Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) August 01, 2013
Starting today and throughout August, top bloggers are using their voices to help protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases as part of “Blogust,” a month-long digital dialogue organized by the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign. In addition to some of the most passionate online voices, Blogust will include participation from actor Amanda Peet (Identity Thief, Something’s Gotta Give, Syriana), David Benioff (co-creator and showrunner, Game of Thrones) and tech guru Guy Kawasaki.
Each day in August, a blogger will share a personal story about some of the key moments that impact children as they grow up. For every comment on any of the 31 posts, Walgreens will make a donation to United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign to purchase a lifesaving vaccine (up to 50,000 vaccines) to help give children around the world a shot at a life free of preventable diseases.
“The message of Blogust is simple: Moments matter, comments count and anyone can make a difference for children who need it most,” said Maggie Carter, Deputy Director of Shot@Life. “By taking action, we can expand access to lifesaving vaccines and give more children a shot at a healthy life.”
Vaccines are safe, simple and one of the most cost-effective ways to protect children from diseases like measles, pneumonia, polio and rotavirus. However, one in five children worldwide lack access to lifesaving immunizations, and a child dies of a vaccine-preventable disease every 20 seconds. Through Blogust and other efforts, the Shot@Life campaign is building a movement in the U.S. to increase the availability and funding of vaccines for children in developing countries.
“The online community is a powerhouse for positive change,” said Aaron Sherinian, Vice President for Communications and Public Relations at the United Nations Foundation. “Blogust brings together passionate voices to help raise awareness, inspire action and change lives.”
Last year’s Blogust, which took place during August 2012, helped deliver vaccines to 10,000 children around the world.
Participants in Blogust are:
- Amanda Peet and David Benioff
- Amy Lupold Bair, Resourceful Mommy
- Audrey McClelland, Mom Generations
- Carmen Staicer, Mom to the Screaming Masses
- Caryn Payzant, The Mid Life Guru
- Casey Mullins, moosh in indy
- Chloe Jeffreys, Chloe of the Mountain
- Darryle Pollack, WHOA! Network
- Denene Milner, MyBrownBaby
- Dresden Shumaker, Creating Motherhood
- Ellen Seidman, Love That Max
- Fred Goodall, Mocha Dad
- Guy Kawasaki, Guy Kawasaki
- Jeffrey Sass, Dadomatic
- Jessica Ashley, Sassafrass
- Jill Nystul, One Good Thing by Jillee
- Kelly Wickham, Mocha Momma
- Kristen Howerton, Rage Against the Minivan
- Lamar and Ronnie Tyler, Black and Married with Kids
- Lucrecer Braxton, Lucrecer
- Migdalia, Latina on a Mission
- Polly Pagenhart, Lesbian Dad
- Rachel Faucett, Handmade Charlotte
- Rebecca Woolf, Girl’s Gone Child
- Shannon Des Roches Rosa, Squidalicious
- Sharon Couto, Mom Generations
- Sheila Dowd, Xiaolin Mama
- Sili Recio, My Mamihood
- Tanis Miller, Tanis Miller
To learn more and make your comments count, visit Blogust.org.
Watch a video explaining Blogust 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8kFwV8id20
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About Shot@Life
Shot@Life educates, connects and empowers Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. A national call to action for this global cause, the campaign rallies the American public, members of Congress, and civil society partners around the fact that together, we can save a child’s life every 20 seconds by expanding access to vaccines. By encouraging Americans to learn about, advocate for, and donate vaccines, the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign will decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give children a shot at a healthy life. To learn more, go to ShotAtLife.org.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.unfoundation.org.