Help Your Cause with Promotional Awareness Ribbon Giveaway Items

If you've found our site by way of searching for promotional products for charities and/or special causes, you've likely noticed that we carry a lot of different types of promotional awareness ribbon items. We make it possible to have your business or charity logo imprinted on a wide variety of wholesale giveaway items including, but not limited to, custom awareness ribbon tote bags, personalized awareness ribbon magnets, custom printed jar openers with awareness ribbons, and a grand array of others. 

While we are proud of our custom awareness ribbon giveaway items, we also don't want to overlook the true meaning of them in the process. That's why we're putting together this little guide to explain which causes are symbolized by which colors, along with items you can use to enhance awareness of and active engagement with said causes. We'll list and explain three issues represented by 12 different colors. For a comprehensive list of all awareness colors and what they symbolize, Disabled World (opens in a new window) is a great resource.

If you're holding a special event for a cause that you feel isn't getting the coverage it needs, please email us if you'd be interested in having 4AllPromos as a sponsor for your event. Please be sure to read through the end, as we have a special section regarding a disease that's yet to receive a color, but is being championed by an amazing mother-daughter team.

What do pink awareness ribbons stand for?

Pink Awareness Ribbons:

• Breast Cancer Awareness
• Birth Parents Awareness
• Paget's Disease Awareness

Pink awareness ribbons are almost automatically associated with breast cancer. Considering that it is one of the most common causes of death for women around the world, it's definitely a good thing that society is becoming more vigilant and proactive in taking on this horrible disease and helping women to get the treatment they need to avoid breast cancer and to catch it before it can become a severe problem.

Pink is also the symbolic color for birth parents awareness and Paget's Disease awareness. Giving a biological child up for adoption is one of the hardest things in the world anyone could ever have to do. The idea behind birth parents awareness is to ensure that adopted children know of their biological parents and are able to, where possible, have a continued relationship with them. It's a lesser-known cause, but certainly a noble one.

Paget's Disease is a condition in which the usual process of old bone cells wearing away and being replaced by new ones doesn't occur properly. The results of this can include chronic pain, malformation of limbs, bone cancer, and even heart disease. It is theorized, but not verified, that Paget's Disease is what caused famous composer Ludwig von Beethoven to lose his hearing.

Pictured above is our Spirit Awareness Ribbon Visor, a perfect tool for any charitable event for breast cancer, Paget's Disease, birth parents awareness, all of the other causes represented by pink ribbons.

What do teal awareness ribbons mean?

Teal Awareness Ribbons:

• Agoraphobia Awareness
• Fragile X Syndrome Awareness
• Tourette Syndrome Awareness

When it comes to agoraphobia, there are some very common misunderstandings. One of the most largely-held false beliefs about agoraphobia is that it is simply the fear of open spaces and/or being outdoors. While this fear is a feature of agoraphobia, it is not its sole defining trait. People with this condition can be struck with feelings of panic in nearly any location which makes them feel unsafe or as if they cannot escape. Many famous and successful people have struggled with this condition, including poet Emily Dickinson, Beach Boys member Brian Wilson, and actress Kim Basinger.

Fragile X Syndrome is a condition that isn't all that well known, but is a very important disorder to understand and seek to treat. That's why we included it in this list. Fragile X Syndrome is the most common (genetic) cause of developmental delays. It is believed to be a contributing factor in autism. As it is an X-linked trait, it affects males more commonly than females.Vision, memory, and social interaction are all areas in which this condition can create deficits. The National Fragile X Foundation (opens in a new window) contains a wealth of information if you'd like to learn more. 

Tourette Syndrome is yet another medical condition that suffers from a lack of understanding, mainly due to the way it is often portrayed by the mass media. Many people automatically associate this disorder with coprolalia, which is the uncontrolled shouting of obscenities. In reality, this aspect of Tourette Syndrome only exists in a small percentage of cases. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that leads to tics, which are various physical movements or vocalizations that an affected individual will involuntarily engage in. It can also lead to OCD and as well as depression due to feelings of isolation and cruel treatment by peers who do not understand the struggle. Famous people affected by Tourette Syndrome include famous aviator Howard Hughes, actor/TV host Marc Summers, and retired Major League Baseball star Jim Eisenreich.

The picture above is of one of our promotional awareness ribbon smartphone wallets. Smartphones are items that are taken virtually everywhere their owners go, so this item provides an excellent opportunity for champions of the causes of agoraphobia, Fragile X Syndrome, and Tourette Syndrome to create as much awareness and understanding as possible.

Which causes are represented by purple?

Purple awareness ribbons:

• Cystic Fibrosis Awareness
• Drug Overdose Awareness
• Eating Disorder Awareness

The first cause represented by the color purple that we'll touch upon is Cystic Fibrosis awareness. Without getting too technical, this is a genetic condition in which a gene known as the CFTR gene has deficiencies in processing protein. A result of this is the inability of sodium and chloride to permeate the surfaces of internal organs, leading to especially viscous mucous building up. This can stimulate the growth of bacteria, leading to severe illnesses and difficulties with respiration. As is the case with nearly all of the conditions we're going to talk about today, Cystic Fibrosis doesn't prevent one from achieving greatness. Professional soccer player Nathan Charles and Canadian olympic athlete Lisa Bentley have both been diagnosed yet still thrive.

Drug overdose awareness is another cause that purple awareness ribbons and purple in general can represent. Whether the drugs be prescription or illicit, there is no denying the devastating toll that drug addiction has had on society. It becomes especially hard to ignore in the face of the rapidly increasing opioid addiction epidemic. Those dealing with drug addiction and those who have lost a friend or loved one to an overdose will appreciate any and all measures your business or charity makes to highlight this tragedy.

The final cause denoted by purple that we'll get into is eating disorder awareness. This is somewhat of an umbrella term and can refer to a number of different medical and psychiatric issues. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and feeding disorder all fall into this category. Feeding disorder is likely the least-known of these issues. More or less, it is characterized by young children having a strong opposition to eating certain foods due to negative sensory issues associated with them. It is a common problem in children with autism, but is not limited to any one demographic. It becomes a severe problem when it grows to an extent where a child faces malnutrition via refusal to eat.

As can be seen from the promotional purple teddy bear pictured above, not all awareness color products have to feature the traditional ribbon shape. Mixing things up and including custom awareness color giveaways aside from just ribbons provides an opportunity to become more creative and offer even more fun and reflection on the part of anyone attending your charitable event.

What is the meaning of silver awareness ribbons?

Silver awareness ribbons:

• Dyslexia Awareness
• Disabled Children Awareness
• Locked-In Syndrome Awareness

Silver is a color used in the movement for the awareness of and research for dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes one to have difficulties with reading. People with dyslexia have a hard time when it comes to decoding, which is an expression used to describe the process of associating aspects of speech and sound to written text. People with dyslexia may also read books upside-down, see letters moving or as positioned backwards, or even suffer from certain aspects of visual agnosia. Many famous and highly successful people, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Debbie Macomber were/are dyslexic.

Pictured below is one of our silver personalized stainless steel tumblers. It's a great promotional product or customized giveaway item to use in fundraising events for dyslexia as well as all of the many additional causes that the color silver represents.

Silver awareness ribbons can also enter the picture when it comes to funding support for children with virtually any variety of disability. Though this is a very broad category, it helps to bring children struggling with disabilities as well as their parents and siblings together to normalize their experience and reach a better overall understanding.

A third condition represented by the color silver is Locked-In Syndrome (opens in a new window). This is one of the most cruel and difficult conditions imaginable. Essentially, a person with Locked-In Syndrome has in one way or another become almost entirely paralyzed, with control over eye and small facial movement being all the mobility that is left intact. The vast majority of those who suffer with this illness are fully cognizant and are aware of everything that is happening and being said in their environment. Efforts to aid those affected have been made in the form of facilitated communication, though some in the medical community are skeptical of its effectiveness.

