Interesting Way to Give Back During Hard Economic Times

mundayMorning, a marketing and PR agency in Dallas, Texas is hosting a CreateAthon on January 29 to help North Texas nonprofits with creative work. This is the first year mundayMorning is participating.

This 24-hour blitz gives selected organizations access to the entire team of creative staff. This year, 40 organizations submitted applications requesting nearly 100 projects. The criteria for selecting which projects will happen in the CreateAthon were overall need, mission of the organization, type of work requested, and how the agency’s expertise would benefit the needs of each nonprofit recipient.

mundayMorning selected 11 organizations for this year’s event including:

• North North Texas Rehabilitation Services – provides vocational opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities
• Central Dallas Ministries – an area network of services including a food bank, a health clinic, a law office, affordable housing and an after-school program.
• The Warren Center – serve families with children with developmental disabilities.
• Christian Community Action – comprehensive services to needy individuals and a resale shop that provides low cost shopping and job opportunities.
• Friends Forever of North Texas – band of volunteer foster homes for homeless dogs and cats specializing in older pets.
• Preservation Dallas – an advocacy group dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Dallas’ landmarks.
• Texas Winds Musical Outreach – music education and entertainment programs for people of ill health, low income, isolated seniors and at-risk children; perform over 850 concerts a year.
• Homeward Bound – provide services to people who are homeless and struggling with addiction at no charge.
• Plano Community Home – housing for low-income, limited mobility seniors.
• Heart House Dallas – free after-school program for children of low income families.
• Allen Community Outreach – a bridge organization between all the social service agencies of Allen, Fairview and Lucas counties.

These organizations will receive help in creative work such as logos and websites. The day’s work is valued at $42,000.

mundayMorning is part of a network of 42 advertising agencies across the country who participate in CreateAthon each year. The CreateAthon began in 1998 in Columbia, S.C., and has expanded to 42 cities since its inception. Over 1,000 nonprofits (with little or no marketing budget) have received free advertising services valued at $8.4 million.

This project is a creative way for a local business to help community organizations in a very tight economy. By partnering with other local merchants (Starbuck’s and Tom Thumb stores), mundayMorning is doing a lot of good in a short amount of time without spending much money. This is definitely an example of business and nonprofits working together.