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Attn: Paul Michaels, CEO of Mars Candy “Will You Keep Halloween Safe for Our Kids?”
November 4th, 2008
12-Year Old Boy Shot and Killed While Trick or Treating
In Sumter, South Carolina, an ex-convict who said he thought he was being robbed gunned down a 12-year-old trick-or-treater, shot nearly 30 rounds with an assault rifle from inside his home after hearing a knock on the door. Quentin Patrick, 22, is accused of killing 12-year-old T.J. Darrisaw on Friday night. T.J.’s 9-year-old brother, Ahmadre Darrisaw, and their father, Freddie Grinnell, were injured but were released after being treated at a hospital.
The family attended a Halloween celebration in downtown Sumter, 45 miles east of Columbia, then stopped at Patrick’s house because the porch light was on, police said. Another sibling was with them but wasn’t hurt. Police said at least two of the boys were wearing ghoulish masks when they knocked on the door. The boys’ mother and a toddler stayed in the car nearby. Click here to read the full article.
A story like this is so horrible and sad to a mother of two little boys myself. A child getting hurt or killed is a parents’ worst nightmare. The fact that it came on a night that is dedicated to celebrating imagination and getting to know your neighbors, is beyond terrible. So, I am issuing a challenge. Right here. Right now.
Dear Paul Michaels, CEO of Mars, Inc. (aka Mars Candy),
What will you do to keep Halloween Safe for our Kids? In the face of tragedy, this is your moment to step up to the plate and do the right thing for your community and country. I challenge you to create a “Keep Halloween Safe” campaign.
Next Halloween, put (free) window decals in your candy bags and educate the public via television advertising. Tell the public: “Making sure our children are safe and happy this Halloween starts with you. Please put this window decal in the front window or on the front door of your house so that parents and trick or treaters know that your house is a Halloween Safe house.”
You have the marketing power, now it’s time to do the right thing for the children. Will you accept this challenge?
Sincerely,
Entry Filed under: Cause Marketing & Branding
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2 Comments Add your own
1. DaviD Fernandez | February 19th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
What about the Deceivers that want the kids to think their house is safe? This plan doesn’t seem very safe to me.
2. marco | March 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This really puts into context the risk of allowing your kids to go knocking door to door on Halloween. The worst part is that since the kids were supervised, the risk really hits home with concerned parents.
I doubt that the candy corporations would take any responsibility here, although it is a very good idea to bring it to their attention since they make so much profit from the holiday. A decal would really allow them to advertise, but I also doubt that many people would want to put a sticker on their door. The real responsibility is in the parent’s decision to allow their kids out. I think that if this violet trend continues, parents will ultimately begin to opt out of trick-or-treating all together and focus more on allowing other “safe” types of events for their kids.
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