Awareness campaigns that worked

Breast cancer awareness and the color pink. These two go together in the minds of many Americans, especially during October, "Breast Cancer Awareness" month. 

Fulfilling the Promise 30 years ago started an awareness campaign for the ages...Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Susan G. Komen is the boldest community fueling the best science and making the biggest impact in the fight against breast cancer.

It started me thinking about other awareness campaigns that worked.... 

Sharon Stone, "Basic Instinct" 1992
Bingimages.com

For example, you no longer see actors smoking in nearly as many films as before...If you do, usually the smoking character is supposed to be a "bad guy, loser" type. Remember how normal it used to seem to see a movie star surrounded in a cloud of toxic smoke?...Thanks to smoking prevention campaigns we can now see most of their faces clearly.



Science proved long ago that too much sun causes premature wrinkling and cancer. It took most of us couple of decades of denial to catch up, but sunscreen (and not baby oil), is now "in". 


Advertisers never say "deep, dark tan" anymore!
Print ad from 1980's. Bingimages.com






A modern sunscreen advertisement.
Bingimages.com

The "Seat Belts Save Lives" awareness campaign was so effective the philosophy is ingrained in most Americans today.




Jamie Gertz, Robert Downey Jr., Andrew McCarthy, "Less Than Zero"
Young, wild, and riding a little too free back in 1987.    Bingimages.com

Other effective campaigns include "Mothers Against Drunk Driving", "and United Against Bullying". Let's hope the anti-bullying one sticks as well as others have!


If I ever started an awareness campaign it would probably be something that educates young people on prevention of debt, or a campaign to help those speak up and get help for mentally ill family members, or possibly a campaign to encourage more exercise in daily life.

31 Days of Impact - Breast Cancer Awareness