Actor Josh Duhamel joins Claritin on 'Be An Outsider' campaign
WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer Consumer's Claritin brand has partnered with celebrity and outdoor enthusiast Josh Duhamel to inspire more people to get outside after finding that Americans spend a startling 95% of their time indoors, or almost 346 days per year, according to an analysis by Columbia University.
Together, with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Claritin and Duhamel are launching its "Be An Outsider" campaign with a simple message - get outside. Studies suggest spending time outdoors has been associated with health benefits such as feelings of reduced stress, improved mood and increased energy.
To inspire people to get outside and demonstrate its commitment to the cause, Claritin has made a three-year commitment of up to $500,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation's leading youth service organization, to fund programming to help kids get outside.
Last week, Duhamel issued a call to action – Join Claritin and "Be An Outsider" - and help a good cause by sharing a photo of a best outdoor moment on Facebook or Instagram with both hashtags #BeAnOutsider and #Claritin by June 30, 2017. Every post triggers a $5 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (up to $50,000). To mark the "Be An Outsider" kick-off, Duhamel ceremoniously rolled in on a multi-seater bike and took Boys & Girls Clubs kids on a ride in New York to post his first official #BeAnOutsider moment.
"Since my early childhood growing up in North Dakota to now spending time with my young son, being outdoors has always been a big part of who I am and how I enjoy my life," Duhamel said. "I am excited to join Claritin, a brand I have always counted on, to launch the Be An Outsider campaign and help Boys & Girls Clubs of America kids have more opportunities to gain an appreciation of the great outdoors."
In the first year, the Claritin and Boys & Girls Clubs of America's collaboration includes the development of an Outdoor Resource and Activity Guide to help support staff at 4,300 local Clubs to get their local youth outside. In subsequent years, Claritin will work with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to determine key areas that funding can support, which may include the refurbishment of outdoor play areas for select Clubs in need.
"We're thrilled to continue our relationship with Claritin and work together on this exciting campaign," noted Jennifer Bateman, national VP health, wellness and nutrition, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "As many kids and teens do, our youth spend much of their time indoors. Our collaboration with Claritin will provide our Club staff with support to help get kids outside so they can experience the benefits that time outdoors may offer."
The Claritin-commissioned Columbia University analysis of the American Time Use Survey showed similarly across geographies, demographics, incomes and genders that Americans are spending 33 times more time inside than outside in a year.
"Our work shows that Americans are spending the vast majority of their time indoors. It's truly compelling how ubiquitous this effect is - whether you live in sunny Los Angeles or rainy Seattle, whether you have kids or not, single or married, whether you are young or old, high or low income, there is little variation in time spent indoors," commented Matthew Neidell, associate professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University and the lead researcher of the American Time Use Survey analysis. "Other research suggests that time spent outside in nature may be beneficial to our health because people are more likely to be physically active and more relaxed."