More Than 75 Nonprofit Organizations In U.S. and Canada Receiving Free Marketing Services During National Pro Bono Week

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifteen marketing organizations in the U.S. and Canada will provide free marketing services to more than 75 nonprofit organizations through CreateAthon, one of the marketing industry's leading pro bono programs, during National Pro Bono Week. Pro Bono Week, which takes place October 20-26, 2013 is the first ever global celebration of skills-based volunteerism and the impact it can have on the social sector.

CreateAthon was founded by Riggs Partners in Columbia, South Carolina in 1998. As CreateAthon partners, marketing agencies, universities, corporations and professional clubs donate their time and talent by holding 24-hour marathons during which professionals and students develop marketing strategies and creative materials that can help nonprofit organizations meet specific marketing objectives. Deliverables take the form of branding initiatives; marketing, public relations and fundraising plans; creative materials in print, digital, and broadcast formats; and more.

Since its founding, CreateAthon has grown from a single-market event to a 501 (c) (3) organization that has attracted more than 85 marketing agencies, universities, corporations and professional clubs as official CreateAthon partners. Cumulatively, CreateAthon has helped more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations in North America by delivering approximately 3,200 pro bono marketing projects valued at $16.1 million.

After an application process, CreateAthon partners select their own local clients in their market. The nonprofit clients selected nationwide this year include:

Columbia, SC – Riggs Partners

• Carolina Wildlife Care
• Dickerson Center for Children
• District Five Foundation for Educational Excellence
• Epworth Children's Home
• Family Shelter
• Healthy Learners
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia
• St. Lawrence Place

Columbia, SC – CreateAthon on Campus at University of South Carolina

• Harvest Hope Food Bank
• Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
• Federation of Families
• Edgefield County Theatre Company
• Helen Hill Media Education Center at the Nickelodeon Theatre
• Tutor Eau Claire

Austin, Texas –Build-A-Sign/Austin AIGA

• AGE of Central Texas
• Austin Pets Alive!
• Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps
• Center for Child Protection
• Fusebox Festival
• Spirit Reins
• Waterloo Counseling Center

Greenville, South Carolina – DNA Creative Communications

• Greer Community Ministries
• Greenville County Youth Orchestras
• REACH Upstate

Melville, NY - EGC Group

• Friends of Karen
• The Inn
• Alternatives for Children

Sacramento, CA – Emcee Design

• The Table
• Make-A-Wish (San Diego)
• American River Parkway
• Volunteers of America Northern California
• Kids Rock Free School of Music
• North County Junior Golf
• Red Circle Foundation (San Diego)

Toronto, ON - FleishmanHillard

• Kidney Foundation of Canada
• Your Life Counts
• Street Kids International
• Meal Exchange

Hudson, NC – Paragon Design Group

• Parties With Purpose
• James C. Harper School of Performing Arts
• Caldwell County Heritage Museum
• Granite Falls Womens Enrichment Association
• Access Care - HOOOT Fund (Helping Others Overcome Oncology Treatments)

St. Louis, IL – Think Tank

• The Edwardsville Children Museum
• World Aquarium
• Riverbend Down Syndrome Association
• Madison County Historical Society
• Kellsie's Hope Foundation

Kitchener, ON – Two Blonde Chicks

• Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington
• Carizon Family & Community Service
• Hospice of Waterloo Region
• Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• KW Access-Ability
• ROOF
• Waterloo Region Family Network.

Los Angeles, CA – verynice

• Gardens to Hospitals
• National Museum of Animals & Society

Greensboro, NC – The Sales Factory

• Backpack Beginning
• Seven Homes
• Caring Services
• Mary's House
• Heartstrings
• Boundless Impact
• Open Door Action Ministries
• Connected in Hope
• Young Life
• Casa Azul
• Reading Connections
• Handy Capable
• Horse Friends
• Junior League of Greensboro
• NC Eye Bank
• Bicycling in Greensboro
• Twin City Santa

Nashville, TN – redpepper

• Hands on Nashville
• St. Luke's Community House
• The Tennessee Respite Coalition
• Kate's Club

Williamsburg, VA - Proximo Marketing Strategies

• Olde Towne Medical Center
• Our Savior's Lutheran Church
• Housing Partnerships
• Housing Development Corporation
• The Arc of Greater Williamsburg

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Dawe Consulting Group

• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Luzerne County   
• LGBT Community Center of Northeastern PA  
• Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic
• Nuangola Lake Association 

Other CreateAthon partners holding their events throughout 2013 and the spring of 2014 include:

Altria, Richmond, VA
J Fitzgerald Group, Lockport, NY
Orchid Communications, St. Helier, Jersey
Red Thinking, South Riding, VA
Trio Solutions, Charleston, SC
Waggener Edstrom, Portland, OR
White Space Creative, Akron, OH
Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

For more information on the program, please visit www.createathon.org.

Video with caption: "Put your creative superpowers to work for good. Become a CreateAthon partner now. http://www.createathon.org." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0PC8GF7h8

Image with caption: "CreateAthon Provides Free Marketing to More than 75 Nonprofits in US & Canada." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131024/CL03596

SOURCE CreateAthon