Which illnesses are represented by lavender?

Lavender Awareness Ribbons:

• General Cancer Awareness
• Epilepsy Awareness
• Rett Syndrome Awareness

Lavender is another color that is great for promoting a variety of causes. It covers several more causes that the three we'll talk about today, but an item such as the lavender discount wholesale tote bags displayed below make great tools for spreading awareness and keeping your personal cause in the public eye and mind.

Similar to how purple represents a very broad range of eating disorders, lavender does the same for cancer. While breast cancer is represented by pink and bone cancer by white (as we'll discuss later), lavender is a call to awareness of all cancers including, but not limited to, lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, oral cancer, skin cancer, and more.

Epilepsy is also symbolized by way of lavender ribbons and other lavender items. It is a more frequently found condition than one might think, as it is among the most commonly found neurological disorders in the world. Epilepsy has no demographic; it is found in people of all races, nationalities, genders, ages, shapes, and sizes. This is a condition in which abnormalities of electric activity in the brain can cause seizures to strike at any time and without clear cause, sometimes even fatally. Famous people who have risen to prominence despite having epilepsy include actor Danny Glover, singer Susan Boyle, and 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt.

Who are white awareness ribbons for?

White Awareness Ribbons:

• Bone Cancer Awareness
• Osteoporosis Awareness
• Blindness Awareness

As referred to in the section above, lavender is a color meant to represent all cancers. However, certain cancers have additional colors that are more specific. One of these comes in the form of bone cancer. Bone cancer is often more difficult to detect than others, tragically resulting in relatively high fatality rates. Tumors that grow within the bones can cause severe pain, weight loss, tiredness, and fractures. When caught early enough, this form of cancer often be treated, though in other cases, amputations may be needed. Just a few of the great people we've lost to bone cancer include Lorenzo Music (voice actor who portrayed both Garfield the cat and Carlton the Doorman), Walmart founder Sam Walton, and astronomer Carl Sagan.

Another cause you can support with a white ribbon is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens bones and causes them to be more susceptible to fractures even in minor injuries. Risk factors include excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, organ disease, advanced age, and lack of dietary calcium. Nearly 70% of east Asian and Caucasian people over the age of 80 are affected by this disorder to some degree. Younger people, such as actresses Sally Field and Gwyneth Paltrow are also diagnosed with this condition.

Our custom awareness ribbon peel and sick charity calendars, such as the one pictured below, are a great way to keep all caused represented by white ribbons on people's minds all year long.

Blindness is another cause that a white ribbon can stand for. The gift of sight is one that should never be taken for granted. There is so much beauty in the world that can be enjoyed totally free of charge and provide joy and happiness to anyone lucky enough to see them. That's why we can never forget those who aren't fortunate enough to be able to see. Whether considering blindness acquired at birth, blindness resulting from injury, or blindness resulting from illness, white ribbons and white items as a whole are a great investment for generating awareness and building hope for a cure.

What does orange mean as an awareness color?

Orange Awareness Ribbons:

• ADHD Awareness
• Cultural Diversity Awareness
• Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness

ADHD, or attention deficit-hyper activity disorder is something nearly everyone has heard of. That's because of how prominent it is and how many people it effects. Still, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't further causes for awareness, as the more attention it receives, the more we can help those who grapple with it. As its name implies, ADHD doesn't necessarily have to include hyperactivity. Some people with ADHD struggle more when it comes to concentration, while others still can concentrate too deeply on something that interests them, blocking them off from other important surrounding stimuli. Will Smith, Howie Mandel, and Simone Biles are just three of the big names out there of people who deal with ADHD.

