For Mother’s Day, iHeartMedia launches a new public service campaign “Every Mother Counts” to help bring awareness to the maternal health crisis in the U.S.
As part of its Spotlight Media Grant program, beginning Mother’s Day and throughout the year, iHeartMedia’s 840 radio stations will air a series PSAs that bring attention to the rising mortality rates among pregnant women and will direct listeners to everymothercounts.org to learn more and take action.
In 2021 (the most recent year for which there is data), in the U.S. alone, over 1,200 women died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and the risk of dying is three times greater for Black women in the U.S. compared to white women.
“The iHeart Spotlight Media Grant program brings attention to issues that impact historically marginalized communities and helps access solutions through public awareness and action,” Michael Preacher, President of Unified Partnerships at iHeartMedia said in a release. “The rising maternal health crisis is a critical issue that is both preventable and solvable, and this campaign will bring attention to the statistics and enable listeners to access valuable resources, potentially changing the outcome for thousands of women and babies across the U.S.”
The campaign will also include grassroots local opportunities for listeners to get involved with Every Mother Counts and other partner organizations, including Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Additionally, a series of interviews with subject matter experts including Christy Turlington Burns, Founder & President, Every Mother Counts, and a digital campaign across iHeartMedia radio station websites will accompany the PSA program.
“It is unfathomable that, today, a woman might die in pregnancy or childbirth, and yet this happens far too frequently – and right here, in the United States. Every Mother Counts believes that to achieve our mission to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for everyone, everywhere, we need to begin by educating about the maternal health crisis,” Turlington Burns remarked. “This is why we are delighted to partner with iHeart on this campaign. Raising awareness among the hundreds of thousands of iHeart listeners across this country is the first step toward creating meaningful change on the state of maternal health.”
Launched in 2020, the iHeart Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program has supported with free media nearly 20 organizations that are making a positive impact within communities and serving the full diversity of the country. Since its launch, iHeartMedia has committed $11 million worth of media to leading organizations.
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