Let's Not Do Lunch - BSSP Initiative for World Hunger Day

SAUSALITO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For an industry known for its three-martini lunch, agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP) is launching a social media fund raising effort built around the idea of "Let's Not Do Lunch," http://www.facebook.com/letsnotdolunch with a goal of soliciting unspent dining out dollars to help raise pounds Sterling 1 million for famine relief in East Africa.

BSSP's "Let's Not Do Lunch" campaign is one in what is hoped to be 50 technology-based solutions that agency Made By Many is crowd-sourcing from agencies around the world with the goal of launching 50 projects in 50 days to raise funds for famine relief.  The 50/50 project has nearly 40 global initiatives that are launching mid-October.

"Let's Not Do Lunch" asks those who would otherwise go out for a business lunch with a colleague or vendor to donate that money to famine relief efforts.  While not asking donors to go hungry, there is the suggestion that if you forgo a lunch, you will only partially be able to experience the devastating famine that is taking the life of one child every six-minutes in East Africa.

"Our idea was to create a social movement behind famine relief by tapping into social experiences we all enjoy, many of which are built around sharing a meal with a friend, colleague, business associate, even family," explained Ed Cotton, Director of Strategy and Innovation at BSSP.  "Through our Facebook application, 'Let's Not Do Lunch,' we are leveraging the social experience into a social action that can be shared and activated through Facebook, twitter, instagram and YouTube channels."

The BSSP "Let's Not Do Lunch" initiative will launch today as a stand-alone Facebook page that accepts donations for the 50/50 project.  

The initiative was built by an integrated team at BSSP and a desire to bring worldwide attention to the dire effects of the long running famine in East Africa that is taking the lives of one child in Somalia every six minutes.  100% of the funds raised go to UNICEF, who is currently delivering life-saving support in health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and child protection.

About BSSP

BSSP (www.bssp.com) is a full-service marketing communications agency based in Sausalito, CA, providing services in advertising, online marketing, web development, data analytics, integrated communications planning, brand identity, design and strategic brand consulting. In 2010, BSSP was named by Adweek as "Best Small Agency of the Decade. BSSP is one of the largest independent agencies on the West Coast and is known for providing highly creative, fully accountable marketing solutions to a broad array of marketers including Priceline, MINI Cooper, Columbia Sportswear, Sorel, AT&T Interactive, Isis Mobile Payments, Greyhound, Electronic Arts, Mission Foods, and RadioShack.

About 50/50

50/50 is a collaborative experiment, a platform of 50 little bets: digital projects created and run by individuals and teams of makers. Each project aims to engage a network of supporters to help spread the word and generate as much money for famine aid as possible.

A seemingly impossible challenge first hatched by Good for Nothing and Made by Many, 50/50 is open to everyone. Whatever you decide to do, do something. All funds go directly to UNICEF.

Contact: Toni Lee, 203-246-7524

SOURCE Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners