I’ll admit that I tend to drink from the Kool-Aid pitcher when it comes to the Ad Council.  The creative campaigns that come out of our volunteer ad agencies are, in my humble opinion, in a class of their own.  I am just a proud mama all-around.  However, we certainly aren’t the only ones in the business of public service advertising—not by a long shot.  And hubris can only end badly. 

So in the spirit of good health and good manners, I present to you the best of the rest.  A smattering of non-Ad Council PSAs that made me ponder, laugh, cry, shudder, and most of all, rethink my actions and my beliefs. 

This first PSA, developed by Nickelodeon Creative Advertising for Safe Kids USA, features a groovy chicken and a teen starlet, Nickelodeon’s own Jennette McCurdy.  What happens when the chicken crosses the road?  Well, I urge you all to pay attention and answer the question for yourself.

The next one comes from the Montana Meth Project, a program aimed at reducing first-time meth use.  Since the organization started putting out PSAs a few years ago, their ads have scared the bejeezus out of countless teens.  Don’t believe me?  Just watch this—one of their latest, and see how you feel towards meth afterwards.  (Warning: This ad contains materials that may not be suitable for young children or the easily startled)

Finally, in the words of Vanessa Williams, I saved the best for last.  This PSA comes from the land down under, and is developed for the Australian nonprofit organization Scope.  To say any more will spoil the magic.  So, all I ask is that you to turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy.

And now it’s your turn…what’s your favorite PSA?