider the Peabody Award to be the highest recognition for excellence in television. I am delighted that the efforts of the many volunteers who made this multi-lingual campaign possible are so highly recognized.?”

The Three Amigos is a series of purposely varied animated spots that use humor to counter the spread of HIV/AIDS. The series was adapted under Mr. Kharas?’ supervision into 41 languages, thereby enabling a potential reach of 80% of the world?’s population in their own language.

The Three Amigos has been used intensively in a wide variety of countries, ranging from liberal democracies to conservative theocracies, from countries in southern Africa where AIDS is rampant, to countries on the threshold of a possible AIDS crisis in Asia and Eastern Europe. Broadcasters have donated millions of dollars worth of free air time to air the series, in some cases up to 20 times a day. Thousands of health clinics, hospitals, non-governmental organizations and universities across the world currently use the series.

The series has received 30 international awards and hundreds of articles in many languages have been written on its creation and impact. Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the principal supporter who has called the series in an open letter ?“a powerful communicating tool?” and has written "in creating the The Three Amigos PSA's (you) have made an outstanding contribution to the campaign against HIV infection in providing material that can be easily understood by most people irrespective of language or culture". Hundreds of testimonials from around the world have been received from every walk of life, from powerful government officials to AIDS educators to ordinary people who's behavior has been influenced by the series.

The PSA?’s have been re-created in 41 languages. One PSA per language is currently streaming on the Three Amigos web-site. Further information is available at www.thethreeamigos.org. Further information on Mr. Kharas is available at www.kharas.ca

The George Foster Peabody Awards were first awarded in 1941 for radio programs broadcast in 1940. The awards recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations and individuals. They perpetuate the memory of the banker-philanthropist whose name they bear. The awards program is administered by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Selection is made by the Peabody Board following review by special screening committees of faculty, students and staff. Further information about the Peabody Awards can be obtained at http://www.peabody.uga.edu/about/