Dove Men+Care Highlights Fathers' Most Defining Moments with NEW #CongratsItsADad Campaign

Digital billboards featured dads welcoming new babies that same day

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This Father's Day, Dove Men+Care proudly launched #CongratsItsADad, a campaign celebrating the moment that men became fathers to newborns on the very day that is dedicated to them. This initiative demonstrated a keen sense of agility through its execution, while realizing the brand's ongoing commitment to recognize the transformative effects that care has on a man's life.  

#CongratsItsADad celebrates men who received the ultimate Father's Day gift this year – the birth of their child. Throughout Sunday's holiday, starting at midnight, Dove Men+Care compiled photographs of some of the newest dads in the U.S. and created an agile campaign, encouraging everyone to acknowledge the care of dads and father figures in their lives. As the photos were submitted by families and birthing photographers around the country, Dove Men+Care quickly transformed them into outdoor digital billboards to be displayed on over 1,600 locations throughout New York City, including in Times Square and Penn Plaza – all on the exact same day.

"Since the brand's inception in 2010, Dove Men+Care has found inspiration in the caring role of fathers, and we remain committed to breaking the stereotypes that negatively impact men," said Augusto Garzon, Global Lead of Dove Men+Care for Unilever. "The birth of a child also marks the birth of a dad. This campaign was developed to not only celebrate their care, but also to support them as they embark on this new fatherhood journey. This is something we set out to do in 2019 with the launch of the Pledge for Paternity Leave."

As part of an ongoing commitment to making paid parental leave more accessible for all parents, Dove Men+Care will provide each of the dads featured in the campaign $5,000 grants to supplement any paid paternity leave needs, or to support them in any way during their first few weeks of fatherhood.  The brand understands that in the U.S. only 13% of fathers who take time off when their families grow received any payment from work¹. Since 2019, this has been a focus for Dove Men+Care, with the introduction of the Pledge for Paternity Leave. The program has included efforts to drive legislative change, offer immediate support for dads in need, and build a community of advocates and supporters of paid parental leave.

Throughout the month, #CongratsItsADad content will also be shared across Dove Men+Care social channels and the brand is working with content creators to share their own fatherhood stories. All are encouraged to share their own experiences by engaging with the "Add Yours" feature in Instagram stories and by using the campaign hashtag.

The brand and its partners at Ogilvy, who led creative development of the campaign, understand how important it is to showcase the care of dads. "There's a desperate need to positively model care for men, especially in the lives of their children. With 1 in 4 children in America having no biological, step or adoptive father at home², being a champion of men stepping up to the challenge of fatherhood is part of the bedrock of purpose that Dove Men+Care is building on," said Rob Butcher, Global Creative Director Dove Men+Care for Ogilvy. The desire to create a campaign that demonstrates fatherhood in this way is inherent in the team's personal experiences. Daniel Fisher, Dad and Global Executive Creative Director Unilever for Ogilvy, said, "Last Friday evening, I got dressed as a merman and took my eldest baby, who is now 9, to see a movie at our local cinema. I think I promised her I would do this for her, along with millions of other things, at 1:46 PM on March 23, 2014, when I cradled her in my arms for the very first time. Because that moment, when a man becomes a father for first time and meets his newborn, is like nothing else they will ever experience. It fills them with a tidal wave of emotions that change them in that instant forever. I'm so proud that we've been able to capture this moment for Dove Men+Care. We are indebted to all the new dads – and their babies, of course – for sharing this wonderful moment with us."

To learn more about Dove Men+Care and their commitment to supporting fathers and men, visit www.dovemencare.com.

About Dove Men+Care 
Dove Men+Care is the first range of products from Dove developed specially for men. Manufactured by Unilever, the line includes the #1 dermatologist recommended body wash. Launched in 2010, Dove Men+Care, a powerhouse men's grooming brand in the U.S., boasts a portfolio including bars, body washes, face care, anti-perspirant/deodorants, and hair care, which are available nationwide in food, drug, and mass outlet stores. 

Since launching, Dove Men+Care has also been dedicated to debunking the stereotypes of how men around the world care for themselves and others. The brand is on a mission to inspire every man to experience the transformative effects of care and has focused on making that a reality through cultural initiatives, legislative action and community engagement. Learn more at DoveMenCare.com.  

About Unilever North America  
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. Worldwide, we have 127,000 employees and generated sales of €60.1 billion in 2022. Our leading brands in North America include Dove, Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Degree, Seventh Generation, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:

1. improving the health of the planet; 
2. improving people's health, confidence and wellbeing; 
3. and contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com 

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca

CITATIONS

1. Department of Labor Policy Brief: Paternity Leave https://www.dol.gov/asp/policy-development/PaternityBrief.pdf
2. U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Living arrangements of children under 18 years old: 1960 to present. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau.

Media contact:  
Matthew Murray
[email protected] 

SOURCE Dove Men+Care