“B A Hero” PSA Video Contest Announced by Hep B Free Philadelphia and Hepatitis B Foundation” February 16, 2012

Contact: Leah Ludwig
leah@furiarubel.com / 215-340-0480

(Help Save Lives and Stop Hepatitis B through a PSA Video Contest)

Hep B Free Philadelphia, a citywide and community-owned education campaign led by the Hepatitis B Foundation to save lives and stop hepatitis B, is calling on the Greater Philadelphia community to participate in its “B A Hero” Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video Contest 2012. Interested participants are asked to create 30-second PSAs to raise awareness about hepatitis B.

There are three opportunities to submit PSAs about the subject of hepatitis B awareness in relation to the “B A Hero” theme. Deadlines are Feb. 17, 2012; Mar. 16, 2012; and Apr. 13, 2012 – no later than 11:59 p.m. EST. There will be three separate judging periods in which video submissions will be added to the Hep B Free Philadelphia Facebook page and Facebook users will have the opportunity vote on their favorite video. Three finalists will be identified and each will receive a prize of $100. The grand prize winner, selected by Hep B Free Philadelphia and Hepatitis B Foundation representatives, will receive an additional $150 and their PSA will be shown at the 2012 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and Hep B Free Philadelphia’s annual media event.

“Hepatitis B is a serious infection that affects at least 2 million people in the U.S. It is often known as a silent killer because its symptoms tend to be hidden until it’s simply too late,” said Chari Cohen, Hepatitis B Foundation Associate Director of Public Health. “By offering this PSA video contest, we are hoping to engage people in the Philadelphia region, create awareness about hepatitis B and help saves lives by having people get tested for this preventable and treatable disease.”

To be eligible to participate in the contest, individuals must be 18 years of age or have consent of legal guardianship and must physically live in the Greater Philadelphia region. Companies that are incorporated in the Greater Philadelphia region are also eligible. Within this contest, the Greater Philadelphia region is defined as the Pennsylvania counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

Video submissions can be in any style or genre of film or video including, but not limited to, animation, drama, still art, imagery, comedy or documentary. Videos should be formatted as MPEG-4, 320x240 files. When submitting via traditional mail or hand-delivery, the files must be saved on DVD-R discs and delivered to the Hepatitis B Foundation at 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, Pa. 18902. When submitting via large file transfer Web services, videos should be sent to PSAContest@hepb.org. All entries must be received on or before the deadlines for contest eligibility. To learn more, go to www.hepbfreephiladelphia.org/2012/hepbpsacontest or contact Hep B Free Philadelphia Program Manager Daniel Chen at Daniel.chen@hepb.org.

About Hep B Free Philadelphia: Hep B Free Philadelphia is a public awareness and education campaign that has been launched to address the growing severity of hepatitis B and liver cancer in the U.S. The primary goals of the Philadelphia campaign include raising the public profile of hepatitis B and liver cancer as an urgent health priority; increasing hepatitis B testing and vaccination rates, particularly among at-risk populations; and involving and mobilizing stakeholders and policy decision-makers to improve access to care for both the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B and liver cancer. To learn more, go to www.hepbfreephiladelphia.org.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, go towww.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.