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NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year, an unprecedented number of fires, massive floods and four named hurricanes making US landfall in a month’s time have made 2008 a record year for natural disasters. The Advertising Council, the American Red Cross and Austin’s GSD&M Idea City have launched a series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) to remind Americans that "Hope is stronger than any disaster."
The new television and radio PSAs are designed to encourage viewers and listeners throughout the country to visit www.redcross.org and donate to the American Red Cross.
"Just as during the Tsunami and the devastating hurricanes of the last several years, millions of Americans want to provide support, but they are not sure how to help," said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. "The Ad Council has a long history of responding quickly in times of crisis. We are proud to partner with the American Red Cross and GSD&M Idea City, to provide these critical messages, which I am confident, will be generously supported by the media."
Created pro bono in just two weeks by Austin-based ad agency GSD&M Idea City, the campaign features former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush renewing their joint appeal for support of American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Other PSAs in the package feature a voiceover by noted actor and native Texan Tommy Lee Jones, and music from Austin’s Patty Griffin is featured on all the English-language PSAs. Two songs from her ATO Records CD "Impossible Dream" - "Kite" and "Standing" are featured in this campaign. Spanish language radio and TV spots produced by Austin-based LatinWorks are also available. http://www.latinworks.com
"The American Red Cross is extremely grateful to former Presidents Bush and Clinton for calling on all Americans to come to the aid of disaster victims in the Gulf Coast and across our country," said Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "This PSA, along with those featuring the talents of Tommy Lee Jones and Patty Griffin, will help the Red Cross continue to feed, shelter, comfort and provide hope to those who have lost so much."
This campaign marks the second time the Ad Council, GSD&M Idea City and Red Cross have teamed up to create a post-disaster message. Idea City offered its work pro bono in 2005 to produce a series of PSAs following Hurricane Katrina. "We have a great tradition at GSD&M Idea City of stepping up when our communities call," said Roy Spence, founder, chairman and CEO of GSD&M Idea City. "We’re in the ‘make a difference’ business and there’s no greater calling than when we’re able to help make a difference for people in need."
Distribution of these spots, which began on Friday, October 3rd, is through DG Fastchannel, pro bono by Ad Spot and via satellite feed. The radio spots are being distributed pro bono through FirstSpin, a digital distribution platform. They are also available through the Ad Council’s fulfillment center PSACENTRAL.ADCOUNCIL.ORG.
In addition, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has graciously agreed to distribute the TV spots on their monthly satellite feed on October 16th and will include links to download both the radio and TV spots on their website at NABSPOTCENTER.org. All PSAs will be broadcast based on donations by members of the media nationwide.
The Red Cross relies on your donations to do its work. Please call 1-800 RED CROSS (800.733.2767) or make an online contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund at www.redcross.org.
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer efforts from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public.
GSD&M Idea City is a leading national marketing communications and advertising company that has helped grow some of the world’s most successful brands. For more information go to www.IdeaCity.com. GSD&M Idea City is part of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE:OMC)
SOURCE American Red Cross
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