Six deserving nonprofits and about 100 students are gearing up for the eighth annual CreateAthon@UofSC. CreateAthon@UofSC is a 24-hour event where Gamecocks donate their time and talent to help deserving nonprofits.
Professor Brooke McKeever and her fall public relations class will research their nonprofit clients' current communications and provide client relations. They will work with other University of South Carolina student volunteers and professional mentors to give the nonprofits the strategic communications they need — from logos and identities to advertising, posters, brochures, PR and social media/web strategies.
This year’s event will help seven nonprofits:
Helping Hands Inc.
Aiken, S.C.: Enriching the quality of life and well-being of children, youth and families in
need through a continuum of residential and community-based services.
Explore: The Children’s Museum of the Pee Dee
Florence, S.C.: A community-centric organization planning to create a state-of-the-art educational
museum that inspires imaginative play and promotes the health and well-being of all
children and families of the Pee Dee region.
Winyah Rivers Alliance
Conway, S.C.: An alliance of Riverkeepers working to protect, preserve, monitor and revitalize
the health of the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed.
Bullets and Bandaids
Columbia, S.C.: A veteran-centric art therapy organization that strives to create social cohesion
and empowerment with veterans and civilians through a touring art exhibit.
Hospice & Community Care
Rock Hill, S.C.: An organization committed to giving hope, comfort and compassion to the community
when needed most. Hospice & Community Care serves the patient and family together,
caring for their physical, emotional, spiritual and practical needs.
Pattison’s Academy
Charleston, S.C.: An education and rehabilitation academy providing comprehensive, year-round programs
to support children with severe disabilities and their families.
The CreateAthon@UofSC management team includes School of Journalism and Mass Communications' visual communications faculty member Scott Farrand and sports and entertainment management professor Haley Mercado.
CreateAthon@USofC is now recruiting student volunteers and creative professionals to serve as mentors for this year’s 24-hour event on Oct. 29-30 in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Those that cannot volunteer are encouraged to donate food, beverages or funds to help support the event.
Started in 2013, CreateAthon@UofSC is part of the CreateAthon™ onCampus network. In the first six years of CreateAthon@UofSC, more than 365 students have helped 34 South Carolina nonprofits and have produced marketing and creative services with a value of more than $1.1 million. The students lock themselves in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications building for 24 hours each fall to deliver their clients free services including adverting and PR strategy, graphic design, copywriting, web design, marketing collateral and more.
About CreateAthon™
CreateAthon™ was founded in Columbia, South Carolina by Teresa Coles and Cathy Monetti of Riggs Partners and is a 501(c)3. CreateAthon™ has generated well over $24 million in pro bono marketing services for more than 1,300 organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad.