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 Ad Council, the American Red Cross and Austin’s GSD&M Idea City have launched a series of national PSAs to remind Americans that "Hope is stronger than any disaster."
The new television and radio PSAs are designed to encourage viewers and listeners to visit redcross.org and donate to the American Red Cross.
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.
