The Advertising Council and the U.S. Army have partnered to launch a series of national public service announcements designed to prevent students from dropping out of high school.
Created pro bono by ad agency JWT New York, the PSAs are the second round of work for the “Boost” campaign, which began in 2000.
The latest PSAs feature real teens throughout the country documenting their struggles to stay in high school. They also encourage parents, coaches, mentors and friends to give struggling kids a “boost” to help them stay in school.
One student drops out of high school every nine seconds in America. The rate at which students leave high school between grades nine and 10 has tripled over the last 30 years.
The campaign includes television, radio, outdoor and Internet advertising.
All of the students encourage others to submit their own stories at Boost throughout the school year.
Visitors to the site can submit photos, artwork or pieces of literature to demonstrate their own experience or how they boosted others.
Students are welcome to discuss the obstacles they have faced to stay in school and who in their lives have encouraged them. English and Spanish language resources and guidance on issues relating to school, crisis and the community are also available to both parents and teens.
The new TV spots can be viewed at the Advertising Council. The site is at www.adcouncil.org.
