Siegel+Gale Selects Two Social Entrepreneurs As Inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Fellows

BOULDER, Colo., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Siegel+Gale today announced the launch of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, naming Michael Wilkerson and Mouhsine Serraras the inaugural CSR Siegel+Gale Fellows. Each Fellow—selected in partnership with the Unreasonable Institute—will receive $10,000 in seed funding, as well as significant in-kind contributions by Siegel+Gale talent from across the globe, to create brand stories and experiences that can achieve business and social impact.

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Siegel+Gale has created the CSR program  to fund and support two promising social entrepreneurs in the development of a product, program or tool that leverages the power of simplicity to address the world's most complex social and environmental issues. In addition to delivering branding and customer experience consulting to develop and bring the Fellows' innovations to market, Siegel+Gale will also provide integrated marketing and communications support. The winning projects will also be featured on siegelgale.com.

"Though we have always been committed to philanthropy, we are particularly excited about the new CSR program as an extension of Siegel+Gale's long-standing belief in the power of simplicity to make a difference in the world," said David B. Srere, Co-CEO of Siegel+Gale.

Howard Belk, Co-CEO of Siegel+Gale said: "We're looking forward to partnering with our Fellows to make a significant impact on their organizations and the societies they serve. Helping these talented social entrepreneurs bring to life their stories fulfills the passions of our employees to address complex social problems around the world."

Each year, the Unreasonable Institute identifies and attracts talented social entrepreneurs from around the world. The 25 most promising individuals are united in Boulder, Colorado, for a six-week training program that provides the mentorship, capital and network to arm them with the tools needed to tackle the world's biggest problems. The program culminates with a pitch event before hundreds of potential funders and supporters.

At this year's event, Siegel+Gale awarded CSR Fellowships to two Unreasonable Institute entrepreneurs:

Michael Wilkerson, Own Your Own Boda, Uganda—Own Your Own Boda (http://www.ownyourownboda.com) helps motorcycle taxi (boda boda) drivers in Uganda own rather than rent their taxis to accelerate out of poverty. CEO and Co-Founder Michael Wilkerson, a former journalist and Fulbright scholar, runs this three-year-old for-profit social enterprise.

Mouhsine Serrar, Prakti Design, Haiti—Prakti Design (http://www.praktidesign.com/) brings fuel-efficient cooking along with its health, economic and social benefitsto the world's poorest women. Designed by CEO and mechanical engineer Mouhsine Serrar, the innovative, affordable and elegant cookstove is already improving the quality of life for more than 100,000 people in India, Nepal and Haiti.

"We have been impressed by the thoughtfulness with which Siegel+Gale has approached its CSR program," said Teju Ravilochan, Unreasonable Institute Co-Founder, "and are thrilled to be working with them on this initiative. Most importantly, by tapping into Siegel+Gale's branding and communications expertise, Own Your Own Boda and Prakti Design have improved the odds of attaining their ambitious goals."

About Unreasonable Institute
The Unreasonable Institute (www.unreasonableinstitute.com) is a mentor-intensive accelerator for startup entrepreneurs and ventures hungry to tackle the world's greatest social and environmental problems. Founded in 2010, the Unreasonable Institute annually unites 25 high-impact entrepreneurs from around the world in Boulder, Colorado, for six weeks. During that time, the entrepreneurs live and work with 50 world-class mentors, pitch their ventures to hundreds of potential investors, obtain legal advice and design consulting, form relationships with up to 30 impact investment funds and prepare to launch financially self-sustaining, globally scalable ventures that can serve the needs of at least 1 million people.

About Siegel+Gale
Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) is a global strategic branding firm committed to building world-class brands through elegantly simple, unexpectedly fresh strategies, stories and experiences. With Simple is Smart as its operating philosophy, Siegel+Gale delivers powerful services in brand development, simplification, research and digital strategy.

Since its founding by branding pioneer Alan Siegel in 1969, Siegel+Gale has helped drive business results for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organizations worldwide. Siegel+Gale has offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Hamburg, Dubai, Shanghai and Beijing and strategic partnerships around the world. Siegel+Gale is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services
Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Contact:

Abby Trexler
CooperKatz for Siegel+Gale
Direct: 917-595-3042
[email protected]

SOURCE Siegel + Gale, LLC