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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Piñatas for Refugees - Villafane
HEADLINE: Nicaraguan business owner in Los Angeles joins humanitarian effort for Ukraine
TEASER: The staff at Amazing Piñatas finds a way to express their solidarity with and support the Ukrainian people
PUBLISHED: 3/22/2022 at 8:10 am
BYLINE: Veronica Villafañe
DATELINE: Los Angeles, CA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Veronica Villafañe
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE (1st); Jepsen
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRODUCTION))
[[As the war unfolds in Ukraine, the owner of Amazing Piñatas in Los Angeles, has found a creative way to help Ukrainian refugees. Originally from Nicaragua, Lorena Robletto tells VOA News reporter Verónica Villafañe why she wants to help.]]
((NARRATOR))
Colorful piñatas of every type adorn the front room of Amazing Piñatas. These hollow paper decorations are usually filled with candy. They're made for parties … meant to be hung off the ground and smashed open … for candy to flow and people to enjoy.
But these piñatas have a different purpose. They are being made to help the people of Ukraine.
Owner Lorena Robletto and her team agreed to start this project after seeing the images of war from Ukraine.
((Lorena Robletto, Amazing Piñatas Owner))
“Heavy emotions, when I see that on the news, and I see people leaving and staying in areas to protect themselves and their family. So, it's just very sad to see that.”
((NARRATOR))
For Robletto, the devastation and pain of the war is personal.
((Lorena Robletto, Amazing Piñatas Owner))
“It strikes because I come from Nicaragua, and we went through a terrible war in the 1970s. I was caught in that and I lost a lot of my friends, my childhood friends, relatives, financially, you know, we lost a lot.”
((NARRATOR))
The company’s in-house artisans found a way to express their solidarity and support the people of Ukraine the best way they know how.
((NAT))
José Sánchez creates handmade heart-shaped piñatas, paying close attention to the smallest details … while his wife, Luz Ibáñez, makes paper roses for special bouquets … using the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Marketing manager Ángela Sánchez came up with the fundraising campaign.
((Ángela Sánchez, Amazing Piñatas Marketing Manager))
“We are immigrants. We know how hard it is to be under attack, and we understand how they probably feel right now. So, this is the main reason why we want to help.”
((NARRATOR))
Amazing Piñatas has promoted the campaign for peace and support for Ukraine on social media.
((Ángela Sánchez, Amazing Piñatas Marketing Manager ))
“The phone is ringing all the time. We have orders online. We have to send many orders out of California, which is really good. … I'm so proud that we create this and the people is responding right now.”
((NARRATOR//SU))
((I HAVE A standup saying this in English if there’s a version that can include it))
The owner of Amazing Piñatas is working with the Ukrainian Cultural Center to donate 100% of the proceeds from these special sales to help the humanitarian effort in Ukraine.
Robletto says that as global citizens, everyone has a social responsibility to help.
((Lorena Robletto, Amazing Piñatas Owner))
“I think that it is bringing some satisfaction knowing that we are contributing to that. And that not only that but we're also asking people to join us. And I think all together, I think we can make a difference.”
((Verónica Villafañe, VOA News, Los Angeles.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Los Angeles, CA
Embargo DateMarch 22, 2022 08:50 EDT
BylineVeronica Villafañe
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
