Susan G. Komen and The Ad Council Launch Empowering 'Know Your Girls' Campaign

Black women in the U.S. are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, and a recent study found that while 92 percent of black women agree breast health is important, only 25 percent of women have recently discussed breast health with their family, friends, or colleagues and only 17 percent have taken steps to understand their risk for breast cancer.

To address the unacceptable disparity in breast cancer mortality rates, Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organisation, and the Ad Council, the nation's foremost producer of public service communications, launched Know Your Girls, a national campaign to educate and inspire black women to understand their risk for breast cancer and take charge of their breast health.

Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer younger, at later stages and with more aggressive forms of the disease, limiting treatment options.

"As a breast cancer survivor who lost her mother to breast cancer, I understand all too well the pain and heartbreak of this disease," said Paula Schneider, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen. "We hope this campaign empowers black women to learn about breast cancer risk and the resources available to take action."

The Know Your Girls campaign encourages black women, ages 30-55 years old, to treat their breasts with the same attentiveness and understanding they share with the women in their lives.

"The Know Your Girls campaign introduces breast cancer education through a celebration of the powerful sisterhood between black women," said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. "Instead of focusing on fear, the campaign provides tools and information that can help black women feel ownership around their breast health and encourages the sharing of those resources and messages with the women who support them throughout their lives."

The campaign video, created pro bono by award-winning creative agency Translation, features vignettes of a woman at key moments throughout her life. At each occasion, she is surrounded by her girls, the friends and family who have always been her source of support and strength. At the end, the woman reveals that the "girls" who have been with her in every single moment of her life, her breasts, are in fact the ones she might know the least.

"The staggering breast cancer mortality rates amongst women of color — amongst black women — is unacceptable," said Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of Translation. "Breast cancer has touched so many of our loved ones, our peers, and our neighbors, including my wife who lost her dear sister to this crippling disease. Creating a healthy dialogue between women of color, their fears, and their breasts is a critical step towards eradication. This campaign aims to do just that, while speaking directly to her inner conscious. Along with Susan G. Komen, the Ad Council and countless other institutions, we look forward to fostering these conversations, and educating our women so that tomorrow is brighter, safer and an undeniable reality."

The campaign includes TV, radio, print, out-of-home, and digital PSAs which direct women to KnowYourGirls.org. The comprehensive website features easy-to-understand resources that help women navigate breast cancer risk factors, recognize changes in their own breasts, and prepare to have a conversation with a doctor. Many of the resources are shared from the perspectives of real women who have chosen to learn about their breast health, experienced breast cancer first-hand, or supported a friend who was navigating the disease.

The campaign also includes brand new social media channels, launched in collaboration with digital marketing agency Good Stuff Digital, that aim to create an online community where black women can come together to talk honestly and openly about their breast health and show support for their sisters.

The Know Your Girls campaign will help Susan G. Komen work to achieve their Bold Goal to reduce the current 40,000 annual breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.  Closing the gap in health disparities is crucial to achieving the Bold Goal.

Through their African American Health Equity Initiative, Komen is already working to reduce the mortality gap between black women and white women by 25 percent, focusing first on the 10 cities where mortality rates and late-stage diagnosis of black women are highest. The Know Your Girls campaign will target outreach in these 10 cities to amplify those efforts: Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Long Beach/Los Angeles Metro Area; Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Metro Area; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In some cities, the disparity in breast cancer mortality rate between black and white women is as high as 74%.

Across the country, Susan G. Komen's network of local Affiliates will lend their support to the campaign and promote its work across their channels.

The Know Your Girls PSAs were directed by A.V. Rockwell, who has created short films like Feathers and The Gospel, and include singer Alicia Keys's hit song "You Don't Know My Name." To amplify the campaign's message, Know Your Girls is partnering with Coming to America actress and breast cancer survivor Vanessa Bell Calloway, who provides the voiceover for the PSAs, celebrity stylist June Ambrose, actress and comedian Regina Hall, E! News co-anchor Zuri Hall, 2 Dope Queens co-creator and actress Jessica Williams, singer-songwriter, producer and actress Michelle Williams, and comedian and actress Kym Whitley; as well as digital creators Black Moms Blog, Ebony from Team2Moms, Glamtwinz: Kelsey & Kendra Murrell, Jade Kendle, Tianne King, Megan "Megz" Lytle and Jayla Watson. Facebook has signed on to support the campaign through donated media and a partnership with their Creative Shop. WWE will support the campaign through its global media assets including TV, digital and social media. Several media partners have also made commitments to the Know Your Girls campaign prior to launch including Oath and Aspire TV.

"The Susan G Komen #KnowYourGirls campaign is not only hip, youthful and timely but it's essentially very important for all women young and mature," said actress and breast cancer survivor Vanessa Bell Calloway. "I'm so happy to be a part of this important campaign because as a breast cancer survivor I understand firsthand how important it is to know your girls literally and figuratively. Being in tuned with your girls can save your life.  Know Your Girls can also mean know your real-life girlfriends and as a community of women help remind each other about the importance of breast health."

The new creative is being distributed to media outlets nationwide and will run in donated time and space per the Ad Council's model. To learn more about the campaign, visit KnowYourGirls.org or join the conversation using #KnowYourGirls on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.