Coast to Coast, Communities Put a Spotlight on the Seriousness of Eating Disorders
More than 100 Iconic Landmarks in Dozens of Cities and over 40 states ‘Light the Way’ During 33rd Annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb. 24 – Mar. 1, 2020.
NEW YORK CITY — Februrary 10, 2020 — From the famed Empire State Building in the east to Los Angeles International Airport’s stylish, 100-foot, glass pylons in the west, dozens of iconic landmarks in cities across the country will be lit in the signature blue and green colors of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) from Monday, Feb. 24 – Sunday, Mar. 1, to put a spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders.
The coast-to-coast effort unites dozens of U.S. cities and over 40 states in observation of the 33rd annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week). During that time, thousands of people come together in communities across the country, hosting events to raise awareness about body image and bring national attention to the severity of eating disorders, which can be life-threatening.
“Eating disorders can hide in plain sight and frequently go undiagnosed until someone’s health is at significant risk,” said Claire Mysko, CEO of NEDA. “These are life-threatening, bio-psycho-social illnesses, not a ‘lifestyle choice.’ It’s time to get beyond the stigma and stereotypes and recognize the diverse experiences of people affected by disordered eating.”
Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, surpassed only by opioid related deaths, and will impact 30 million Americans at some point in their life. While there is hope and recovery is possible, early intervention is key. Many people, including doctors, don’t recognize the signs. The earlier a person with an eating disorder seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery.
Themed Come as You Are: Hindsight is 20/20, NEDAwareness Week encourages folks to reflect on the positive steps they’ve taken — including those stemming from setbacks or challenges — toward accepting themselves and others.
Participating cities (lighting after dusk) include:
ALABAMA: Birmingham (The Crescent Building: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), Mobile (RSA Battle House Tower, RSA Trustmark Building, Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, RSA Van Antwerp Building: Feb. 28), Montgomery (RSA Tower Building, RSA Systems Building, RSA Dexter Ave Building, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa and Convention Center: Feb. 28), ALASKA: Anchorage (JL Tower in Lights: Feb. 27), ARIZONA: Gilbert (Gilbert Water Tower: Feb. 24 – 26 *will light in purple for eating disorder awareness), ARKANSAS: Little Rock (Big Dam Bridge, Two Rivers Bridge, Junction Bridge: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles (LAX Pylons: Feb. 25, US Bank Tower: Feb. 26), Sacramento (US Bank Tower: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1) San Francisco (140 New Montgomery: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1) San Marcos (California State University San Marcos: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Santa Monica (Santa Monica Clock Tower: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), COLORADO: Denver (ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health (Main Tower) and Denver City and County Building: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), CONNECTICUT: Hartford (The Stilts Building: Feb. 24 – 27), Windsor Locks (Connecticut Airport Electronic Displays: Feb. 25-Mar. 3), D.C.: (1625 Eye St.: Feb. 24), DELAWARE: Dover (Delaware State Capitol Building and Woodburn Governor’s Mansion: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1) FLORIDA: Orlando (The Wheel at ICON Park: Feb. 26), Miami (Miami Tower: Feb. 27), GEORGIA: Atlanta (Atlanta City Hall: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1, The King and Queen Buildings: Feb. 24 – 29), HAWAII: Honolulu (Aloha Tower: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), IDAHO: Boise (8th & Main & US Bank Building: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1) ILLINOIS: Chicago (875 North Michigan Avenue: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1, I & II Prudential Plaza: Feb. 24 – 29, Wrigley Building: Feb. 27), INDIANA: Indianapolis (Indiana Power & Light Building & Monument Circle: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), IOWA: Des Moines (High Trestle Trail Bridge: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), Davenport (Davenport Skybridge: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), KANSAS: Lawrence (Lied Center of Kansas: Feb. 27), Manhattan (Flint Hills Discovery Center: Feb. 24), Overland Park (Museum at Prairiefire *Featuring Blue and Green Reflections in support for NEDA. Internal house lights will be set to blue Feb. 24 – Mar.1), KENTUCKY: Lexington (Helix – Lexington Parking Authority: Feb. 24 – 26), Richmond (Eastern Kentucky University Pedway: Feb. 27 – 29), LOUISIANA: New Orleans (Mercedes-Benz Superdome: Feb. 27), MAINE: Portland (Portland City Hall: Feb. 26), MARYLAND: Baltimore (Baltimore City Hall Dome: Feb. 24 – Mar. 4), MASSACHUSETTS: Boston (Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf: Feb. 26, Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge: