b'PR TOOLKITAmi Neiberger, APR Planning the Year Ahead Key themes for your media outreachS trategically planning your media outreachJuneJune 6around key themes on a monthly calendaris National Hunger can help you focus your communicationsAwareness Day, and keep you on track for the year. Reportersand June is PTSD often like to classify stories with a themeAwareness Month. centered around a national awareness day. YouJulyNational can also pepper the calendar with scheduledMinority Mental events, food or donation drives, and other activi- Health Awareness ties. Here are some 2024 theme days to consider:Month and Disability JanuaryPoverty Awareness Month providesPride Month offer ways to talk about challenges facing the popula- ways to talk about tions you serve. Martin Luther King Jr. Day ofservices and support. Service is January 15.AugustHealth FebruaryRandom Acts of Kindness DayCare for the Home-is February 17. World Day of Social Justice isless Day is August 8 and is affiliated with February 20.National Health Center Week (August 410).MarchMarch is Developmental DisabilitiesSeptemberSeptember is Hunger Action Awareness Month and Social Work Month.Month, and National Food Bank Day is Septem-National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week ber 6. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is March 1016.offers opportunity to talk about preventive care. AprilYouth Homelessness Matters DayOctoberOctober 10 is World Homeless (April 17) and National Youth Service DaysDay, a good time to communicate about needs in (April 1921) are great times to talk about howyour community. October is Domestic Violence your program involves or serves youth. SpotlightAwareness Month, a good time to talk about your volunteers during National Volunteerdomestic violence connections to homelessness. Week (April 2127) and Volunteer RecognitionNovemberHunger and Homelessness Day (April 20).Awareness Week is November 1724, and a MayMental Health Awareness Monthnational resource kit and materials are available is a great opportunity to talk about your(www.hhweek.org). November is also National Ami is a strategic communicaprograms for supporting mental health forHomeless Youth Awareness Month. tor and media relations expert clients, staff, and volunteers. May is also NationalDecemberGiving Tuesday is December 3,who owns Maple Avenue PR, Treatment Court Month. National Childrensa day when many make charitable donations.an independent public relations practice that assists nonprofits, Mental Health Awareness Day is May 9. NationalDecember 4 is National Cookie Dayinvitemember organizations, governPrevention Week is May 1218. World Hungeryour community to bake for your mission orment agencies, and small Day is May 28. to raise funds by selling baked goods. \x03 businesses. You can reach her at ami@mapleavenuepr.com.JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 53'