Press Release: Ad Council, Former Presidents and Tsunami Relief
Ad Council Launches Tsunami Relief PSA Campaign with Former President H.W. Bush and Former President Clinton.
In response to the Tsunami tragedy, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton have joined with The Advertising Council to launch a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign. The PSAs are designed to encourage Americans to send financial support to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. The ads were created pro bono by ad agency McCann-Erickson New York in record time – within two days.
The new television, radio, newspaper, magazine, outdoor and Internet PSAs direct Americans to visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov where they can find a listing of humanitarian organizations accepting donations to aid in the disaster relief. The campaign includes both English and Spanish-language advertising.
In a statement, President George H.W. Bush said: “The funds raised by this unprecedented coordinated effort will be distributed to the relief organizations listed at www.usafreedomcorps.gov. Each of the relief organizations with whom we are working has an excellent reputation, which means the funds raised will be well used and will make a difference.”
In a statement, President Bill Clinton said, “If every American who could contribute one, two, five or ten dollars did, we’d be overwhelmed with financial contributions. The Internet makes it possible to give efficiently in small amounts. You don’t have to be rich to have a positive impact.”
“While millions of Americans have come forward to offer their support for the Tsunami victims, many are not aware that the most effective way they can help the relief efforts is by making monetary donations,” according to Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. “The Ad Council has a history of responding quickly to provide help and healing in times of crisis. We are proud to partner with the former Presidents and USA Freedom Corps to support organizations providing relief for the people suffering from this catastrophe.”
The PSAs are being distributed to more than 28,000 media outlets nationwide. FastChannel Network is donating its services to distribute the television and radio PSAs.
Per the Ad Council’s model, all of the PSAs will run and air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media. Several media companies have already made significant commitments to donate time and space to support the PSAs. These media companies include: ABC Radio Networks, ABC Television Network, America Urban Radio Networks, Bonneville International, Bravo, Cablevisions Systems, CBS Television Network, Charter Communications, Clear Channel Communications, Comcast Spotlight, Cox Enterprises (TV, radio, newspaper), Cox Communications (cable), Fox Television Network, Hearst-Argyle Television, Infinity Radio, Meredith Broadcasting, MSG Networks, NBC Television Network, News Corporation, Lifetime Television Network, Rainbow Networks (AMC, Fuse, IFC, WE, News 12 Networks), Time Warner (all Divisions), Tribune Broadcasting (and WGN-TV) and Viacom.
Significant commitments have also been made to support the online component of the campaign. These include: AOL, ABC Affiliates, Advance Internet, AdForum, AmericanGreetings.com, AskMen.com, Batanga.com, Boomer Radio, Burst Media, BusinessWeek.com, Casale Media, CNN.com, CXO Media Inc., Fastclick Networks, First Media Networks, FoxNews.com, Google, IGN.com, ivillage, Live 365, Max Worldwide, NationalGeographic.com, NYTimes.com, NYSE.com, Tribal Fusion Networks, US News.com, VNU eMedia, Valueclick and Yahoo. All rich media will be served pro bono by EyeWonder.
In addition, media trade associations have also come forward to offer their support for the campaign by engaging their members and helping with PSA distribution. These include: the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA), National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the Radio Advertising Bureau, the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
The following companies have donated production and distribution services for the campaign: Al-Tape & Film, Inc., B.P. Products, ConfirMedia (a division of Verance Corporation), Digital Force, Hartford Direct Marketing, Mailing & Fulfillment Services, IVB, Magno Sound and Video, Printech, Print Promotions, Inc., National Captioning Institute, Incorporated and Videoboards/VMS.
McCann Erickson New York is the flagship and single largest agency of McCann Erickson Worldwide, the world's largest international advertising agency network.
USA Freedom Corps, a White House office, was created by President George W. Bush to strengthen and expand volunteer service opportunities as part of the President’s call to all Americans to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes to volunteer service.
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.
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