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Fundacion Azteca America Teams Up With CASA of Los Angeles to Support Foster Kids

Posted on: Monday, 31 August 2009, 14:10 CDT

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Azteca America's Los Angeles affiliate Azteca 54 has teamed up with foster advocate group CASA of Los Angeles to help defend the rights of the children in the Los Angeles foster care program.

CASA of Los Angeles supports volunteers who help foster children in court and the community. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate for a foster child - a child who is under the court's protection because of abuse or neglect. A CASA volunteer provides an independent investigation of the child's circumstances for the judge. The CASA gathers information, writes reports, and makes recommendations to the judge in the child's best interests. CASA volunteers advocate for what they believe to be in the child's best interests.

Over half of the children in foster programs in Los Angeles are Latinos, a situation that places a premium on bilingual volunteers. Fundacion Azteca America's Los Angeles chapter, with the support of Azteca 54, will be airing 30-second and 60-second spots throughout the year that make a call to action for volunteers in addition to increasing awareness of the needs of foster children and the court system in Los Angeles.

"Our youth are the future of Los Angeles and the nation," said Luis J. Echarte, Chairman of Fundacion Azteca America and Azteca America Network. "We need to do everything we can to make sure that everyone has a fair shot from the onset."

"CASA LA is very excited about this partnership with FAZA to reach out to bilingual volunteers to support vulnerable children at a critical period of their lives," said David Melendez, Executive Director of CASA Los Angeles. "A CASA volunteer represents a lifeline for many foster children to ensure their well-being and reunite them with family members."

About Fundacion Azteca America

Fundacion Azteca America is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for members of the Hispanic community currently in the U.S. Fundacion Azteca America, Fundacion Azteca, Azteca America and TV Azteca are companies of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Salinas. For more information, visit www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org.

About CASA

CASA volunteers are sworn by the court to represent the interests of abused and neglected children in juvenile court, to secure a safe, nurturing, permanent home. CASA volunteers are diligent advocates for the services needed to help each child become a healthy, productive adult. More than 27,000 children in Los Angeles County are under the supervision of the Court because of abuse, neglect or abandonment TODAY. They are living in foster or group home care. Most will not return to their birth families, and they are more likely than other children to face unemployment, homelessness, incarceration and suicide as young adults.

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. They are all ages and ethnicities. They are nurses, clerks, stay-at-home moms or dads, attorneys, students, plumbers and more. They may be working full-time or part-time, or they may be retired. What links them all is an intense desire to help break the chains of abuse, neglect and abandonment that victimize thousands of children throughout Los Angeles County's communities.

About Azteca America

Azteca America is the alternative choice in broadcast television for Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, Azteca America operates in 66 markets nationwide. Azteca America can also be seen on DIRECTV Mas Channel 441 (AZA 441) and DISH Network Channel 825. Wholly owned by Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., Azteca America has access to the best programming from TV Azteca's three national networks, including a library with over 200,000 hours of original programming and news from local bureaus in 32 Mexican states. The network complements Mexican programming with an innovative line-up of shows from international producers and distributors to ensure the finest programming for Spanish-speaking viewers and unique advertising solutions for partners seeking to reach the most dynamic market in the country.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it operates, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies TV Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

SOURCE Fundacion Azteca America; Azteca America; CASA of Los Angeles

Source: PR Newswire

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