(Scroll down for video) — Conceived by BBDO New York, the New York-based global advertising agency, Invisible Faces brings together retailers and the NYPD\u2019s Missing Persons Squad in a unique partnership idea designed to broaden awareness about missing persons still yet to be found. The new initiative will make use of store front windows, as well as the generic mannequins passersby are accustomed to seeing. Instead of faceless figures, a sculpted version of the missing person\u2019s face will appear on the mannequin, turning the storefront into an advertising medium. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are strictly confidential.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasing public awareness is the key to generating leads. The more people who are aware, the better our chance to be successful,\u201d said Lt. Christopher Zimmerman, Commanding Officer of the Missing Persons Squad. \u201cThis is a brilliant idea for helping to make sure that someone missing is not forgotten. After all, in a city like New York, everyone is so busy, they may not even notice the people around them. By putting a face on a store mannequin, it\u2019s one more way we can make sure someone missing is not invisible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first missing person to be highlighted on this new initiative is Patrick Alford, Jr., a seven-year-old boy who went missing from his foster home about six years ago. Unfortunately, he\u2019s still missing. The NYPD\u2019s Missing Persons Squad has never given up and continues to search for him to this day. Patrick\u2019s face is being sculpted on a mannequin that will be on display in a SOHO-based boutique which was selected because of the large amount of foot traffic the store receives. The boutique belongs to the 50-year-old heritage brand of the original packable rain jackets, called K-Way.<\/p>\n
The mannequin will be dressed in the same clothing Patrick was wearing on the day he disappeared, with his bright red T-shirt standing out in juxtaposition to the more muted colors that mannequins standing beside Patrick\u2019s will be wearing. In addition, through the magic of Standard Transmission, a Brooklyn-based studio that specializes in mannequin design, and portrait sculptor Michael Evert, a recreation of Patrick\u2019s head and features \u2013 as they would look today \u2013 has been created and sculpted by hand to become the face of the mannequin. Basic information will be displayed on a plaque next to the mannequin including, when and where Patrick was last seen. There will also be an iPad in-store for passersby to engage with and learn more. A dedicated microsite and hashtag, #BringPatrickHome, has been created to further drive awareness and lead generation: www.invisiblefaces.info.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are absolutely committed to reminding the public that their help is needed if we are to ever find him,\u201d said Lt. Zimmerman. \u201cAny information, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, is appreciated. The \u2018Invisible Faces\u2019 program is an ingenious way to gather new leads. We thank BBDO, K-Way New York and everyone involved for bringing this idea to our attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said John Osborn, President and CEO, BBDO New York, \u201cBBDO New York is a New York institution, and we are proud to lend our support to the NYPD. This is our \u2018moon shot\u2019 at taking a more innovative approach to partnership and tackling the toughest of problems. After all, that\u2019s when marketing works best, when it helps solve the seemingly unsolvable.\u201d<\/p>\n
BBDO also partners with the New York City Police Foundation in many ways, including the Crime Stoppers program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(Scroll down for video) — Conceived by BBDO New York, the New York-based global advertising agency, Invisible Faces brings together retailers and the NYPD\u2019s Missing Persons Squad in a unique partnership idea designed to broaden awareness about missing persons still yet to be found. The new initiative will make use of store front windows, as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5409,"featured_media":74824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n