Save the Children Artist Ambassador Dakota Fanning lit the world-famous Empire State Building red on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in a special ceremony celebrating International Day of the Girl.
Marked globally by the United Nations, International Day of the Girl is a designated day for communities and policymakers to discuss how to end discrimination against girls and create opportunities for girls to reach their full potential. By lighting the Empire State Building red, Save the Children is raising awareness of these issues and illuminating the need to educate and empower girls around the world.
Fanning was joined by Carolyn Miles, Save the Children’s president & CEO, a group of girls from the New York Tri-State area, who are Save the Children child sponsors, and a sponsored girl from South Carolina. The Empire State Building will light up today at sunset to recognize girls and the unique challenges they face globally.
“Worldwide, girls are far more likely to miss out on school, marry too early and grow up too fast,” said Carolyn Miles, president & CEO of Save the Children. “People often talk about women’s empowerment, but that begins with girls. Together, we need to do more to ensure every last girl has a childhood, and a better and brighter future. That’s why today, on International Day of the Girl, Save the Children is shining a light on girls.”
Throughout the world, girls are frequently marginalized in their families, communities and societies. By lighting the Empire State Building red, Save the Children aims to raise awareness of these issues and illuminate the need to educate and empower girls around the world.
“Every girl deserves to follow her dreams no matter where she comes from or what her circumstances are,” said Fanning, known for roles in notable films such as “I Am Sam,” “The Runaways,” “The Twilight Saga” and the upcoming “American Pastoral.” “The first step in doing that is bringing attention to the barriers girls face globally. The second step is empowering young girls to reach their full potential. This is why I am here today, honoring International Day of the Girl and lighting up the Empire State Building with Save the Children.”
Save the Children believes that reaching girls is a critical component of ending early marriage, preventable maternal and child deaths and ensuring our collective future. The Save the Children sponsorship program, in particular, helps provide girls and boys with the necessities for a healthy and successful start to their life – nutrition, early childhood and adolescent development, education and school health. To join Fanning as a child sponsor and learn more, click here.
