WILL WORK FOR FOOD!

Dozens of Organizations and Businesses Donate Food for CreateAthon

Covington, LA – There was a frenzy of activity at Gallinghouse & Associates Friday as 12 sleep-deprived, caffeine-overloaded staff and creative partners worked the last few hours of CreateAthon (CAT), a 24-hour marketing blitz for area non-profits. In addition to staff running around polishing copy, illustrating logos and designing brochures, the agency was also bombarded by selected organizations bringing food—lots of food.

“While this is our fifth year doing CreateAthon, this is the first time I noticed that part of the name is actually ‘eat-a-thon’—pretty appropriate for the event this year,” said Laura Tobin, Gallinghouse Vice President. “As we’re treating our clients to engaging, creative marketing materials, we’ve been treated to delicious meals and decadent desserts.”

Clients this year include: Food Bank of Covington, High Voltage Youth Camp, Junior League of Covington (for Children’s Museum of Southeast LA, Keep Mandeville Beautiful, LA Technology Council, Regina Coeli Child Development Center, Spina Bifida Association, St. Tammany Art Association and St. Tammany Housing Partnership.

Recipients are asked to volunteer a few hours during CAT to assist with answering the phones. They often enlist support from restaurants, coffee houses and bakeries to help keep the staff well-fed throughout the 24-hour effort.

“It is almost a ‘pay it forward’ exercise,” said Jackie Catalanotto of the Food Bank of Covington. “We were chosen this year because of the good work we do in our community. And because Gallinghouse was helping us, we asked others to pitch in and help them. My 13 years of experience in non-profits has shown me that this type of grass roots approach to giving really does make an impact.”

Gallinghouse expects the good works to continue. It anticipates additional support from local companies such as paper suppliers, printers and broadcast production companies. The agency is also asking the media to help deliver the messages created for the non-profits. Companies that are interested in lending their support may contact Gallinghouse & Associates at (985) 893-7631 or email createathon@gallinghouse.com

Gallinghouse & Associates Inc., a full-service marketing communications firm, is the only agency from Louisiana participating in the national CreateAthon. To date, it has produced 100 projects for 30 non-profits, with an estimated value of more than $400,000. With talented and experienced award-winning staff, the agency uses a strategic creative process to deliver innovative, results-driven solutions. The agency, established in 1986, is located in downtown Covington and serves local, regional and national companies.