Orange is also used as a symbol of cultural diversity. This is an instance where a color and/or colored ribbon represent something positive rather than an illness, tragedy, or struggle. Orange was chosen as the color to represent the awareness of and respect for cultural diversity due to its warm, joyful, sun-like appearance. Picture below is one of our cheap logo printed orange stress balls, which are perfect as promotional products around the office or for physicians and therapists.

Orange is also a support and awareness color for a condition known as Prader-Willi Syndrome. Prader-Willi Syndrome is a disorder in which those affected experience hypotonia (low muscle tone), delayed puberty, and in many cases, some degree of intellectual impairment. The most dangerous trait this disease brings is the inability to feel full. People with Prader-Willi Syndrome feel hungry nearly all of the time, no matter how much they eat. Parents of children with PW, as it is often abbreviated, often need to keep padlocks on cabinets and refrigerators to prevent their children from accessing the food inside while unsupervised.

What does a yellow ribbon mean?

Yellow Awareness Ribbons:

• Microcephaly Awareness
• Spina Bifida Awareness
• Obesity Awareness

While those residing in the USA are most likely keen to the fact that yellow ribbons are a sign for supporting our soldiers, they also bear many additional meanings. The first one we'll introduce to you is microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition characterized by incomplete development of the brain and a smaller than usual cranium. This can be cause by a number of different factors, including genetic influences, gestational diabetes, fetal alcohol syndrome, Zika virus, and injuries occurring in the womb or just after birth. No two cases are exactly the same, but some of the resulting comorbid conditions can include cognitive disabilities, vision difficulty, and poor motor skills. 

Yellow also helps to create awareness for spina bifida. This is a condition that occurs when a developing fetus experiences an incomplete closure of the spinal cord. Often, this results in a small sac protruding from the back containing spinal fluid and parts of the spinal cord. Many people with spina bifida have trouble walking and many others are confined to wheelchairs due to paralysis of the lower body. Hydrocephalus and latex allergies are also commonly found in spina bifida patients. Spina bifida is not a barrier to success. Musician John Mellencamp and artist Frida Kahlo were both born affected.

Whether your business or charity is looking to promote awareness of spina bifida, microcephaly, obesity, or any other cause symbolized by yellow, any of our yellow promotional hand fan giveaways will be sure to act as an effective tool for communicating your message.

Did you know yellow is the designated color for obesity awareness? Obesity is a problem that is continuing to spread throughout developed nations. The excess weight leaves one vulnerable to heart disease, liver failure, arthritis, breathing difficulties, and even an increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease. However, it is important to remember that obesity can be caused by many factors aside from overeating. As with any other condition, obesity shouldn't cause a person to be judged or treated harshly. Any obesity related fundraiser or event can help to send this message home by supplying the scene with plenty of yellow.

What does a blue awareness ribbon stand for?

Blue Awareness Ribbons:

• Alopecia Areata Awareness
• Child Abuse Awareness
• Anti Bullying Awareness

Alopecia areata is a disease that causes the loss of hair throughout all areas of the body. While it often will result in hair coming out in round tufts, it can also prevent hair from growing altogether. This is caused by one's immune system attacking and destroying hair follicles, causing full or partial baldness. Those affected may also suffer from allergies, vitiligo, and thyroid disease, but often none of these secondary conditions are present. The official spokesman for alopecia areata is Charlie Villanueva, a 6'11" basketball player of Dominican descent who spent 11 seasons in the NBA after a stand-out career with the UConn basketball team, during which time he was part of their 2004 NCAA championship run.

Sadly, Charlie Villanueva experienced a great deal of bullying over his condition when he was a child, and that brings us to the second blue awareness ribbon cause we'd like to discuss. The cause of bullying prevention is represented by the color blue, and it is one that cannot be ignored. Our childhood experiences help to shape us into the adults that we become, and aggressive bullying can do severe damage to a still developing mind. As far as we're concerned, bullying is flat-out unacceptable at any age, time, or place. In many notable cases, it has led to victims feeling so much pain that suicide was the final result. We urge you to join in the fight against bullying. Printing your personalized message or charity/brand logo on any of our bulk blue awareness ribbon items, such as the promotional blue awareness ribbon car magnet shown below,  is a great way to start.

