You may have already seen the news: the NFL will air a new NO MORE ad during the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, February 1st. This is the first time in history that the NFL has dedicated commercial time during the Super Bowl to call for an end to domestic violence and sexual assault.

This is a very meaningful moment. To have a PSA calling for action to end this violence shown during one of the most watched television events of the year is something many of us could have only imagined. It signals an extraordinary opportunity to keep these issues at the forefront of public attention. And in this moment, I am hopeful for the future, and most of all, grateful.

At Joyful Heart, it was long a dream of ours to create a celebrity-driven, envelope-pushing campaign to promote conversation and awareness among bystanders. That dream came true when we launched the NO MORE PSA campaign in partnership with a coalition of hundreds of organizations across the country in fall of 2013. 

A year later, headlines dominated the news about domestic violence and sexual assault, bringing with them unprecedented attention and vital conversations. The NO MORE PSAs began airing during NFL games, and by October, over 16.6 million fans each week were watching players from across the NFL—men who have such influence on our culture, particularly on other men and youth—stand up to say NO MORE.

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As I write this, $45 million in donated airtime has gotten the NO MORE PSAs in every single one of the 210 media markets across the United States. And together with the print campaign, we have surpassed 1 billion impressions.

I am deeply inspired by the team that has worked so hard to get us to this point: Rachel Howald of Y&R, the genius and creative force behind Joyful Heart's NO MORE PSAs; renowned photographer Timothy White; our director Mariska Hargitay, along with Tate Donovan and Blair Underwood; our producing partner, Viacom Velocity; our media partners—especially Viacom and USA Network; the team and partner organizations behind NO MORE; Joyful Heart's dedicated staff, board and committee members; the 75 athletes, public figures and celebrities who have stepped forward to be in the PSAs; and of course, you.

The new NO MORE PSA created by Grey Advertising that you'll see during the Super Bowl ends by urging those people watching to pledge to say NO MORE. So please, join us. You can say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault in many ways. You can have a conversation about these issues, or simply listen—compassionately and without judgment—if someone shares their story with you. You can bring the NO MORE symbol and PSA campaign to your community, or voice your support on social media. 

The more voices we have calling for an end to this violence—the more people participating in the conversation—the closer we get to ending it. Thank you for sharing yours.

With hope,  

Maile Zambuto
Chief Executive Officer
Joyful Heart Foundation

P.S.: The third-annual NO MORE Week is right around the corner, March 8 - 14. By taking the pledge, you can be among the first to know what's happening around the country to say NO MORE and join the movement.