Charity Is All in the Wrist

Tuesday, September 27, 2005 By Laura Smitherman The Baltimore Sun

It’s difficult to pinpoint why millions of Americans wear wristbands that promote or support a cause.

Perhaps, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the 9-11 terrorist attacks, people want to feel a sense of community. Or perhaps, after years of robust spending on luxury goods, people are feeling a tad guilty and want to give back by buying a band that benefits charity.

Both developments likely played a role in the wristband craze, said Cheryl Greene, chief strategy officer for the New York ad agency Deutsch Inc. And it’s clear that today’s zeitgeist is etched in silicone rubber.

“This thing is really huge,” Greene said. “It lets the little guys show they care and that they’re charitable without having their name on a wing of a hospital. It used to be nobody knew that but maybe the IRS and you.”

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