Another societal ill fought by the color blue is child abuse. It should come as no surprise that child abuse can spark many severe problems for the children involved later in life. It's not just an issue of what will happen in the future though; the suffering these poor kids are going through in the here and now is no less tragic. We owe it to all children of the world to keep a watchful eye out and look for and report any sign of child abuse, even if it's just the slightest inkling. It is in this spirit that we recommend keeping your blue ribbons visible whenever possible, to prevent any sort of "out of sight, out of mind" type of feelings on the part of the general public. 

Which causes are represented by black ribbons?

Black Awareness Ribbons:

• Narcolepsy Awareness
• Mourning Awareness
• Gang Prevention Awareness

Mourning, in nearly all cultures, is represented by the color black. Black arm bands, black curtains, black clothing, and black veils are all symbols displaying grief for a lost loved one. It's a very unpleasant reality, but a reality nonetheless, that this is an issue that nearly all of us will have to face multiple times in our lives. Depending on the mourner in question and the magnitude of who they have lost, the death can be a devastating and sometimes even fatal blow. That's why it's important to always be there for anyone in any way possible when someone they love leaves this world. 

Our custom imprinted black ribbons, such as the one shown below, are a great way for any company or charity to pay tribute to someone important who has passed away.

Black is also the color of choice when it comes to spreading awareness of narcolepsy. If you've heard of narcolepsy, you may tend to associate it with involuntarily periods of sleep striking at random times. While this is one symptom of the condition, it is not the only element. People with narcolepsy can also experience chronic fatigue, hallucinations when nearing sleep, as well as sleep paralysis. The former is a condition in which a person can both be awake and asleep at the same time. During these periods, a person is unable to move and can understandably feel quite terrified. There have been many successful people affected by narcolepsy over the years, including Thomas Edison, Harriet Tubman, and Louis Braille.

What do red awareness ribbons stand for?

Red Awareness Ribbons:

• Heart Disease Awareness
• AIDS Awareness
• Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness

A red ribbon can be a call to action for many different causes. The three that we'll be detailing today are heart disease, AIDS, and sickle cell anemia. 

Heart disease exists in many forms. Hypertension, clogged arteries, valvular defects, arrhythmia, congenital heart abnormalities, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest all fall into the heart disease family. It is one of the most common causes of death around the world, and therefore is one that deserves a great deal of attention, awareness, and prevention.

AIDS awareness is also symbolized by the color red. This indescribably tragic disease can be passed from person to person by way of intimate activity, blood transfusions, or the use of shared needles. Additionally, children who are born to affected mothers can acquire AIDS as well. It's a severe problem around the world, but is especially widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. The Egmont Trust (opens in a new window) is just one of many charitable organizations seeking to combat AIDS in this region as well as throughout the world.

The third and final cause represented by red ribbons that we'll get into in this article is sickle cell anemia. This is a problem that affects people of all backgrounds, but is especially harmful toward people of African descent. This is a condition in which a person has a shortage of healthy red blood cells for carrying oxygen through the body. The red blood cells in affected individuals can harden and form a shape reminiscent to that of a sickle, which is how the disease acquired its name. The hardened cells can become lodged in blood vessels, causing pain, vision loss, swelling, and even death. Notable people diagnosed with sickle cell anemia include NFL legend Tiki Barber, Paul Williams of the Temptations, and television personality Kiki Shepard.

All three of these causes, as well as the many others symbolized by the color red, are worth standing up to and fighting against. If your business or charity is involved in a fundraiser to combat any of these issues, handing out our promotional red awareness ribbon magnets will prove a great way of spreading the word.

