The Side Note

Here is a great idea for using social media to promote a cause. Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) has created an online campaign to give thanks for healthy kids during this season of Thanksgiving. The campaign incorporates Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and blogging. I consider that a well-rounded social media campaign.

I applaud CCIC for being creative and fun and using online tools to help spread the message of the importance of vaccinating children. When the campaign is complete, we’ll get recap from CCIC on things they learned and the overall success of the campaign.

The following information is from CCIC:

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Participate in the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition’s Healthy Kids Thank-A-Thon 2009!

This is a free, fun and easy way to utilize social media and celebrate Thanksgiving by promoting health for kids.

We often don’t think about our health until something is “wrong.” The Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) wants to change that. Inspired by the spirit of the season, CCIC wants you to join us in giving thanks for healthy kids!

CCIC works to protect children’s health by ensuring that kids are vaccinated at the appropriate ages to prevent common childhood diseases. Our mission is the same as yours: Keep kids healthy!

In celebration of Thanksgiving, CCIC will be using social media (YouTube, Facebook and Twitter) to share parent’s gratitude for healthy kids. Parents, grandparents and mommies-to-be are encouraged to submit comments, photos, videos and blog online explaining why they are grateful for a healthy child. For full details on the Thank-A-Thon visit http://www.childrensimmunization.org/thanks.

From these submissions, CCIC will spread gratitude for healthy kids all Thanksgiving weekend long by tweeting submission on Twitter, creating a video for YouTube and updating the Facebook Fan Page.

How to Give Thanks for a Healthy Kid:

•  Complete the submission entry form at http://www.childrensimmunization.org/thanks

•  Ask friends and other parents to join you and CCIC in giving thanks to healthy kids

•  Visit the CCIC website, Twitter account and Facebook Fan Page all Thanksgiving weekend long to see the gratitude for healthy kids!

Deadline for submissions: Monday, Nov 23, 2009
Thank you so much and have a wonderful holiday season!