USA Network, in partnership with Bright House Networks, today announced the launch of the third Characters Unite Awards, part of USA’s ongoing public affairs campaign to address social injustices and bridge cultural divides.

Kicking off during Characters Unite Month in February, the program recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made significant and lasting efforts to champion civil and human rights in their communities. In addition to the awards, the month will also include new PSAs, original programming, the documentary “NFL Characters Unite,” digital content, events across the country, and more.

The nomination period for the 2013 Characters Unite Awards begins runs Feb. 1-March 15.  Entries, including a maximum 500-word essay on how the nominee meets the criteria of character, impact and influence, can be submitted online at charactersunite.com. Complete rules and regulations are also posted on the website.

Winners, announced in the spring, will receive $5,000 grants to support their project or related nonprofit organization and will be featured by USA on-air and online. They will also be honored this year at a local market ceremony presented by Bright House Networks and USA.

Last year, ten Characters Unite Awards recipients were selected from hundreds of nominees for their successful efforts to combat prejudice and discrimination in their communities. 2012’s winners included Holocaust survivor, speaker and advocate Helen Greenspun, of Longwood, FL, who has dedicated her life to teaching future generations about the atrocities of the Holocaust. Helen, born in Chmielnik, Poland in 1926, survived two labor camps and five concentration camps. She lost her parents and two youngest siblings in Treblinka and was reunited with her four other siblings who survived after the war. Instead of trying to forget the horror and suffering experienced, Helen decided to share her story and speaks frequently to local students, teachers and community organizations to raise awareness and to be a voice for those who did not survive.

To learn more about previous Characters Unite Award recipients or to find more information on Characters Unite, visit charactersunite.com.  

Source: Bright House press release