What does a green ribbon mean?

Green Awareness Ribbons:

• Glaucoma Awareness
• Major Depressive Disorder Awareness
• Organ Donation Awareness

The last color we'll be covering today is green. One of the many entities for which green promotes awareness is glaucoma. In the eyes of most mammals, there is a mesh-like structure that allows fluid to be strained out to keep the eye healthy. In patients with glaucoma, the mesh-like area can become clogged or close up, causing an excess of fluid to build up in the eye. This causes an unhealthy level of pressure which ultimately damages the optic nerve and can result in vision difficulties ranging from mild impairments to total blindness. Unfortunately, there is no cure as of yet; right now all that can be done is taking measures to halt its progress or to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Deficits in peripheral vision, chronic headaches, pain around the eye, and seeing "halos" around lights are all symptoms of glaucoma. Among the more famous glaucoma patients are astronaut John Glenn, U2 frontman Bono, and actress Whoopi Goldberg.

Before we get on to the other two green-signaled causes, we'd like to point out that having plenty of green giveaway items and signage to catch the eye can be crucial in drawing crowds to your event and educating them on the matter at hand. If your event is an outdoor one or perhaps one held in an athletic venue, our green promotional stadium cushions will be a great tool for keeping your cause on the minds of all who attend.

Major depressive disorder is another condition for which green is the awareness color of choice. Depression exists across a broad spectrum, with several different variants affecting people around the world. Major depressive disorder also is known by the name of chronic depression and refers to a state where an individual experiences deep sadness, lack of energy, loss of enjoyment in favorite activities, and at times, suicidal thoughts or behaviors. In some cases, it is the result of a traumatic experience or experiences, while in other cases, it can be an issue of brain/body chemistry. Whatever the cause, this is a disease that has had a destructive impact on many lives and one that cannot be ignored.

Do you remember how when discussing orange awareness ribbons, we mentioned that not all ribbons for representing things that are negative? Further proof of this notion exists in the fact that green is the official color for organ donation awareness. By volunteering to be an organ donor, you can be a true hero, saving the lives of multiple people. You can also help people with eye issues to regain their site via a cornea transplant. If you're curious to know, the US government organ donation information website (opens in a new window) is accessible by way of the preceding link.

Bonus Section: Stromme Syndrome

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of obstacles out there in the world that don't receive the awareness, understanding, and helping hand that those who deal with them need. Be it a physical health issue, mental health issue, addiction, or any other form adversity, we owe it as members of the human race to reach out and help those in need however possible. While we don't have time today to tackle all of the challenges that need more exposure and insight, there is one we can introduce you to. Since it lacks an awareness ribbon/color of its own, we'll know turn the spotlight toward Stromme Syndrome.

Stromme Syndrome is a very rare (as in 10 known cases in the past 25 years rare) genetic disorder which didn't even receive its official name until 12 years ago. It can affect many areas of the body, including the eyes, kidneys, intestines, heart, brain, and skeleton. While symptoms can vary from person to person, many of the above, in addition to microcephaly, are conditions that are associated with this rare disorder. Since so few people are diagnosed with Stromme Syndrome, it really doesn't get the level of attention that it should. That's why we want to tell you about Ruby.

As you'll see in the video below, as well as all of the other videos on Ruby's channel, Stromme Syndrome can present a lot of challenges, but it doesn't mean that a person affected with it can't live a full, happy, and meaningful life. Ruby, along with her mom Angie and their adorable dog Stella have created a website to educate the world about Stromme Syndrome and to show not only the challenges it presents, but also the joy people who live with the condition can feel, as well as the joy that they can bring to the world as a whole. We really like Ruby and we're sure that you will too.

We hope we've done a good job of shedding some light on some special causes and answering any questions you may have had about our promotional awareness ribbon giveaway items and what their colors mean. Are there any colors you'd like to see that we didn't include? Get in touch with us and let us know!