Pro Bono, Baby
Pay it forward: CreateAthon gives Austin nonprofits all-night creative bootcamps
On the night of Sep. 20, Austin will not sleep. Well, a number of Austin's creative professionals won’t, at least.
CreateAthon — a 24-hour, work-around-the-clock creative blitz during which marketing, advertising and public relations firms provide nonprofit marketing services on a pro bono basis — is coming to Austin.
Due to limited budgets, it’s tough for the 5,000-plus nonprofits competing for volunteer hours and donations in Central Texas to develop strong marketing and branding strategies.
In 1998, Cathy Monetti and Teresa Coles of South Carolina-based creative marketing consultancy Riggs Partners started CreateAthon to extend a hand to nonprofits seeking marketing strategy help.
Since CreateAthon’s founding 14 years ago, over 75 agencies have participated in the event across U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Their work has benefited over 1,275 nonprofits, with 3,100 projects valued at more than $15 million.
This year, AIGA Austin (the local chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design) is teaming up with BuildASign.com to provide Austin nonprofits with this amazing opportunity.
BuildASign.com is an Austin-based online custom printing provider that has contributed more than $400,000 to over 400 local and national nonprofits through the BuildASign Gives program.
With creative professionals practically bursting at the seams with ideas, “bringing CreateAthon to Austin made total sense,” according to Dan Graham, co-founder and CEO of BuildASign.com. “The work this event produces in 24 hours can help make a tremendous impact in the community.”
But this event doesn’t only benefit nonprofits. Despite a sleepless night, CreateAthon believes that agencies will gain much more than what they will lose in eight hours (i.e., sleep).
Because agencies are working pro bono without having to tip-toe around iron-fisted clients, this non-stop, high energy event allows creatives to take exciting liberties and push boundaries, resulting in brilliant campaigns recognized by the advertising community — with a number of ADDY awards to prove it.
Austin-area nonprofits may apply to be a part of CreateAthon Austin until July 22, and selected organizations will be announced July 30.
