The Department of State and Secretary Hillary Clinton Join the Ad Council to Launch PSAs to Support Victims of the Pakistan Floods

New PSAs Encourage all Americans to donate to the Pakistan Relief Fund

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Sep 02, 2010, 04:36 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the flooding in Pakistan began one month ago, more than 20 million people throughout the country have been affected. In an effort to help raise funds for relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts, the U.S. Government—through the Department of State -- created the Pakistan Relief Fund (the Fund). In television and radio PSAs released by the Ad Council today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton encourages all Americans to donate to the Fund, which will help those who are in need.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, click; http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/45926/

The number of people affected by the Pakistan flooding has exceeded the combined total of those who suffered during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. More than 1.2 million homes in Pakistan have been damaged or destroyed and approximately 800,000 people can only be reached by helicopters to gain access to food, water and other relief supplies. Every dollar makes a difference. Donating just $5 has the ability to buy 50 high energy bars providing much needed nutrition; $10 can provide water purification for 100 liters of clean drinking water; and about $40 can buy material to shelter a family of four.

The new PSAs, which include television and radio spots as well as Web banners, direct audiences to visit www.state.gov where they can donate to the Fund through a secure online donation page. Americans can also donate by text messaging the word "FLOOD" to 27722, which will charge $10 to their cell phone bill. Standard text messaging and data rates apply.

"The Pakistani people are friends and partners, and the U.S. is standing with them as the tragic human suffering from flooding continues," said Secretary Clinton. "Americans have always shown great generosity to people facing crises worldwide. I urge all Americans to join this effort and send much needed help to the people of Pakistan as they face substantial relief, recovery and reconstruction challenges. Financial contributions will go towards providing shelter materials, food, clean water, and medical supplies to those in need."

The Pakistan Relief Fund serves as a mechanism for the public to contribute money to the ongoing efforts in Pakistan. Contributions will go towards programs run by the Department of State and other federal agencies for relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan, or to provide funds to international organizations, non-profit organizations and other appropriate recipients for relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan.

The Ad Council is distributing the PSAs to media outlets nationwide today. Per the Ad Council's model, the PSA will run in advertising time and space that is donated by the media.

"We are proud to join with Secretary Clinton and the State Department on this critical effort to encourage Americans to provide support for those who have been devastated by the flooding in Pakistan," said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of the Ad Council. "We believe the American media will generously support these PSAs -- as they have in times of other global crises -- and Americans throughout the country will be motivated to donate to the relief effort."

Several companies have donated production and digital distribution services for the new PSAs. Additionally, Getty Images donated images of the Pakistan floods that are featured in the television and Web ads.

For more information about the Pakistan Relief Fund, visit www.state.gov/pakistanrelief.

The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer efforts from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public.

SOURCE The Ad Council