A national meningitis awareness campaign from Shots 4 Meningitis

Purple is more than a color.

It is a reminder of every life changed, every person remembered, every survivor supported, every family affected, and every action we can take together.

Purple Means More is a national campaign helping more people understand meningitis and the lives it changes.

Learn Why Purple Means More Make Purple Matter

Hear the Campaign

John B. Grimes riding a bicycle along an outdoor path.

Why purple

Why purple?

Purple was already familiar within the meningitis community.

It has appeared throughout awareness efforts, advocacy, events, survivor communications, remembrance, and the global movement. Purple Means More builds upon that familiar connection by giving the color a deeper human meaning.

It represents people whose lives were changed, those we remember, survivors continuing their journeys, families carrying the impact, and the actions all of us can take together.

We did not create the color’s history.

We are helping tell the stories it can carry.

Purple is more than a color.

Purple means more.

One color. Many meanings.

Purple means awareness.
Helping more people understand the real and lasting impact of meningitis.
Purple means remembrance.
Honoring every person taken too soon and the people who carry their memory forward.
Purple means survival.
Recognizing that leaving the hospital may begin another journey.
Purple means support.
Standing with survivors, families, and caregivers.
Purple means action.
Turning awareness into meaningful action.
Get Involved
Purple means hope.
Believing what we do today can change tomorrow.
Purple means prevention.
Encouraging informed conversations with healthcare professionals about meningitis risks and available preventive options.

Purple means more.

No single word can hold every life, every loss, every survivor, every family, and every reason this mission matters. That is why purple means more.

The urgency

Meningitis can change a life in hours.

Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but it is serious and can progress rapidly.

Even with antibiotic treatment, 10 to 15 in 100 people with meningococcal disease will die.
One in five survivors of meningococcal disease may experience long-term disabilities.

Source: CDC — Meningococcal Disease Signs and Symptoms (CDC meningococcal disease information, opens in a new tab)

Source reviewed: July 29, 2026

Learn More About Meningitis

Stories

Every story gives purple more meaning.

John B. Grimes sharing his meningitis survivor story.

Survivor and co-founder

Survival was only the beginning.

“Survival isn't the end of the journey—it is just the beginning.”
— John B. Grimes, meningitis survivor and Co-Founder of Shots 4 Meningitis

At nineteen, John survived bacterial meningitis after falling into a coma. He woke facing permanent vision loss, neurological dysfunction, and a future he never expected. His recovery became a lifelong journey of adaptation, purpose, and advocacy — and the reason Shots 4 Meningitis exists today. For John, purple means supporting survivors long after the hospital.

Read John's Full Story

Read the full story on Shots4Meningitis.org.

Becky Werner

Remembered with love

Purple means remembering.

Becky was more than meningitis. Her life, and the people who loved her, give this campaign part of its meaning. Remembrance is not only about loss. It is about carrying someone forward — helping more families understand meningitis, and turning memory into awareness and action.

Read Becky's Full Story

Read the full story on Shots4Meningitis.org.

What will purple mean because of you?

Get Involved

Find an event near you and join the Purple Means More movement in your community.

Get Involved

Give

Your gift helps expand awareness, education, storytelling, survivor support, and community action.

Make a Gift

Donate securely through Shots 4 Meningitis.

Partner

Explore sponsorship, employee engagement, events, speaking, and cause-marketing opportunities.

Become a Partner

Learn

Understand the risks, warning signs, and prevention conversations that matter.

Learn More

Bring the Purple Means More message to your family, school, workplace, or community.

Donate

Help make purple matter.

Your gift helps Shots 4 Meningitis expand awareness, share survivor and family stories, support education, and create more opportunities for communities to take action together.

Donate Securely Through Shots 4 Meningitis

You’ll continue to the secure Shots 4 Meningitis donation page to complete your gift. Shots 4 Meningitis is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Partnerships

Give your company a color—and a cause.

Companies and community organizations can help make purple mean more through sponsorship, employee engagement, awareness campaigns, event participation, matching gifts, survivor speaker programs, and cause-marketing partnerships.

Stay connected

Carry the meaning forward.

Receive survivor stories, campaign updates, educational resources, and opportunities to make purple matter.

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On the air

You heard the message. Now hear the meaning.

Purple Means More is also a radio campaign. Each spot carries the same message into communities across the country. Spots are not available to play yet.

Campaign Spot 01
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Campaign Spot 02
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