Central New York Community Foundation Launching PSA Campaign to Combat Lead Poisoning in Syracuse

New animated public service announcements will educate families starting during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

The Central New York Community Foundation is launching a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 20–26, to raise awareness of childhood lead exposure and equip families with tools to protect their children’s health.

Created in partnership with the LeadSafeCNY Coalition and Black Cub Productions, the campaign features three high-quality animated PSAs designed to educate families on the dangers of lead, steps for testing homes, and resources for remediation. Local children were hired to voice-over the animated characters. The bi-lingual videos will be distributed in English and Spanish through a paid media strategy focused on high-risk Syracuse ZIP codes, with options to expand countywide. Residents will soon be able to view the PSAs at leadsafecny.org/lead-psa.html. A preview video can be viewed above.

“By meeting families where they are — in their neighborhoods, on their phones, and in the media they use every day — we are breaking down barriers to information and action,” said LaToya Jones, director of the LeadSafeCNY Coalition. “These PSAs give parents and caregivers clear, practical steps to safeguard their children, while connecting them to local resources ready to help.”

The new effort comes as childhood lead poisoning remains a pressing health and equity issue in Syracuse. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, 9.3% of Syracuse children tested in 2024 showed elevated blood lead levels over 5 mcg/dl—well above the CDC threshold of concern. In some neighborhoods, rates are significantly higher: in Census Tract 23, located north of Interstate 690, 18.3% of children tested had elevated lead levels; in the Brighton neighborhood’s Census Tract 54, the figure was over 13%. Black children are disproportionately impacted: in 2024, 197 Black children in Onondaga County were found to have elevated lead levels compared to 70 White children.

“Every child in Syracuse deserves to grow up in a safe and healthy home. Lead poisoning robs children of their potential, and its effects are felt most heavily in our Black and low-income neighborhoods.” Said Darrell Buckingham, senior program officer at the Community Foundation. “This campaign is about equipping families with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their children today, while we continue to work with our partners to eliminate lead hazards for good.”

LeadSafeCNY, an initiative of the Community Foundation, has made a multi-year commitment to decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates. Since its launch in 2018, the initiative has invested millions into lead-free housing construction, renovations, workforce training, public policy, and community engagement efforts. By concentrating resources in neighborhoods most affected, the initiative aims to make the greatest impact where children are most at risk.

The PSA campaign reflects this commitment, offering families straightforward, accessible messages:

• What to Know About Lead: Education on the dangers of lead exposure and its common sources.
• How to Check for Lead: Actionable steps for testing homes and preventing exposure.
• What’s Next? Resources and Remediation: Connecting families to tools, testing kits and local support.

The PSAs will run on Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram), Google Paid Search and other digital platforms, driving families to immediate action and available resources.
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For more information and to view the PSAs, visit leadsafecny.org/lead-psa.html. All PSAs will be posted when the campaign launches.

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that turns community dollars into community change. Established in 1927, it receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to address the region’s greatest needs. The foundation has invested more than $320 million in community projects that benefit Central New York. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region and address the most critical issues of our time.