Ad Council and CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation Extend Successful Campaign with Launch of New PSAs

Ad Council and CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation Extend Successful Campaign with Launch of New PSAs

New Ads Coincide with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Advertising Council and CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation announced today the launch of new radio PSAs and Web banners designed to help children with cancer and their families receive the information, resources and support they need to face a life-threatening diagnosis. The PSAs will debut in September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since the campaign first launched in November 2004, the campaign's website, http://www.curesearch.org/, has received a 235% increase in traffic (from 9,717 to an average of 32,632 unique visitors per week).

Cancer is the number-one disease killer of children in the United States. Forty-six children, or two classrooms of students, are diagnosed with cancer each school day in this country. Although there has been remarkable progress in research and treatment, thousands of children die from the disease annually and its incidence has increased every year for more than 25 years. Fortunately, advancements in diagnosis and treatment have transformed the once nearly fatal disease into one that has an overall cure rate of 78%. Yet, despite the progress that has been made, many Americans remain unaware of both the prevalence and the cure rate associated with childhood cancer.

Sponsored by CureSearch, the campaign seeks to provide families with resources that will help them improve the quality of their children's lives and secure the best chance for a cure. Created pro bono by ad agency Y & R, the PSAs direct parents, families, friends, and caregivers to children diagnosed with cancer to visit http://www.curesearch.org/, the only comprehensive, up-to-date information portal on childhood cancer. The site provides support, resources and clinical information, which is customized to patients, families and friends based on a child's age, diagnosis and treatment.

"In only a short time this campaign has had an extraordinary impact -- increasing the visitors to the website exponentially and reinforcing the need for these critical messages," according to Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. "We are proud to continue our partnership with CureSearch to communicate to families affected by childhood cancer that there is life-saving information and support available at CureSearch.org."

"Every day, we hear from families that learned about CureSearch.org through our Ad Council campaign and, as a result, have been able to find the resources they need to make informed choices about their child's treatment as well as a trusted companion throughout their journey with the disease," said Paul T. Burke, President and CEO of CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The new radio spots poignantly feature problems facing children and their parents when the diagnosis is cancer and communicate how CureSearch.org can help families cope with all aspects of the disease. To view the PSAs, visit http://www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/childhood_cancer_resource.

"This was a cause that touched all of our hearts. CureSearch makes such a profound difference in the lives of young cancer patients and their families. Knowing our ads are helping these families connect to CureSearch is our greatest reward," said Ross Sutherland, Executive Creative Director at Y&R.

Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs were distributed to radio stations and websites nationwide and will begin running and airing in advertising time and space that is donated by the media this month.

Y&R, (http://www.yr.com/) a division of Young & Rubicam Brands, was founded in 1923 and is one of the world's leading full-service consumer advertising agencies. Y&R counts among its clients some of the world's most prestigious global corporations, including Campbell's Soup Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, MetLife, Toys R Us, Virgin Atlantic and the Xerox Corporation. Ann Fudge is Chairman and CEO of Y&R and Young & Rubicam Brands. Young & Rubicam Brands is a member of the WPP Group of Companies (WPPGY.).

http://www.curesearch.org/ unites CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) and the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the world's largest and most prestigious childhood cancer research organization. Together, the two entities support lifesaving research and clinical trials conducted at more than 200 member institutions, representing every pediatric cancer program and providing state-of-the-art medical care to more than 90% of children with cancer in North America.

Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator recognizes CureSearch NCCF with four out of four stars for fiscal management. Ninety-four percent of CureSearch NCCF's total annual expenditures is dedicated to finding cures for children with cancer, six percent is used for fundraising and administration. CureSearch is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) public benefit charity.

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit http://www.adcouncil.org/.

Source: The Advertising Council

CONTACT: Ellyn Fisher, of The Advertising Council, +1-212-984-1964,
Efisher@adcouncil.org; or Sally Charney, of CureSearch National Childhood
Cancer Foundation, +1-240-235-2205, Sally.Charney@CureSearch.org; or
Aviva Ebstein, of Y & R, +1-212-210-3532, Aviva.ebstein@yr.com

Web site: http://www.adcouncil.org/
http://www.curesearch.org/
http://www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/childhood_cancer_resource
http://www.yr.com/