A gun violence awareness video produced by (SHP) blew past its 100 million-view benchmark during the weekend of December 10, just a few days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the tragedy that inspired it, according to the organization's managing director Tim Makris.Sandy Hook PromiseThe Newtown Bee December 9, just as the video broke the 75 million-view tally. Mr Barden's son, Daniel, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14.Good Morning America show on December 2.The Bee. "And quite honestly we've brought our vision to life over the past few years through the implementation of our programs."sandyhookpromise.org.

Mr Makris along with organization co-founder and Sandy Hook surviving parent Mark Barden talked about the project and its global resonance during an interview with

According to an advance, the organization is working to help prevent acts of gun violence before they start through no-cost "Know the Signs" programs. SHP's programs teach youth and adults how to recognize an individual exhibiting at-risk behaviors and how to effectively intervene to get them help before they hurt themselves or others.

The release states that 80 percent of school shooters and 70 percent of individuals who completed suicides told someone of their violent plans prior to taking action - yet no interventions were made. So after working with New York's BBDO advertising agency to create the short film, SHP co-founder and parent Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan, killed 12/14, debuted the video on ABC's

Evan hopes to educate viewers that often warning signs are given off before an act of violence occurs."

The public service announcement titled

The short film is a story about a teen named Evan, who is portrayed counting down the days to summer break - and who demonstrates his boredom by writing on a table in the school library. The next day he finds someone has responded back.

While Evan's story unfolds, another darker tale is developing simultaneously in the background, but no one notices.

"When you don't know what to look for or can't recognize what you are seeing, it can be easy to miss warning signs or dismiss them as unimportant. That can lead to tragic consequences, including someone hurting themselves or others," said Ms Hockley, whose son died in one of the nation's worst mass shootings.

"It is important for us to show youth and adults that they are not helpless in protecting their community from gun violence - these acts are preventable when you know the signs. Everyone has the power to intervene and get help," she added. "These actions can save lives."

Evan demonstrates the problem that SHP is working to solve through its four "Know the Signs" research-based programs, provided at no cost to schools and community organizations. In just 22 months, SHP has already trained 1.5 million students, teachers, school officials, and parents in all 50 states in at least one of its programs.

As a result of the "Know the Signs" training, SHP has helped intervene on multiple threats - including a school shooting, suicides, and bringing firearms to schools, as well as helping to reduce bullying and getting hundreds of individuals mental health assistance.

"We have stuck closely to our stated intentions from the very beginning," Mr Makris told

Given the magnitude of what occurred on that sunny but tragic December morning, SHP has amassed what Mr Makris said amounts to more than one million supporters since its inception. Among them are more than 2,000 "Promise Leaders" who bring SHP programs into communities across the country.

In addition, SHP stands with more than 450 other "partner agencies" who share similar missions or work with the local organization's programs, he said.

Nearly one million supporters have signed up on the agency's website, pledging to make the Sandy Hook Promise: "I promise to do all I can to protect children from gun violence by encouraging and supporting solutions that create safer, healthier homes, schools and communities."

Mr Makris reflected on how the "Know the Signs" program was presented before the Los Angeles Unified School District's board, and its Promise Leader made such an impression that the massive district - the nation's second largest - is poised to roll out that Sandy Hook Promise initiative in 2017.

"Down in Maryland we have volunteers who do events called 'tabling' who fan out weekend after weekend handing out pamphlets and sharing what people can do in their own homes, schools, and communities to make a difference," he said.

Mr Barden said the video is so popular because it makes a sobering impression.

"We had high hopes that it would hit a million views on the four platforms we are tracking," he said. "I think the 72 million views shows it resonates with people and it touches them to their core and it empowers them. They see the video and they know they can be part of life saving solutions - that's powerful stuff, and we see how powerful as we watch the numbers hit 72 million and growing."

While the monitored views just a few days later topped 100 million, there is no telling how many more views occurred through other sites both domestically and globally.

Mr Barden said in its short history, the Promise has learned that most acts of gun violence can be prevented.

"The killer who shot and killed my little boy was planning this for over a year. And over that year there were signs and signals being given off that were missed," he said. "Certainly you may have not have known this person was planning a mass shooting, but they were in need of help.

"So if someone is thinking about hurting themselves or somebody else, we know they give off signs and signals, and this video gives folks some ideas about how to be aware of that," Mr Barden continued. "Somebody who may be on their way to harming themselves or others are giving off these signals. And it's up to you as a good upstander to help them get the help they need."

Mr Barden said his late son Daniel was very astute about picking up signals from others when they were feeling badly.

"If someone was having a hard day he wanted to help them out," Mr Barden said. "So it's very near and dear to our hearts."

To bring SHP's "Know the Signs" programs to a school or community, or help advocate for sensible policy, visit:

View the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8syQeFtBKc