The things in this world that move me are few and unexpected. The ending in Mulan. (”The greatest gift and honor is having you as a daughter.” IT’S JUST SO TOUCHING!) Old people holding hands. Kay Jewelers commercials (Have you seen the Mother’s Day one? When the kids are like, “We got you a diamond necklace, mommy!” and the mom says in her fake mom-voice, “You did???” and then the dad whips out the bling and she gasps, looks in his eyes and whispers “You did.” So magical.) Orange kittens. Some YouTube videos of babies.

I’m moved by some important stuff, but it’s harder for me feel a connection. Obama’s speeches? Nice. I’ve nodded my head a couple times. Racism? Sure, it bothers me. Homelessness? Wrongful convictions? All the bad stuff in China? Yes, yes, sad, sad.

So I was surprised when I came upon this two-page ad in Marie Clare and was instantly entranced.

It read:

There are a lot of reasons why kids miss school.

Being a girl shouldn’t be one of them.

Paid for by Always and Tampax, the ad explained that in some regions of the world, many girls have to stay home when they get their period just because they don’t have protection. Which means they fall so far behind, they drop out. It shows this photo of a South African girl sitting at a school desk in the middle of nowhere. It’s so sad. They don’t even have wads of Kleenex to use as temporary fix. As someone who got her period today (TMI, I know), I can only imagine how miserable that would be. Though there were days in high school that I would have loved to use my T.O.M. as an excuse to cut chem class, but these girls don’t have a choice and it makes me feel like I MUST DO SOMETHING!

And of course, I can. All I have to do is go to www.protectingfutures.com and I can spread the word about the “Pad Program” by sending free e-cards and downloading buddy icons with the picture of that young African girl who’s on her period. Come on, people. Let’s save the world, one maxi pad at a time.

Can you tell I’m a marketer’s dream?