The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced a new, national effort aimed at ending hunger in the communities Kroger calls home and eliminating waste across the company by 2025.
“No family in a community we serve should ever go hungry, and no food in a store we operate should ever go to waste ,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO.
Across the United States, 42 million Americans struggle with hunger. At the same time, an estimated 72 billion pounds of food ends up in a landfill every year.
“More than 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. each year goes unconsumed, while one in eight people struggle with hunger. That just doesn’t make sense,” Mr. McMullen said. “As America’s grocer and one of the largest retailers in the world, we are committing to doing something about it.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8164551-kroger-zero-hunger-zero-waste/
As Americans gather at bars and in living rooms to watch the hugely popular college basketball tournament– often with a drink in hand– the Ad Council is launching a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) for their ongoing “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” campaign. Impaired driving remains a persistent problem in the U.S., with over 10,000 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2016, according to the Department of Transportation. That’s approximately one person every fifty minutes.
The new PSAs, which were produced pro bono by media agency OMD, encourage young men to examine their own behavior by amplifying social warning signs many already know and associate with impairment. Whether texting too many emojis or taking one too many selfies, these subtle “warning signs” are recognizable to the target audience and serve as cues not to drive home.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8288151-ad-council-buzzed-driving-warning-signs/
Blood cancers are the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. However, many Americans are unaware of the impact of these cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, which affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system.
A new survey commissioned by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) reveals more than four in five adults (82%) are surprised that blood cancers are the third leading cancer killer of Americans. Further, nearly four in five adults (78%) are surprised that acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children and young adults under age 20.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8128551-lls-blood-cancer-awareness-month/
The Ad Council, the largest producer of public service campaigns in the U.S., in partnership with Viacom, home to premier global brands in media and entertainment, and non-profit leader Facing Addiction today launched the PSA campaign “LISTEN” to ignite a national conversation about drug and alcohol addiction as a public health epidemic, and empower those impacted by substance use disorders.
While past PSA campaigns have traditionally focused on the perspective of those at risk, urging them to eliminate all substance use, “LISTEN” addresses the support system of people who are also affected by this crisis. Using powerful stories that portray the modern faces of addiction and recovery, the campaign looks to remove the stigma attached to substance misuse through the act of informed, compassionate listening. The campaign’s website, heretolisten.com, and Facing Addiction's Resource Hub provides important tools and information to help people start a productive conversation with their friends and loved ones and to support the more than 45 million Americans directly impacted by addiction.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/8029751-ad-council-listen-psa-addiction-drug-alcohol-substance-abuse/
To coincide with Independence Day, the Ad Council, R/GA and an unprecedented group of brands launched “We Are America,” an extension of the iconic Love Has No Labels campaign, explaining that love for country is love for the people who make up this country. The new PSAs, featuring WWE Superstar John Cena, continue to further the campaign message of acceptance of all communities regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability. Love Has No Labels encourages audiences to recognize their implicit bias – biases that live in our subconscious – in order to promote inclusion. “We Are America” invites everyone to submit their photos to demonstrate the true diversity that makes up America. Upworthy, a 2015 campaign launch partner, shared “We Are America” on its social platforms and will be creating a series of videos launching in the coming months to help further the campaign message.
Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization, has partnered with the Ad Council and McCann New York to launch new public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to raise awareness about child hunger in the United States. Featuring the voice of celebrity activist Julianne Moore, who volunteered her time and talent, the PSAs call upon Americans to help children facing hunger in America by supporting the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7909951-feeding-america-ad-council-julianne-moore/
The Salvation Army is extending the reach of its national Red Kettle campaign to social media and encouraging Americans to share their reasons for giving using the hashtag #RedKettleReason.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7346052-salvation-army-invites-americans-to-share-their-red-kettle-reason-through-social-media/
While January 1 is the traditional day millions announce their New Year’s Resolutions, research shows only 8% of Americans achieve success. For the fifth year, Life Time, is aiming to help people rethink resolutions and instead make a true, internal commitment to themselves to living a healthy way of life by participating in the Commitment Day 5K Fun Run and Walk. Held at more than 40 Life Time destinations across the U.S. and Canada, Commitment Day empowers individuals, families and communities to start the year on the right foot by marking their pledge with action toward a year of better health. New for 2017, a Virtual 5K is available for anyone in North America to join in. All participants will receive a race bib and commemorative Commitment Day tee shirt. Registration, locations and pricing details are available at www.CommitmentDay.com.
