Image is courtesy of the Ad Council.
Founded on February 18, 1942, The War Advertising Council took seriously its job of rallying the American public’s support of World War II. Public service advertisements (PSAs) cautioned the home front that “Loose Lips Sink Ships” and bolstered the morale of women workers toiling in munitions and war supply factories that “We Can Do It!,” using the iconic image of “Rosie the Riveter.”
The War Advertising Council transitioned to a peacetime public service organization – The Advertising Council – and continued its work of raising awareness of important social issues and inspiring Americans to take action. “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” and “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste” are among the Ad Council’s campaigns that have influenced positive social change:
- Acres of forest lost annually to wildfires declined from 22 million to an average of 6.5 million.
- 70% of Americans report having personally prevented someone who had been drinking from driving.
- More than $2.2 billion has been donated to help 400,000 minority students become college graduates.
In honor of its 70th business anniversary, the Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) has
reprised “Rosie the Riveter.” The Facebook app “Rosify Yourself” asks each visitor to become a fan of the Ad Council and show social-change solidarity by replacing Rosie’s face with a personal face photo. Visit the Ad Council’s 70th business anniversary web page at http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54204-ad-council-70-th-birthday-seventy-years-anniversary
Happy 70th business anniversary, Ad Council!
Blogger Bio: Pauline Bartel, M.A., is President and Chief Creative Officer of
Bartel Communications, Inc., an award-winning corporate communications firm,
specializing in marketing, public relations and business anniversary consulting
services. The firm created “The Bartel Years™” and “The Bartel Years 200™,” rosters of business anniversary symbols to inspire two centuries of business anniversary
“sell”-abrations. Download free copies of “The Bartel Years™” and the special
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