“give a year. change the world.”
New York, NY (September 11, 2008) - Today, Public Service Announcements sharing the power of City Year – created by Arnold Worldwide and broadcast by Comcast - are being launched with the “give a year. change the world.” campaign.
City Year has been working closely with Arnold Worldwide to raise awareness for City Year, and the service of the diverse young people of City Year who dedicate a year to community and country as tutors, mentors and role models who transform children’s lives.
“The more you learn about City Year, the more you are inspired by the energy, passion and optimism that shine through everything they do,” said Brian Hayes, creative director, Arnold. “We hope that these new ads convey this feeling and motivate more young people to get involved in the program.”
The spots feature City Year corps members – 17-to-24 year-olds from diverse backgrounds – in meaningful moments that convey the powerful impact they have as young people engaged in citizen service: tutoring in schools, mentoring students, cleaning up neighborhoods, working together for a common purpose. Each PSA conveys the City Year tagline “give a year. change the world.”
The ads will be broadcast nationwide by Comcast – one of City Year’s leading corporate partners. A component of Comcast’s three-year, $27 million commitment to City Year is the donation of air-time that will show the PSAs nearly 2,400 times on their networks.
“We are delighted to be airing City Year’s new PSAs across Comcast cable systems nationwide,” said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation. “City Year has motivated thousands of youth to take active roles within communities and schools, and the PSAs are a terrific reflection of the great work they do. We hope others will join the organization and further their cause.”
“Our tremendous partnerships with Comcast and Arnold are making it possible for City Year to take an enormous step forward to promote the idea and the opportunity of service across the country with a compelling call to action,” said City Year CEO and Co-Founder Michael Brown. “I am excited by the level of awareness and energy these PSAs will generate.”
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Josh Seftel of Redtree Productions directed the spots. Mr. Seftel has received more than fifty international awards for his independent films and his work has appeared on ABC, CBS, PBS and Bravo.
The PSAs can be seen on the Comcast network and online at www.cityyear.org/psa