Starting this week, don’t be surprised if you start smiling a bit more while driving in Champaign.
Here’s why: Adams Outdoor Advertising of Champaign is partnering with The Joy Team, a positive thought non-profit organization based in Vancouver, Wash., to start an ad campaign with the sole purpose of making you smile.
The year-long campaign will rotate four messages on Champaign billboards as space is available. Three of the four messages are “based on scientific research about what makes people feel happier,” according to The Joy Team.
The first two will go up this week at 1602 S. Neil St., 250 feet south of Kirby Avenue on the east side; and on Springfield Avenue, 20 feet east of Duncan Road on the south side. The next two will be posted the week of June 29 with locations to be determined.
The Joy Team has been putting up positive messages on billboards in Portland, Ore., since April 2010. As of June, it has put up 177 billboards with intentional messages of happiness, kindness and love. This year the organization has placed spots in 19 U.S. cities.
“(While) our primary focus is the growth and development of the local business community, we were touched by this small organization’s big dreams, and are incredibly proud to help spread the joy.”
The Joy Team and Adams Outdoor encourages people to help spread the happiness by posting selfies with the billboards on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #SpreadJoy. Tag your photos with @TheJoyTeam and then go to the Adams Outdoor office at 1711 Dobbins Dr., Champaign, and pick up a bumper sticker or window cling carrying a positive message from The Joy Team.