Prudence Foundation, the regional charitable arm of Prudential Corporation Asia (Prudential), has launched a new episode of the popular financial literacy animation Cha-Ching and a new version of its “Charity” song to raise funds for the Typhoon Haiyan disaster relief and recovery effort.
The foundation has joined hands with renowned Filipino singer and American rock band Journey frontman, Arnel Pineda, who lends his soaring rock vocals to this innovative fund-raising initiative.
The new Charity song is featured in a three-minute music video with all new animation sequences featuring the relief efforts following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. The music video aims to introduce children to real-life situations in which the money-smart value of donating may be practised. Pineda also appears in the new music video as an animated character.
The co-creator of Cha-Ching, Prudential’s Regional Director Sean Rach, said the choice to collaborate with Pineda on this new Charity duet was a natural one. “We are Arnel and Journey fans. With his personal and the band’s commitments to help following Typhoon Haiyan, we shared the aspiration to give back to those in need. His voice is incredible and we are very honoured that he agreed to donate his time and talent.”
Starting today, the Cha-Ching Charity music video featuring Pineda can be viewed on Cha- Ching’s interactive website and YouTube channel.
The new Charity Song and the Cha-Ching Album featuring all songs from the 16 music videos are now available for purchase from iTunes Store. Proceeds of the song and album downloads will go to the Prudence Foundation’s Typhoon Haiyan recovery efforts.
The new Charity song, a power ballad, is part of the original line-up of animated Cha-Ching music videos that aims to teach children aged seven to 12 four fundamental money smart values — Earn, Save, Spend and Donate. The Charity song highlights the choice to donate and share what we have, either in the form of money, time or basic goods, to those with less in life.
Cartoon Network will start airing the new Cha-Ching Charity music video featuring Pineda on Saturday, 12 April 2014 across Asia. It will also air on Channel V for one month.
Pineda shared, “I am honoured to partner with Prudence Foundation for this meaningful initiative. We all need to be reminded of our social obligation to share with those who have less than we do.” He added, “I am glad to play a part and hope everybody will download the song to support this worthy cause.”
Pineda became the lead singer of Journey in 2007. He has his own charitable organisation, the Arnel Pineda Foundation Inc (APFI), and recently recorded the single “Listen With Your Heart” with other famed Filipino music artists as a tribute to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan and a gesture of thanks for the aid extended by over 50 countries in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Together with Journey, he has also helped give over 2 Million Meals to the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
Prudence Foundation Executive Director Marc Fancy highlighted, “What we are trying to achieve with the new Charity song and animated music video is a culmination of Prudence Foundation’s three main areas of focus – children, education and disaster preparedness and relief. ‘Charity’ is originally featured in the Cha-Ching series, meant to educate kids about the value of donating. What we do in our disaster preparedness and relief programmes is encapsulated in the song – we help people in need make a fresh start. This project hopes to broaden the awareness on pressing issues that we need to respond to and involves even the youngest members of our society in the movement to affect positive change in our communities.”
After Typhoon Haiyan devastated Central Philippines in November 2013, Prudence Foundation mobilised resources and pledged US$2 million to support the immediate relief and long-term recovery effort in the affected areas.
As part of this commitment, Prudence Foundation is funding the construction of 135 disaster-resilient homes for displaced families as well as 183 motorised fishing boats and 140 pedicabs to help restore normal livelihoods in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island in Cebu. In March 2014, in partnership with humanitarian organisation Habitat for Humanity, Prudence Foundation led a team of over 100 employee-volunteers from Prudential’s operations across 12 countries in Asia and the United Kingdom to build some of these houses, together with the local community.
Source: PR Newswire
