Lead Paint Awareness Campaign Pitch

The numbers are staggering. The consequences are sobering. In Erie County alone last year, more than 240 children were diagnosed with lead poisoning. Yes, you read that right, lead poisoning. And those were just the children who had been tested.

As a matter of fact, any home built before 1978 in Erie County contains lead paint. Which means unless measures have been taken to remove the hazard from your home, your family could potentially be at risk.

Effects of lead poisoning in kids can be as benign as stomachaches and muscle weakness to more serious, life-altering ailments such as blood anemia, brain damage and convulsions.

Research shows that small children are by far the most vulnerable to lead poisoning. They can ingest lead through touching or chewing on paint chips in older homes, eating soil or simply coming into contact with dust that has been contaminated with lead. Expectant mothers and their unborn babies are also at risk, as miscarriages, premature births and stillbirths are well-known side effects of exposure to high levels of lead.

With all this in mind, the Erie Redevelopment Authority (ERA), along with the Erie County Health Department, have asked us to develop a comprehensive, community wide awareness campaign. In fact, that's Beth and Missy going over television storyboards minutes before our pitch to the ERA this very morning.



The goal of the campaign is to not only educate people about the hazards of lead in their homes, but, most importantly, to incite them learn more about how they can protect themselves and their families.

We are extremely honored and excited to be part of such an important initiative. We look forward to reversing the trends and keeping kids healthy and safe throughout our community.