Sappi Ideas that Matter 2011 Call for Entries Launches

BOSTON, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced the 2011 Call for Entries for Ideas that Matter — an annual, innovative grant program that supports and transforms the creative ideas of designers into a powerful force for social good.

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More than a decade ago Sappi Fine Paper—makers of McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo—established the Ideas that Matter grant program to recognize and support designers who donate their time and talent to create communications materials for a wide range of charitable activities. This year's Call for Entries answers the question 'What can design do for the greater good?' by affirming and financially supporting the meaningful ideas behind the aesthetics of design.

"We believe design has the power to change the world and Ideas that Matter is an important way Sappi supports this goal," said Jennifer Miller, Executive Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Chief Sustainability Officer, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "For eleven years, Ideas that Matter grants have funded work created for local, regional and national organizations. Not only have the resulting projects accomplished their goals, but many have succeeded beyond their original mandate making an even bigger impact than expected."

Ideas that Matter remains the only grant program of its kind in the design industry. Sappi, through this program, has awarded more than $11 million in grants worldwide to designers who are performing pro bono work for nonprofit organizations. Grants support projects designed to enhance our lives, our society and our planet for a wide range of issues reflecting the concerns and needs of the communities that designers live in and care about most.

For example, Jessica Helfand and Bill Drenttel from the Winterhouse Institute received a $30,000 Ideas that Matter grant to address the lack of affordable housing in the rural areas of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Their project, completed in collaboration with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and HousingUs, used billboards and newspaper inserts in combination with bulk mailings to address the need for affordable housing. The project resulted in the first Incentive Housing Zone in Connecticut to proactively address the need for zoning that encourages affordable housing; a 2010 Communications Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association; and more than 12,500 visits to the foundation's website for HousingUs.

Individual designers, design firms, agencies, in-house corporate design departments, design instructors, individual design students and design student groups, who are performing pro bono work for a nonprofit organization can apply for an Ideas that Matter grant. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000 per project and may be used to cover implementation and out-of-pocket costs. Applications for this year's Ideas that Matter program must be postmarked by July 15, 2011. The winners will be announced in September 2011.

Project concepts and design entries to Ideas that Matter are evaluated on creativity, potential effectiveness and practicality of the implementation plan by a team of annually-selected design leaders who are widely recognized for their award-winning work and their commitment to design for social good. This year Sappi welcomes: Allan Chochinov, Editorial Director and Partner of Core77, New York; Dawn Hancock, Owner and Managing Director of Firebelly Design, Chicago; Kit Hinrichs of Studio-Hinrichs, San Francisco; Oliver Munday, Designer and Illustrator based in Washington, DC and; Petrula Vrontikis of Vrontikis Design Office and instructor at Art Center College of Design.

The grant application process for Ideas that Matter is similar to submitting a client creative brief or strategic plan. Basic information is required including: the mission statement of the benefiting nonprofit organization and a copy of its 501(c)(3) designation; a written description of the proposed project, including a list of elements to be part of the program; a brief description of the project's objectives; a visual presentation of the proposed idea; a project timeline and propose budget; a summary of information about the applicant; the applicant's resume; and samples of the applicant's previous work.

To obtain an entry form and for more information about Ideas that Matter, visit www.sappi.com/ideasthatmatterNA or call 800-882-4332. Applications for proposals must be postmarked by July 15, 2011.

About Sappi Fine Paper North America

Sappi Fine Paper North America is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. Its brand names, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are some of the industry's most widely recognized and specified. Sappi's mills in North America are triple chain of custody certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Over 80 percent of the energy used by Sappi's North American mills comes from renewable resources, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints of any major North American coated paper supplier. Sappi Fine Paper North America is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE and JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with manufacturing operations on four continents in 10 countries, sales offices in over 40 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. For more information about Sappi Fine Paper North America, visit: www.sappi.com/na.

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SOURCE Sappi Fine Paper North America