September 2014

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Help schools, youth sports organizations, day care centers, doctors’ offices and more counteract the childhood obesity epidemic by promoting healthy lifestyles through T-shirts, sweatbands, water bottles and stickers with logos and slogans that encourage exercise and/or good eating (www.healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org).

National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Plan a creative promotional campaign that will aid nonprofits, health networks and cancer research fundraising events in making men more aware of the prevalence and risk of prostate cancer – and the need to get tested. Consider incorporating sports-themed items – anything from baseball bat keytags and football-shaped magnets to squeezable hockey puck stress relievers (www.pcf.org).

Library Card Sign-Up Month

Bookmarks, logoed pens, reading lights, oversized novelty pencils and mugs are products that will assist libraries, book stores and schools in reminding parents that a library card is a child’s most important school supply (www.ala.org/librarycardsignup).

National Wilderness Month

Local, county, state and federal parks departments can use ad specialties like camouflage caps, hiking sticks, keychain compasses, sunscreen and canvas folding seats to raise awareness about the importance of America’s natural areas (www.wilderness.org).

Sept. 9: Wonderful Weirdoes Day

A day that celebrates ingenious eccentricity gives clients slack to execute quirky out-of-the-box promotions that catch attention (www.wellcat.com/fall.htm). Help customers plan an off-beat event for their audiences and employees in which funky products like oversize foam hats, light-up drinkware, novelty sunglasses and more are featured.

Sept. 19: National Tradesmen Day

Sponsored by IRWIN Tools (www.nationaltradesmenday.com), this day celebrates the hardworking tradesmen who keep America running. Help manufacturers, carpenters, electricians and others honor their dedicated employees with anything from rugged workwear jackets to tape measures, caps, thermoses and embroidered hoodies.

Sept. 20 – Oct. 5: Oktoberfest

The official Oktobertfest is in Munich, Germany, but smaller versions of the beer-guzzling party play out across the United States. Branded beer glasses, German flag toothpicks and event-themed T-shirts and hats are some of the products bars, restaurants, German heritages societies, VFWs, local fire departments and others may want to promote their incarnation of the Munich bash. Google events in your area.

Sept. 21-27: International Clean Hands Week

Activities will be held around the world to raise awareness about the importance that good hand hygiene plays in keeping people healthy (www.cleanhandscoalition.org). Hand sanitizer and towelettes are perfect fits for such events.

Sept. 22: National Woman Road Warrior Day

Assist corporations and small businesses in showing their traveling female businesswomen how valuable they are with gifts like personalized jewelry, chic soft-shell jackets and logoed iPad cases (www.womanroadwarrior.com).

Sept. 28: World Rabies Day

Help pet spas, veterinarians and humane clinics get word out about how to prevent and eliminate rabies through branded postcards with printed tips and pet squeeze toys (www.rabiesalliance.org).