Feb. 26, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy: Feb. 24 – Mar.1, Boston City Hall: Feb. 28, Prudential Tower: Feb. 28), North Adams (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts (MASS MoCA), *Natalie Jeremijenko’s exhibition “Tree Logic” will be illuminated blue and green: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), Worchester: (Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge: Feb. 25), MICHIGAN: Warren (Warren City Hall: Feb. 27 – 28), MINNESOTA: Eagan (Sperry Tower: Feb. 28), Edina (The France Avenue Lights: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), Minneapolis (100 & 111 Washington Square: Feb. 24-Mar. 1, 35W Bridge and Lowry Avenue Bridge: Feb. 25), MISSOURI: Brentwood (Metro Lighting Brentwood Promenade: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Chesterfield (Metro Lighting Chesterfield: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Kansas City (Kansas City Power & Light Building: Feb. 28 – Mar. 1), St. Louis (St. Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium: Feb. 24), NEBRASKA: Omaha (Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, & WoodmenLife Tower: Feb. 24), NEVADA: Las Vegas (Las Vegas City Hall: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Manchester (Manchester City Hall Plaza Tower: Feb. 28 – Mar. 1), NEW JERSEY: Camden (The Ben Franklin Bridge: Feb. 27), NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque (The University of New Mexico Dreamstyle Arena “The Pit”: Feb. 25 – 28) NEW YORK: Albany (SUNY Plaza Building: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), Brooklyn (Weylin: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), Buffalo (City Hall of Buffalo City & Electric Tower: Feb. 28), Highland (Mid-Hudson Bridge: Feb. 24 – 28), New York City (Empire State Building: Feb. 25, The Helmsley Building & Park Avenue Tower: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Rochester (Rundel Library: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Syracuse (National Grid: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Yonkers (City Hall Clock Tower: Feb. 24), NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte (NASCAR Hall of Fame: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1, Wells Fargo’s Duke Energy Center: Feb. 24), Winston-Salem (Kimpton Cardinal Hotel: Feb. 28), OHIO: Cleveland (Terminal Tower: Feb. 25), OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City (Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory: Feb. 24–Mar. 1), Skydance Bridge: Feb. 26), OREGON: Salem (Union Street Railroad Pedestrian Bridge: Feb. 23-Mar. 2) Woodburn (Woodburn Bridge: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), PENNSYLVANIA: Bethlehem (Sands Bethlehem Blast Furnaces: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Philadelphia (Cira Centre, FMA Tower at Cira Centre & Cira Centre South Garage: Feb. 25-27, PECO Energy Building: Feb. 27 – 29), Pittsburgh (One Oxford Centre: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), RHODE ISLAND: Pawtucket (Pawtucket River Bridge: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), Portsmouth (Sakonnet River Bridge: Feb. 25-Mar. 3), Providence Rhode Island State House: Feb. 23 – 29), SOUTH CAROLINA: Myrtle Beach (Skywheel: Feb. 25), SOUTH DAKOTA: Mitchell (The World’s Only Corn Palace: Feb. 24 – 27), TENNESSEE: Nashville (State Capitol: Feb. 24-Mar. 1), TEXAS: Dallas (Bank of America Plaza and OMNI Dallas Hotel: Feb. 26), Houston (1600 Smith St.: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1; Houston City Hall & Montrose Bridges over 59: Feb. 25-26), UTAH: Salt Lake City (Salt Palace Convention Center: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), ), VIRGINIA: Virginia Beach, VA (Virginia Municipal Center, Building 30: Feb. 24 – Mar.1), WASHINGTON: Seattle (SR 520 Floating Bridge: Feb. 24-Mar.1, and Columbia Center: Feb. 26), WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston (Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, and Elk River Bridge: Feb. 24 – Mar. 1), WISCONSIN: Milwaukee (Wisconsin Center: Feb. 25- Mar. 3), WYOMING: Laramie (The University of Wyoming, Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center: Feb. 27).
###
ABOUT NEDAWARENESS WEEK
NEDAwareness Week is an annual campaign that brings public attention to the critical needs of people with eating disorders and their families. Once again, thousands of people will come together in their communities to bring national attention to the severity of eating disorders, encourage everyone to take the online screening and, if needed, provide information on how to get help. Last year, NEDAwareness Week reached tens of millions of people through traditional and social media, with thousands being screened online and at regional events.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Through our programs and services, NEDA raises awareness, builds communities of support and recovery, funds research and puts life-saving resources into the hands of those in need. For more information, visit www.www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
NEDA is grateful for Veritas Collaborative for their support as a sponsor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.