Kia America is continuing to "Accelerate The Good" this holiday season by expanding its partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in an effort to bring the joy and magic of the holiday season directly to St. Jude patients and families.
Created by David&Goliath (D&G), Kia's creative agency of record, the "Season of Giving Back" campaign gives children at St. Jude and their parents the gift of a virtual trip to the North Pole without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of the St. Jude campus.
For the first time in the hospital's history, the TV spot was filmed on-site at St. Jude in Memphis, TN. In addition to airing on television, the video will be available on the St. Jude in-house television network.
The centerpiece of the campaign is a 60-second broadcast spot titled "Holiday Joyride." For the commercial, Kia constructed a custom 50- by 100-foot set which included 296 curved LED screens surrounding an all-electric Kia EV6 mounted on a system of hydraulic compressors.
The commercial opens with St. Jude patient Adalyn sitting safely in the backseat of the EV6, which "travels" through a tunnel of red and green star-shaped arches created by the curved screens. The LED screens slowly transition to depict a star-filled night sky as a personalized welcome message appears featuring the patient's name.
As the EV6 is gently lifted and lowered to simulate the experience of driving, the virtual landscape reveals a forest filled with majestic snow-covered pine trees, a galloping reindeer, a soaring eagle and a narwhal moving across the sky. The excitement and joy of being transported to this mystical winter wonderland shine on Adalyn's face as the EV6 ascends above the rooftops of the North Pole.
"Helping those in need is at the heart of the Kia brand and we are proud to support St. Jude with our 'Season of Giving Back,'" said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. "We hope to provide holiday cheer to those families that are facing the most difficult of circumstances with dignity, bravery and grace. Kia is honored to be a small part of the impact St. Jude has on so many."
In November, Kia America announced the brand will donate a minimum of $1 million to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The donation represents the brand's third act of giving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this year as part of Kia's "Accelerate The Good" charitable initiative, which has donated more than $14 million to various causes since 2019.
Previously this year, Kia donated to St. Jude as part of the 10 millionth Kia vehicle sold in the U.S., and again as part of the groundbreaking announcement for a new assembly plant in the state of Georgia.
"With creativity rooted in purpose, Kia America helped put smiles on some St. Jude patients' faces this holiday season by taking them on a light-filled journey to the North Pole," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We have such gratitude for our partnership with Kia and its dealer network, whose support helps to ensure that no family will receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so that they can focus on helping their child live."
To accelerate progress globally and help kids everywhere, support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® by donating at stjude.org.
Source: Kia America
Abby Andrews