Commitment Weekend kicks off on Friday, Dec. 30 and continues through Monday, Jan. 2, when Life Time will open its doors to everyone – whether a member or not. During each of the four days, Life Time’s 122 destinations will feature a variety of health and fitness experiences and activities for all ages. In addition to the 5K Fun Run and Walk on Jan. 1, people can take part in unique-to-Life Time group fitness, indoor cycle and yoga classes such as Strike, Amp Cycle and Warrior Sculpt, as well as Alpha Training. Life Time’s indoor aquatic centers, basketball courts, rock walls and tennis, racquetball and squash courts will all be open with club-specific programming to help men, women and kids make their commitment even easier by doing activities they love or trying new things that will inspire them in the coming year.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7991951-life-time-commitment-day-virtual-5k-fun-run-walk/
While regular visits to the eye doctor and dentist are mainstays of preventive healthcare, less than one in four Americans have had their hearing checked in the past two years, according to a consumer survey by Wakefield Research on behalf of EPIC Hearing Healthcare (EPIC). And, while most people with poor vision own glasses or contacts to help them see better, only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid wears one.
“A lot of people aren’t aware how important preventive care is for their hearing health,” said William M. Luxford, M.D., medical director, House Clinic. “Regular, comprehensive hearing exams by an audiologist are the best way to establish a baseline for your hearing and ensure any hearing loss is caught early so further damage can be prevented or minimized and hearing can be improved as quickly as possible.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7823651-epic-healthy-hearing-habits/
Losing weight and being healthier are at the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolutions. But, despite the best intentions, work, kids, and social events often push lifestyle changes to the bottom of the list. While many are familiar with type 2 diabetes, fewer are aware of prediabetes, a serious health condition that affects 86 million Americans (more than 1 in 3) and often leads to type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood glucose (sugar) levels, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
To raise awareness and help people with prediabetes know where they stand and how to prevent type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered with the Ad Council to launch the first national public service advertising (PSA) campaign about prediabetes. The PSA campaign, featuring first-of-its-kind communications techniques, was developed pro bono by Ogilvy & Mather New York for the Ad Council.
Nearly 90 percent of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it and aren’t aware of the long-term risks to their health, including type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Current trends suggest that, if not treated, 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. The good news is that prediabetes often can be reversed through weight loss, diet changes and increased physical activity. Diagnosis is key: research shows that once people are aware of their condition, they are much more likely to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7731551-ad-council-prediabetes-psa/
See America, Allergan’s initiative to fight against preventable blindness in the United States, today unveiled a powerful video featuring award-winning actor and hip-hop artist Common, that urges Americans to “stand in the way of darkness”.
The video harnesses Common’s striking spoken word ability, calling on Americans to fight against vision loss and prioritize their vision. Common highlights the 61 million Americans at-risk of severe vision loss, and challenges us all to imagine a life without sight.
“I'm proud to join Allergan in the fight against preventable blindness,” said Common. “Sight is something that far too many of us take for granted. I hope our message resonates with people across the country, no matter what age or background.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8057551-common-joins-allergan-see-america-against-preventable-blindness/
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and the American Diabetes Association today revealed common challenges affecting the millions of Americans living with type 2 diabetes as part of the program America’s Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals. Last year, award-winning artist Tim McGraw, renowned actress S. Epatha Merkerson and Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz called on patients and their loved ones to share their stories – from inspirational successes to daily struggles. Thousands of people from across the country responded, and revealed common challenges like eating healthy, exercising, sticking to a treatment plan and coping with the disease.
“Type 2 diabetes has affected my family, friends and fans, so I’ve learned it can be challenging to manage. It was great to hear from so many people, and I’m impressed by everyone’s dedication to their health,” said McGraw. “The stories we received shed an important light on the similar hardships people in the community face as they work toward achieving their blood sugar goals.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7988751-merck-americas-diabetes-challenge-tim-mcgraw-s-epatha-merkerson-chef-leticia-moreinos-schwartz/