Monthly Archives: September 2012

Think Ahead: Awareness Months for Pets and Pet-Lovers

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If you’re household is like the 39% of households in the nation who call themselves dog-owners or the 33% in the nation that consider themselves cat-lovers, be sure to brace yourself for the month of October.

There is not one but two awareness months to keep an eye out for this coming month.

The first, Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, is a month where we not only celebrate dogs adopted from shelters but promote awareness that there are still far too many dogs in kill-shelters. Only 21% of the millions of dogs in the United States have been adopted from shelters, leaving millions more to stay their lives out in small cages. (or worse) Be sure to visit a shelter in October for great pet giveaways and a great selection in breeds you’ll want to take home!

The second awareness month taking place in October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month. This month is a great way to promote humane treatment of all animals, whether wild or domesticated. In New York alone, there were 100 cases (1200+ animals affected) of animal abuse last year. These cases ranged from abandonment to violent shootings. Be sure to treat all animals humanely and to report any abuse cases to the proper authorities.

Whether you work for a shelter, pet store or animal hospital be sure to promote your name, favorite pooches and their safety/well-being with custom imprinted picture frames and pet products.

Red Ribbon Week: Everything You Need to Know

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Red Ribbon Week is the largest (and oldest) anti-drug initiative in America. Through participating in the awareness event, which takes place during the last week of October annually, Americans pledge to live life drug-free. Each year, approximately 80 million people take part in Red Ribbon Week activities. Red Ribbon Week 2013 will take place between October 23 – 31.

Wildflower Mini Seed Paper - Red Awareness Ribbon

What does the red ribbon mean?

The red ribbon, in a nutshell, is representative of support for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). But where did it come from?

What’s the history?

In 1985, undercover agent Enrique Camarena, was sent to Mexico to investigate the Mexican army, police force and government and their involvement in cocaine and marijuana trafficking. Camarena was kidnapped and was eventually found dead.

Just weeks after Camarena’s death, high school teacher David Dhillon and congressman Duncan Hunter formed “Camarena Clubs” — a high school program in which students pledged to live drug-free. Participating high schoolers donned red badges to honor the sacrifice made by Camarena. By 1988, the red ribbon had grown in popularlity, prompting President Reagan to make Red Ribbon Week a national observance.

How can I help?

There are many ways to participate in Red Ribbon Week. For example, students still wear red ribbons to show support for the initiative. Furthermore, schools, families, religious communities and businesses throughout the country hold Red Ribbon Week events each year to continue the anti-drug campaign. Some ideas involve sponsoring an essay or poster contest, organizing a parade and decorating school and office spaces in red. You can make your message last even longer by giving away Red Ribbon Week promotional items. Look for red giveaways that will complement your event or educational materials.

Climate Week NYC: ‘For a Propserous America’

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Every year since 2008, governments, businesses and organizations meet in New York City for Climate Week NYC. With this year’s event scheduled to take place just weeks before the U.S. presidential election, its theme is “For a more prosperous America.”

Climate Week NYC

According to the event website, “Climate Week NYC is an annual summit bringing together the world’s leading businesses and governments and an exciting array of public-facing events, all focused on driving a swift, massive scaling-up of clean technologies to create jobs and boost the economy.” The week-long initiative will officially launch on Monday, September 24, 2012 and run through Sunday, September 30.

What makes Climate Week NYC such an important event? Climate change poses very serious threats to America and its communities. As we look forward, we must work harder than ever to create a sustainable future for U.S. families.

Help promote Climate Week NYC by giving away eco-friendly promotional products imprinted with information on how to get involved.

You can also help raise awareness by following @ClimateWeekNYC on Twitter and/or Tweeting about Climate Week NYC with hashtag #ClimateWeekNYC.  Event organizers are always looking for volunteers, so if you’re interested, sign up here!

Promote Healthy Aging this September

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“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” Betty Friedan

Throughout our young lives, we fear aging. No one hopes for wrinkles. Nobody likes watching memories fade. But whether or not we want to grow old, we must.

While we have to age, we don’t have to do so unhealthily. Each September, Americans celebrate Healthy Aging Month — a national observance meant to promote healthy aging. According to the initiative’s website, “The main objective of Healthy Aging Month is to encourage local level Healthy Aging events that promote taking personal responsibility for one’s health… be it physically, socially, mentally or financially.”

Custom Imprinted Senior's Health Organizer Key Points

To help spread the word about Healthy Aging Month, HealthyAging.net suggests the following:

  • Organizing a Healthy Aging Walk-a-Thon
  • Giving away Healthy Aging materials
  • Plan an older adult reading night at your library

Will you promote healthy aging this September?

Think Ahead: Month of Freethought

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If you’re the owner of a business, you know that keeping up morale around the office one of your top priorities, often ahead of personal profit.

That’s why celebrating awareness months around the office is very important. Changes from monotonous activities are beneficial to boosting employee spirits and a great way to learn something new.

So for the month of October, give your employees the reins for Month of Freethought. This month encourages employees to celebrate individuality and to think freely. Hand out custom imprinted notebooks and have your employees write freely about any topic of their choosing. It’ll be a great way to get your employees talking and learn more about them.

National Public Lands Day: Help Make a Difference

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In 1994, a handful of federal agencies and just 500 volunteers organized America’s first National Public Lands Day. This year, the tradition will continue on Saturday, September 29. But what’s it all about, and how can you get involved?

According to the initiative’s website, “National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands.” Almost 200,000 volunteers participated in the 2011 event, covering 2,067 nationwide. Together they:

  • Built and/or maintained approximately 1,500 miles of hiking trails
  • Cleaned up about 500 tons of garbage
  • Planted an estimated 100,000 plants including trees and shrubbery

Canadian Horseshoe Falls with city of Buffalo, US in background. Clicked from Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls, Canada.

We all want to continue to enjoy our nation’s public lands, which include Yosemite National Park and Niagara Falls State Park. Therefore, events like NPLD are super-important. That’s why big names like Toyota and Northrop Grumman sponsor the initiative annually.

promotional Forget Me Not Butterflies Ornament

If you’d like to organize a local NPLD event, check out the official Media Kit. It includes great features like a calendar, social guide and sample letters. And consider giving away eco-friendly promotional products to make an even more memorable impression.