- The Foundation for a Better Life
The Foundation for a Better Life' is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in2000 to promote positive values [http://www.forbetterlife.org/about_us/index.asp] . The Foundation creates public service campaigns to communicate these positive values, such as honesty, caring, optimism, hard work, and helping others, in order to make a difference in communities. Viewers are encouraged step up to a higher level and to pass on positive values, with the rationale that these seemingly small examples of individuals living values-based lives may not change the world, but collectively they make a difference. The Foundation communicates its message through television, outdoor advertising, theater, radio, and the Internet.The Foundation is officially funded by an anonymous donor family, and neither solicits nor accepts monetary donations from the public. It is not affiliated with any religion, rather hoping that "the values we share transcend any particular religion or nationality" [http://www.forbetterlife.org/about_us/faq.asp] . The donor is
Philip Anschutz , [http://www.denverpost.com/philipanschutz/ci_3187481] a billionaire American businessman and supporter of conservative Christian causes whose fortune derives from oil, land, railroads, telecommunications, and entertainment businesses and who was named America’s greediest executive by Fortune magazine in1999 [http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=218] .The Foundation’s
public service announcements (PSAs) encourage viewers to “Pass It On” regarding positive values. The spots have been viewed over 5.5 billion times, at an average of 2 million times per day, according toNielsen Media Research [http://www.forbetterlife.org/about_us/highlights.asp] .The Foundation’s “Pass It On” billboard campaign debuted in
Times Square during the fall of2001 [http://www.forbetterlife.org/about_us/highlights.asp] . These billboards continue to appear throughout the country and feature such figures asChristopher Reeve ,Kermit the Frog ,Andre Agassi ,Mother Teresa ,Whoopi Goldberg ,Abraham Lincoln ,Albert Einstein ,Shrek ,Michelle Kwan , and a number of everyday heroes who exemplify these values [http://www.forbetterlife.org/billboards/] . Posters of the billboards are also sent out to schools nationwide at their request, free from the Foundation [http://www.forbetterlife.org/resource_center/educator.asp] .These messages are also being played on over 8,000 screens at the Regal, United Artists, Edwards, and Cinemark Theaters across the
United States [http://www.forbetterlife.org/about_us/highlights.asp] .The foundations' website combines elements from all parts of the Foundation’s media outreach. Inspirational stories [http://www.forbetterlife.org/be-inspired/your-stories] and quotes [http://www.forbetterlife.org/be-inspired/quotes] are provided for the 52 featured values [http://www.forbetterlife.org/be-inspired/values] , and television [http://www.forbetterlife.org/be-inspired/tv] and billboard [http://www.forbetterlife.org/billboards/] advertisements are also available. Individuals are encouraged to nominate their hero and share inspirational stories [http://www.forbetterlife.org/pass-it-on/tell-your-story] . Subscribers can also receive daily “Inbox Inspirations,” a “Value of the Week,” and the monthly “Good Newsletter,” via email [http://www.forbetterlife.org/inbox_inspiration/] . The Foundation’s objective is to give visitors a variety of uplifting resources and to make them available to teachers, parents, and anyone interested in these positive messages.
External links
* [http://www.forbetterlife.org The Foundation for a Better Life]
References
* [http://www.oaaa.org/news/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=1360 Outdoor Advertising Association of America article confirming Anschutz's role]
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