A poster that generates sympathy for a child in order to promote children's health and solicit donations

The phrase poster child (sometimes poster boy) originally referred to a child afflicted by some disease or deformity whose picture is used on posters to raise money for charitable purposes; "he was the poster child for muscular dystrophy". However, the term is usually used metaphorically, meaning a shining example or model of its type; in this context, it is generally a term of derision. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Child (disambiguation). ... This article is about the medical term. ... Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness. ...

See also: embodiment, epitome, and archetype

Embodiment is the way in which human (or any other animals) psychology arises from the brains and bodys physiology. ... An epitome (Greek epitemnein—to cut short) is a summary or miniature form, also used as a synonym for embodiment. ... For other uses, see Archetype (disambiguation). ...

Examples

• Ryan White was considered a poster child for societal acceptance of AIDS, after he contracted the disease from a blood transfusion and was expelled from his school.
• Bobbi Campbell was a self-professed "KS poster boy" in the earliest years of the AIDS epidemic.
• An example of its metaphorical use by George Voinovich: "It is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be". [1]