Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hires Ogilvy Washington for Dating Matters™ Initiative

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington, D.C. office of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy Washington), an integrated global communications firm, announced today that it has been awarded a one year, six-figure contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide continued support for Dating Matters™, an initiative that promotes healthy relationships among youth in high-risk urban communities.

"This campaign will help further the CDC's mission to foster healthy dating relationships with the end goal of stopping dating violence before it begins," said Jennifer Wayman, executive vice president and group director of Ogilvy Washington's Social Marketing practice.  "Teen dating violence continues to be a serious and complex issue that often starts at an early age, with implications that can last a lifetime.  Research shows that 25 percent of teens report verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse from a dating partner annually.  CDC's goal is to support the promotion of respectful, nonviolent dating relationships among youth, and Ogilvy Washington is proud to provide communications strategies to drive progress toward that end," she added.

The communications program will complement other Dating Matters™ program elements to bridge the gap between teens' knowledge of healthy relationship behaviors and practicing them.  Initially, the campaign will be focused on and developed for four urban communities, with the intent of a national roll-out once this pilot program is evaluated and deemed effective.

"From our work with CDC's Choose Respect campaign, to our development of the Dating Matters™ initiative, Ogilvy Washington has partnered with the CDC to provide communities with tools that will encourage youth to develop habits that foster healthy relationships throughout their lives," said Robert Mathias, president of Ogilvy Washington.  "We are excited to continue our participation in this program which will empower teens to act on what they know about healthy relationship behaviors and help them put this knowledge into practice," he added.

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) is a global, multi-disciplinary communications leader operating in more than 80 markets. Named Large Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and PRNews, Ogilvy PR blends proven PR methodologies with cutting edge digital innovations to craft strategic programs that give clients winning and measurable results. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in business, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its social marketing, public affairs, healthcare, consumer marketing, 360-degree digital influence, corporate, and technology practices. Through its subsidiary, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, the agency also offers specialized expertise in molecular medicine, advanced biomedical research, leading life science and healthcare technologies and treatments.  Ogilvy PR is a unit of Ogilvy & Mather, a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services groups.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com or follow us on Twitter at @ogilvypr.

SOURCE Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide