Ad Council Partners with Leading Health Organizations to Extend Disease Prevention Campaign

to African-American Women; American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and

American Heart Association Collaborate on Public Education Campaign; New PSAs
Communicate the Power of Sisterhood

NEW YORK, NY, (NAMC) - Each year, one and a half million people die from diseases – cancer, diabetes, heart disease or
stroke – largely attributable to their lifestyles. African Americans suffer the highest mortality rates among the total population
and African American women in particular are at high risk for these chronic diseases. Research conducted by the Ad
Council and Vigilante has revealed that while African-American women are aware of the importance of eating right and
staying active, many may not understand the need to develop and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

That’s why The Advertising Council, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and
the American Heart Association, announced today the launch of a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs)
designed to motivate African American women to make healthy everyday choices to help reduce their risk of life-threatening
diseases. Created pro bono by urban ad agency Vigilante, the ads build on the general market Disease Prevention
campaign, which launched in June 2004, by expanding the reach and refining the message to target African American
women and are being distributed to media outlets nationwide this week.

The campaign is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the nation’s leading not-for-profit health agencies to
develop a joint prevention initiative, “Everyday Choices For A Healthier Life.” The initiative is designed to empower
Americans to reduce their risk of disease by following a unified set of lifestyle recommendations. The initial launch
communicated to all women that they should take the same daily precautions to prevent disease as they take to protect
themselves from perceived dangers in the outside world.

The new PSAs continue that message, but incorporate a new strategy based on insights gained through research conducted
with the target audience: African-American women between the ages of 35 and 50. The television, radio, print, outdoor and
Internet PSAs focus on the idea of sisterhood and urge women to encourage and support their friends to eat right and get
active.

“An astounding number of African-American women in our country delay making healthy lifestyle choices, despite their high
risk for a number of chronic diseases,” according to Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. “Our
research has found that when it comes to choosing healthy behaviors, peers are among the primary influencers for this
community. I am confident that this inspirational work will empower women to motivate and support their friends in
embracing life-saving behaviors.”

The first phase of the campaign received more than $60 million in donated media over the course of one year. As a result of
this support, according to a recent Ad Council tracking survey, 87 percent of 30-50 year old women with children report
having recently heard, seen or read something about the campaign. In addition, those who saw the ads were more likely to
make the link between healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.

"At Vigilante, we don't just know this target audience, half of us belong to it,” said Valerie Graves, Chief Creative Officer of
Vigilante. “Once our ThinkTank made sure the strategy was relevant, we used what we know about African-American
women to create a campaign that 'keeps it real.' From the concept to the casting to the use of jazz artists George Duke and
Rachelle Ferrell as the soundtrack, we just did our thing to help African-American sisters make healthier choices."

The PSAs end with the tagline, “Sisterhood is Healthy.” The ads direct African-American women to call 1-866-399-6789 or
visit www.everydaychoices.org for information on disease prevention, as well as resources to help women make healthy
choices. Per the Ad Council’s model, all of the new PSAs will air and run in advertising time and space that is donated by the
media. To view the PSAs, visit http://www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/disease_prevention/.

“When we’re creating advertising, I start to get excited when I know we have a powerful insight, my excitement builds when I
think we’ve nailed the execution. But, when I see the mock-up, hanging on the wall in the studio positively influencing
behavior, I know we really have something special,” said Vigilante President and CEO Larry Woodard.

“Everyday Choices For A Healthier Life” is a three-year advocacy, public and professional education campaign based on
preventive strategies, as described in a scientific statement published jointly in the rapid access issue of Circulation:
Journal of the American Heart Association (June 15, 2004), Diabetes Care (July 2004) and the American Cancer Society’s
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (July/August 2004).

About Vigilante

Vigilante, part of the Publicis network, is a Madison Avenue advertising agency that targets the urban market. Vigilante has
won numerous industry awards, including the O’Toole Award for Multicultural Agency of The Year and a Gold Lion at
Cannes. Vigilante donates a generous amount of its time and creativity tackling issues that affect the urban market.

About American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing
suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national
headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of
volunteers across the United States. Visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.

About American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research,
information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the
lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association's commitment to research is reflected through its scientific
meetings; education and provider recognition programs; and its Research Foundation and Nationwide Research
Program, which fund breakthrough studies looking into the cure, prevention, and treatment of diabetes and its
complications. Visit the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).

About American Heart Association

Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart
disease and stroke. These diseases, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, claim more than 930,000 American lives a
year. The association invested more than $439 million in fiscal year 2003–04 for research, professional and public
education, advocacy and community service programs so people across America can live stronger, longer lives. Visit the
American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA-1 (1-800-242- 8721).

About The Advertising Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising
and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA
campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect,
tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council
and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.