This emotional PSA flipped the notion of traditional back to school essentials – such as school supplies, new clothes, and a phone – into essential elements for surviving a school shooting. DVMC launched the video with an exclusive on Good Morning America and was covered by the NY Times, People, and other major outlets.

“Evan” is a groundbreaking PSA that garnered over 100 million views in its first week alone. Viewers think they are witnessing a love story; however, another story is unfolding in the background. A troubled student is exhibiting worrisome behavior that leads to a school shooting. Sandy Hook Promise used the PSA to bring awareness around the signs and signals of someone at risk (which are often overlooked), and ways people can intervene before violence occurs. To date, “Evan” has won hundreds of awards, including an Emmy nomination. The film is also used as a training tool by Disney, the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, and school districts across the country.

To highlight the devastating physical and mental impacts a school shooting can have on young people, Sandy Hook Promise juxtaposed Katy Perry’s popular song, “Teenage Dream,” to illustrate how the teenage dream has been stolen from today’s youth in light of gun violence being the number one cause of death among youth and teens. Using real school shooting survivors, the PSA shared the stories and daily struggles these young people now face. The PSA was launched in the New York Times and on Good Morning America and received coverage in national publications across the country.