Coast to Coast, Communities Put a Spotlight on the Seriousness of Eating Disorders
More than 100 Iconic Landmarks in Dozens of Cities Spanning 46 states ‘Light the Way’ During 35th Annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb. 21 – Feb. 27, 2022.
Februrary 14, 2022 — From the famed Empire State Building in the east to the iconic Columbia Center 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. 21 – Feb. 27, to put a spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders.
The coast-to-coast effort will unite dozens of U.S. cities in observation of the 35th annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness Week), Feb. 21 – Feb. 27, 2022. 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 are bio-psycho-social illnesses with often devastating – sometimes life-threatening – consequences.
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.
This NEDAwareness Week, we invite you to See the Change, Be the Change. Celebrating twenty years as the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), NEDAwareness Week 2022 is an opportunity to #SeeTheChange by recognizing change within the ever-evolving eating disorders field, and to #BeTheChange through advocacy, awareness, and community building.
Participating cities (lighting after dusk) include:
ALABAMA: Birmingham (The Crescent Building: Feb. 22 – 27), Montgomery (RSA Tower Building, RSA Systems Building, RSA Dexter Ave Building, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa and Convention Center: Feb. 22), ALASKA: Anchorage (JL Tower in Lights: Feb. 21 – 27), ARIZONA: Gilbert (Gilbert Water Tower: Feb. 24 – 27 *will light in purple for eating disorder awareness), ARKANSAS: Little Rock (Big Dam Bridge, Two Rivers Bridge, Junction Bridge: Feb. 22 – 27), CALIFORNIA: Rohnert Park (Green Music Center: Feb. 21 – 27), Sacramento (US Bank Tower: Feb. 22 – 27) San Francisco (140 New Montgomery: Feb. 22 – 27), COLORADO: Denver (ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health (Main Tower) Feb. 22 – 27), CONNECTICUT: Hartford (The Stilts Building: Feb. 21 – 27), DELAWARE: Dover (Delaware State Capitol Building: Feb. 21 – 27) FLORIDA: Orlando (The Wheel at ICON Park: Feb. 24), GEORGIA: Atlanta (Atlanta City Hall: Feb. 21 – 27), The King and Queen Buildings: Feb. 21 – 27), HAWAII: Honolulu (IBM Ward Village: Feb. 21 – 27), IDAHO: Boise (8th & Main: Feb. 22 – 27) ILLINOIS: Chicago (John Hancock Building: Feb. 21 – 27), INDIANA: Indianapolis (Indiana Power & Light Building & Monument Circle: Feb. 22 – 24), IOWA: Davenport (Davenport Skybridge: Feb. 21 – 27), Des Moines (High Trestle Trail Bridge: Feb. 21 – 27), KANSAS: Lawrence (Lied Center of Kansas: Feb. 25), Manhattan (Flint Hills Discovery Center: Feb. 27), Overland Park (Museum at Prairiefire *Featuring Blue and Green Reflections in support for NEDA. Internal house lights will be set to blue Feb. 25), KENTUCKY: Lexington (Helix – Lexington Parking Authority: Feb. 21 – 27), LOUISIANA: New Orleans (Caesar’s Superdome: Feb. 25), MAINE: Portland (Portland City Hall: Feb. 22), MARYLAND: Baltimore (Baltimore City Hall Dome: Feb. 21 – 27), MASSACHUSETTS: Boston (Boston City Hall: Feb. 23 and Feb. 27), Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf: Feb. 23, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy: Feb. 21 – 27, Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge: Feb. 24, Longfellow Bridge: Feb. 24, TD Garden: Feb. 27), Quincy (Fore River: Feb. 24), Worchester (Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge: Feb. 24), MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids (Blue Bridge: Feb. 21 – 27), Warren (Warren City Hall: Feb. 27 – 28), MINNESOTA: Eagan (Sperry Tower: Feb. 22), Edina (The France Avenue Lights: Feb. 22 – 24), Minneapolis (100 & 111 Washington Square: Feb. 21 – 27), 35W Bridge: Feb. 24, Lowry Avenue Bridge: Feb. 23), MISSOURI: Brentwood (Metro Lighting Brentwood Promenade: Feb. 21 – 27), Chesterfield (Metro Lighting Chesterfield: Feb. 22 – 27), Kansas City (Kansas City Power & Light Building: Feb. 21 – 27), St. Louis (St. Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium: Feb. 22), NEBRASKA: Omaha (Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Feb. 22), NEVADA: Las Vegas (Las Vegas City Hall: Feb. 21 – 27), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Concord (Concord Hotel: Feb. 21 – 27), NEW JERSEY: Trenton (Trenton Makes Bridge: Feb. 21 – 27), NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque (The University of New Mexico Dreamstyle Arena “The Pit”: Feb. 21 – 27) NEW YORK: Albany (SUNY Plaza Building: Feb. 21 – 27), Buffalo (City Hall of Buffalo City 25, Electric Tower: Feb. 25), Highland (Mid-Hudson Bridge: Feb. 21 – 27), New York City (Empire State Building: Feb. 22, The Helmsley Building: Feb. 23, Park Avenue Tower: Feb. 21 – 27), Rochester (Rundel Library: Feb. 21 – 27), Syracuse (National Grid: Feb. 21 – 27), Yonkers: (City Hall Clock Tower: Feb. 21 – 27), NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte (NASCAR Hall of Fame: Feb. 21, 22, Wells Fargo’s Duke Energy Center: Feb. 23), Winston-Salem (Kimpton Cardinal Hotel: Feb. 21 – 27), NORTH DAKOTA: Grand Forks (Alerus Center: Feb. 21 – 27), OHIO: Dublin (Dublin Link Bridge: Feb. 26) Akron (Akron Children’s Hospital: Feb. 21 – 27), Kent (Kent State University Library: Feb. 12 – 27), Youngstown (Premier Bank Tower: Feb. 27), OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City (Skydance Bridge: Feb. 22), OREGON: Salem (Union Street Railroad Pedestrian Bridge: Feb. 21 – 27), Woodburn (Woodburn Bridge: Feb. 22 – 27), PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia (Cira Centre, FMA Tower at Cira Centre & Cira Centre South Garage: Feb. 24 – 26, PECO Energy Building: Feb. 22-24), Pittsburgh (Highmark: Feb. 22, One Oxford Centre: Feb. 21 – 27), RHODE ISLAND: Portsmouth (Sakonnet River Bridge: Feb. 23), Providence Rhode Island State House: Feb. 19 – 26 – except on President’s Day), SOUTH CAROLINA: Myrtle Beach (Skywheel: Feb. 21 – 27), SOUTH DAKOTA: Rapid City (Main Street Square: Feb. 21 – 26, Sioux River Falls (Feb. 21 – 27), TENNESSEE: Nashville (State Capitol: Feb. 21 – 27), TEXAS: Dallas (Bank of America Plazal: Feb. 23), Houston (1600 Smith Street: Feb. 21 – 27, One Allen Center: Feb. 21 – 27, Two Allen Center: Feb. 21 – 27, Three Allen Center: Feb. 21 – 27, 601 Jefferson: Feb. 21 – 27), VERMONT: Bennington (Bennington Battle Monument Feb. 21 – 27), VIRGINIA: Virginia Beach (Virginia Municipal Center, Building 30: Feb. 21 – 27), WASHINGTON: Seattle (Columbia Center: Feb. 25, SR 520 Floating Bridge: Feb. 24-Mar.1, Pacific Science Center Arches: Feb. 22, Washington State Convention Center: Feb. 21 – 27), WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston (Elk River Bridge: Feb. 18 – Feb. 25), WISCONSIN: Milwaukee (Milwaukee County Historical Society: Feb. 21 – 27), WYOMING: Laramie (The University of Wyoming, Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center: Feb. 22).
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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 and thousands were 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.nationaleatingdisorders.org.