Andrea in Malaysia with kids

HSNi Cares Senior Manager shares her passion for UNICEF

HSN, Inc. (HSNi, is an interactive multichannel retailer that offers retail experiences on television, online, through mobile devices, and more. Since 2010, HSNi, through its philanthropic arm, HSNi Cares, has been partnering with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to raise critical funds and awareness to help UNICEF save and improve the lives of children around the world. As a National Partner of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, the original Kids helping Kids campaign, HSNi Cares has raised over 1.37 million to help UNICEF provide medicines, education, nutrition, clean water and emergency relief to children in need.

Andrea Masterson, HSNi Cares Senior Manager, works with select causes such as the U.S. fund for UNICEF to harness the organization’s reach to help these causes empower women and help families locally, nationally and globally. Below she shares a little more about how HSNi is partnering with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF.

 

Can you tell us about yourself and your role as Senior Manager of HSNi Cares?

Andrea: I will tell anyone who asks- I have the best job at HSNi. I have the privilege of working with a talented group of people who are so passionate about giving back to causes locally, nationally and globally.  I manage the charity partnerships that we bring to life on television, in catalogs, e-commerce sites, HSN Arcade, social media platforms, in stores and more. When I joined HSNi nearly three years ago, I had spent my entire career working for non-profit organizations and was curious if working for a corporation would fulfill my inherent need to make a positive impact in the world.  What I have found is that I am inspired every day by colleagues with unique points of view, my eyes are opened to new charities doing innovative things and I always get to see the positive side of our business and the people I work with. Like I said the best job in the company.

How is HSNi Cares partnering with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help UNICEF improve and save the lives of children around the world?

Andrea: HSNi Cares has partnered with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for years as a national partner of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. We have grown participation from three of our brands in 2013 to all eight HSNi brands in 2015 to help put children first. Giving back to causes that help children is a top priority for our customers and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF is our global partner to help children around the world.

Why is this partnership and helping children important to you and why do you think it is important to your customers and employees?

Andrea: Our goal with HSNi Cares is to deepen our relationship with our customers and employees by supporting causes that are important to them. We live in a shrinking world and are more connected to one another than ever before. The challenges facing children across the globe are evident in the news and on social media but we are empowered to make a difference with education, awareness and funding.  When we tell the story of one child, one mother, one community, thriving and prospering because of the work of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF we affect our customers and employees in a very personal way.

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment since launching this partnership in 2013?

Andrea: Each year, we harness the talent of all our teams across HSN and put together an HSN Cares Primetime Special for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. In 2013 we helped launch Caryl Stern’s book, I Believe in Zero and in 2014 we created an interactive cooking show highlighting recipes from Hilary Gumbel’s beautiful cookbook, UNICHEF. The collaboration, creativity and passion that went into each of these specials has been truly inspiring. Minutes on the television network are among our most valuable assets and creating one or two hour shows with the sole purpose of raising awareness and funds for a charity partner demonstrates our commitment to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Helping bring these events to life has felt like a huge accomplishment each year.

What are you looking forward to most from this year’s HSNi Cares campaign to support the U.S. Fund for UNICEF?

Andrea: This campaign is exciting because all eight HSNi brands are coming together for the first time for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and together we can reach millions of people to raise important awareness and funds for the organization. This year at HSN we will host our third HSN Cares special for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in a very cool, unique way. One of our most popular destination programs is The Monday Night Show with Adam Freeman and on Monday, September 28th, HSN Cares will take over the show with a select product line where 20% of the purchase price of every item in the show will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman will join Caryl M. Stern, President& CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF on air with Adam Freeman and a few other special guests for an incredible evening! I look forward to seeing all of this continue to come together, knowing that we are all joining together for a common purpose- to put children first. For more information on the Primetime Special, please visit the HSNi website.

Why are you personally passionate about the U.S. Fund for UNICEF?

Andrea: I had the opportunity to go on a visit to Malaysia in March of 2014 and see UNICEF’s work firsthand. Like others who’ve had this tremendous opportunity, I left feeling proud to support the organization and inspired to do more. Hearing the challenges facing children in other countries has touched me over the years but nothing can prepare you for seeing children hungry, homeless, vulnerable. Knowing that I play a role in helping children I will never meet drives my passion to tell the story in creative ways so that our customers can feel the same way I do- proud to make a difference.