Wilmer Valderrama. Rosario Dawson. America Ferrera. The celebrity-led campaign aims to encourage Latinos to vote

With a star-studded cast of celebrities and influencers, the Voto Latino Foundation launched a $5 million initiative on Tuesday to encourage Latinos to vote in the upcoming election.

The “Vota Con Ganas” (“Vote with enthusiasm”) campaign will feature personal stories and news from the Latino community, voter registration campaigns and workshops, social media outreach campaigns, and public service announcement videos from celebrities and influencers highlighting the importance of voting and the impact the Latino vote has can have in this choice.

Notable celebrities who have participated in the campaign so far include Wilmer Valderrama, Rosario Dawson, America Ferrera, Danny Lux, Jessica Alba, Gina Torres and Xochitl Gomez.

Valderrama, who directed and produced the campaign videos, said in a statement that Latinos are an important part of the country and that it is time for them to have a seat at the table.

“The Ganas campaign aims to re-invite our Latino community to vote for their future,” he said. “Every decade, the Latino community continues to grow in so many areas of our country. We contribute in so many different ways and it is important that we recognize and celebrate our contribution to what is possible for us here.”

As part of the campaign, the foundation has also partnered with more than 170 college campus organizations to host voter registration events and digital activations during Hispanic Heritage Month, which ends October 15. The campaign’s efforts are also bolstered by over 300 organizations partnering with the Foundation, including the NFL, Universal Music and Sony.

As the largest minority in the country — 19.5% of the total population, according to the 2020 Census — Latinos are a key voting bloc in the upcoming close presidential election.

Of all major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., Latinos have grown the second fastest since the last presidential election, behind Asian Americans. according to an analysis by the Pew Research Centerand are expected to represent 14.7% or 36.2 million of all eligible voters in this presidential election, a new high.

They make up a growing share of the electorate in several presidential and congressional race states, including Arizona, California and Nevada heavily sought after from republican And Democrats.

Maria Teresa Kumar, president of the Voto Latino Foundation, said including everyday Latinos in the videos is a way to empower them and make their voices heard. In a statement, Kumar described the campaign as “a movement to harness the power of the Latino community.”

Kumar said it is critical to ensure every Latino voter is registered Latinos have the power to shape the future of the country only if they have cast their vote in this election.

Dawson, the foundation’s board member, said Latinos need to mobilize their community, especially youth, because there will be many first-time voters.

“We have the power to decide. We could literally turn the tide,” Dawson said in a statement. “’Vota con Ganas’ means register, vote, volunteer and take ownership of this election because it is up to you to vote.”