Beginning today and airing throughout the week, NBC’s TODAY will debut a series of television public service ads, (PSAs) featuring TODAY’s anchors, on behalf of four social issues—fatherhood involvement, hunger prevention, emergency preparedness and shelter pet adoption. The ads were created pro bono by leading advertising agencies throughout the country in partnership with the Ad Council, a non-profit and leading producer of PSA campaigns for over 70 years. TODAY’s anchors personally selected the social issues they are supporting among the Ad Council’s 50 national campaigns, and participated in brainstorming sessions with the ad agencies to help inform the creative.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60173-ad-council-nbc-today-show-anchors-lauer-guthrie-roker-morales-psas
To coincide with Valentine’s Day, the Ad Council, R/GA and an unprecedented group of brand partners launched, “Fans of Love,” an extension of the iconic Love Has No Labels campaign. The new PSAs, filmed live at the NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando in January, put a twist on the traditional kiss cam by replacing it with an unbiased camera that features all forms of love –friendships, families and romantic relationships– across race, religion, gender, sexuality, ability and age. The goal of the campaign has always been to flood culture with a message of unbiased love, but this year, they’re doing so by actually reframing an iconic part of culture.
“On Valentine’s Day ‘Fans of Love’ highlights that love has the power to bring people together regardless of our differences – a message that is more important now than ever,” said Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “We hope that this new creative will encourage all of us to reflect on our own biases and the role we can play in creating a more accepting and inclusive world.”
The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), through its efforts during Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month in September and throughout the year, is working to raise awareness of the increased prevalence of the disease and the associated risk of stroke in patients living with atrial fibrillation (AFib). Today, HRS releases a new public service announcement (PSA) as part of its ongoing work to educate Americans about AFib, the most common heart arrhythmia, and how it increases one’s risk of stroke fivefold. The PSA can be viewed by clicking here.
AFib affects more than three million Americans and it is estimated that 12 to 16 million Americans will have AFib by 2050. AFib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) fibrillate, or “quiver,” which causes a rapid, irregular heart rhythm. The normal heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats every minute. When the heart is experiencing AFib, the atria can beat over 300 times every minute.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7312151-heart-rhythm-society-afib-stroke-psa/
The National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly™ initiative (www.rideresponsibly.org) is back with its third public service announcement starring actress and activist Pamela Anderson. In partnership with Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment (PAVE), the PSA highlights the often horrifying lack of accountability maintained by ride-hail services and urges passengers to make themselves aware of the safety standards for these apps and their drivers.
“Terms & Conditions” is a follow-up to Ride Responsibly’s second PSA, “The Signs,” which was released in January and called attention to the vast number of sexual assaults reported against drivers. This time, the video shows Pamela Anderson as a passenger of a ride-hail vehicle. Her driver quickly and abruptly reads her a list of terms that she is agreeing to by using the service. Much of the language shocks and disturbs Pam as she is informed that these apps are not responsible or liable for a passenger’s well-being. The terms used for this PSA were taken, in reality, directly from a popular ride-hailing app.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8285451-nla-ride-responsibly-pave-pamela-anderson-psa-terms-and-conditions/
The Allstate Foundation and singer Austin Mahone are challenging teens to #GetThereSafe during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month this May and throughout the summer, the deadliest season for young drivers on the road. Starting today through August 8, teens across the country will have a chance to show where and how they get there safely by entering the #GetThereSafe Challenge. The winning high school will be determined by a random drawing and will receive a meet and greet with Austin in the fall.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7136251-allstate-foundation-austin-mahone-teen-safe-driving-psa
NFL PLAY 60, the National Football League’s youth health and fitness campaign, is the new “Official Champion of Play” at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the global leader in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other deadly diseases.
To commemorate this new milestone in the ongoing partnership between the NFL and St. Jude, a St. Jude patient will join NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on stage to announce a pick during the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The NFL Network and ESPN will televise live coverage of the NFL Draft beginning at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 25.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58566-st-jude-children-s-research-hospital-nfl-play-60
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit leading more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 93 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7316851-operation-homefront-military-families-veterans-september-11-psa/
To coincide with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Selma March (March 7–25, 1965), the Ad Council is leading an unprecedented group of historic brands to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) on behalf of their Love Has No Labels campaign. First announced in February, the digital–first campaign is designed to further understanding and acceptance of all communities regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability. The new television and online video PSAs encourage audiences to examine and challenge their own implicit bias.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7459751-ad-council-love-has-no-labels-psa/
This Sunday, June 19th, as we celebrate fathers across the nation, new research finds that contemporary norms of fatherhood emphasize men’s involvement with their children in addition to the traditional role of financial provider. Further, the number of hours that fathers work is not strongly related to fathers’ involvement with their children. Rather, “new fathers” appear to be cutting back on, or incorporating their children into, their leisure time.
“Over the past two decades, fathers have become more involved in all aspects of their children’s lives,” says Kenneth Braswell, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) Director. “Fathers continue to feel strongly about providing for their children while taking a more active role in other key activities such as meal preparation, bathing, and bedtime routines.”
Further, the Pew Research Center notes that six-in-ten Americans (58 percent) say it is “extremely important” for a father to provide values and morals to his children and roughly half say it is extremely important for a dad to provide emotional support (52 percent).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7858651-ad-council-nrfc-makeamoment-fatherhood-psa/
Thirty five percent of New Yorkers do not feel prepared for an emergency, such as a natural disaster, fire, power outage or act of terrorism according to a 2013 survey conducted by the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM). September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign is launching today to encourage New York families to create an emergency plan. The PSAs were distributed to media outlets throughout the New York City area and will be running in donated time and space.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7314951-oem-fema-and-ad-council-psas-encourage-new-york-city-families-emergency-preparedness-plan/
The Epilepsy Foundation launched the “Talk About It!” public service announcement featuring actor Greg Grunberg to raise awareness and encourage open dialogue about epilepsy and seizures. Greg, best known for his roles on Heroes, Alias, and Felicity, has an adult son who lives with epilepsy, a condition that affects nearly 3 million Americans. The Epilepsy Foundation and Greg teamed up for this PSA, sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., to drive much needed conversation about epilepsy – bringing the condition out of the shadows and honoring a community that deserves better awareness and understanding. More information about the PSA and initiative can be found by visiting the Epilepsy Foundation at epilepsy.com.
What if there were a way to prevent a leading cause of childhood death, but three out of four of us were doing it wrong? The startling truth is that a car seat can dramatically reduce childhood death and injury from motor vehicle crashes, but 75 percent are installed incorrectly.1
With Child Passenger Safety Week upon us, the good news is that community-based programs are making a difference. Buckle Up for Life is a national education program, created in 2004 by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Toyota, to save children's lives. Over the last ten years, it has grown to include a network of more than a dozen of the nation's leading children's hospitals and has educated more than 17,000 people about the proper use of car seats and seat belts. Toyota's sponsorship has provided funding for over 40,000 car seats for families in need.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7318951-toyota-cincinnati-children-s-hospital-child-passenger-safety-buckle-up-for-life/