Maryland non-profit Organizations can Apply now for Pro Bono Creative Services

CreateAThon, a national program benefitting non-profit organizations, is now available to a majority of Maryland. Through the program, non-profit organizations can apply for pro bono creative and marketing services. The application deadline is Monday, July 11. Purple Cat of Kent Island, MD, and Octo Design Group of Philadelphia are the Maryland sponsoring agencies.

(PRWEB) June 8, 2005 -- Applications are now available for CreateAThon 2005, a national program providing free creative services to selected non-profit organizations. This year marks the first time that a significant portion of Maryland will be served. The application deadline is Monday, July 11, 2005, for consideration.

The local CreateAThon® effort is led by Purple Cat, a Kent Island public relations agency, and Octo Design Group, a Philadelphia graphic design firm, who soon will be serving the Baltimore area.

We are very excited to be participating in this worthy project," said Carol DAgostino, the owner of Purple Cat. Having worked in public relations at non-profits for more than 20 years, I know what it is like to not have the budget to do something that the organization needs and wants. Thats why I founded Purple Cat and thats why this project is so meaningful to me," she added.

Her partner in CreateAThon 2005 concurs. Carol and Octo Design have worked together on numerous communications projects over nearly a decade," said Wendy Verna, sole owner and founder of Octo Design Group. My professional goal has been to set up an office in Baltimore, so when Carol told me about this opportunity I knew it would be a great fit for us to coordinate together," she added.

How CreateAThon® works
An agency signs up as a local participant and selects a specific market. They then solicit applications from 501(c)3 organizations from and select a minimum of five projects (one per non-profit). These projects are then completed free of charge with a large portion of the work processed during a 24-hour creative blitz from 8 a.m. Thursday, September 15, 2005, through 8 a.m. Friday during national CreateAThon® Week.

Applications are available by contacting Purple Cat at (410) 604-2319 or create@purplecatpr.com. Applications must be completed and returned by later than Monday, July 11, 2005, for consideration.

Local agency sponsors
Now in its 14th year, Octo Design Group is a dedicated design firm that blends traditional design with modern technology. Octo has the knack of getting to know its clients as well as their industry, enabling the firm to design the necessary pieces to make them stand out from their competition. In 2003, the firm was named one of Philadelphias fastest growing companies by the Philadelphia Business Journal. With more than a decade of success serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Octo Design Group is now starting its next phase of operations in Baltimore.

Founded by Carol DAgostino of Stevensville, Md., Purple Cat is a boutique public relations firm specializing in public relations services for the cost conscious." Clients include both non-profit organizations and businesses that have smaller marketing budgets, but need to gain visibility or attract new markets. Services include writing and pitching" stories, developing and executing communications plans, as well as publications, copywriting, direct mail and special events.

In addition to operating Purple Cat, DAgostino also writes Positively PR, a column for the Chesapeake Business Ledger, and is a member of the Chesapeake Womens Network.

CreateAthon history
CreateAThon® was developed in 1998 by RIGGS, a full-service firm headquartered in Columbia, S.C. In 2002, RIGGS expanded CreateAThon® to form a national network. Since then more than 35 agencies have participated, conducting CreateAThons® in 20 states and three Canadian provinces. The national program has helped more than 535 non-profit organizations with more than 1,100 projects, providing pro bono creative services with an estimated valued of $4.2 million.

For more information and an application, contact Purple Cat at (410) 604-2319 or email create@purplecatpr.com.

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