Philanthropy – Page 2 – universal positive

Contribute Now to the Biggest Night in Sports: The ESPYS

May 14, 2024July 14, 2018 by Roger Darnell

This Wednesday, July 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, The 2018 ESPYS Presented by Capital One is once again set to feature the world’s premier athletes, the sports’ world’s biggest stars, and the very best sports stories of the year. Hosted by Danica Patrick, this 26th annual celebration supporting ESPN’s ongoing commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research will be televised live from LA’s Microsoft Theater.

In the meantime, ESPN’s Annual ESPY Day Auction to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research is officially underway on eBay, where it will run through July 18. This year’s auction of more than 80 items includes tickets to prime sporting events, autographed memorabilia, unique experiences with athletes, celebrities and hall of fame coaches, sports-related experiences with ESPN personalities, and much more.

Another way for fans across America to participate in The ESPYS is to help determine exactly who will be selected for these and other ESPYS Awards:

Marketing Imperatives: Center Everything Around Your PR Strategy

May 14, 2024August 3, 2017 by Roger Darnell

I have a longstanding working relationship with a CEO who recently changed jobs. Coming into his new company, he told me that his mantra was this: He intended to center every marketing initiative around PR strategy. In virtually every industry, I’m seeing many wise marketing industry leaders endorsing this idea. Another prominent example from the past several years comes from Jason Harris of San Francisco- and NYC-based Mekanism, where in an interview with HubSpot.com, he described his agency’s framework for creating shareable content.

“Our approach is to always think about the PR headline. Why will the idea, content, innovation, etc., travel? Why will people care, and why will they want to talk about it and share it? If there is no PR headline, the idea won’t be shareable. That is our goal on every project.”

The video I’m embedding with this article perfectly demonstrates the increasing focus on PR, presenting the 47-minute “Content & Storytelling: Is the PR Landscape Shifting?” session from the 2014 CDO Summit in NYC.

What’s the impact of winning a Cannes Lion?

May 10, 2024June 26, 2015 by Roger Darnell

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your work week is wrapping up nicely and that you’ll soon be able to enjoy some well-earned downtime, like a lot of people have been doing all week in Cannes (kidding, of course). Before ending this week, I wanted to share this video I’m embedding here from experience design agency Freestate, and a few more comments about the significance of winning a Cannes Lion award.

As you can hear first-hand from FreeState’s creative director Adam Scott in this video directed by Ilan Metev, FreeState won a Gold Design Lion at Cannes in 2013 after designing the world’s largest kinetic sculptures for Blackpool’s promenade. Under the heading of “Why Winning a Lion Matters – An Agency’s View,” Mr. Scott enlightens us while pedaling his bike around the city: “Sometimes it’s hard to find your way, and especially hard given it’s so darn crowded out here…. How do you stand out,” he asks.

And about the results of winning Cannes Lion Gold, he continues: “I would say people are far more interested in our approach, and that has to be a good thing. And well, if it can happen to us then it can certainly happen to you.”

Isn’t that lovely? Also, to me, it’s a perfect summation to what it means to win a Cannes Lion.

Meanwhile, the image I’m providing here offers a newer angle into this discussion. Taken hours ago

“Kickstarted” documentary feature gives back

March 22, 2024June 7, 2013 by Roger Darnell

From “Kickstarted” – the first documentary film for, by and about crowdfunding – comes “Funded in 60 Seconds.” This is a special series of crowdfunding tips, insights and best practices all delivered in under a minute. Help us keep making more content – and support “Kickstarted,” the first documentary about crowdfunding: http://bit.ly/KickKS

Forces for good: Kobe Bryant

May 9, 2024January 7, 2013 by Roger Darnell

In this first episode of Mission: Kobe Bryant, the renowned NBA star visits Skid Row to learn about the issues facing homeless people in LA, and speaks to four extraordinary men seeking to improve their lives. You can learn more about the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation’s fight to end homelessness in LA by visiting www.kvbff.org. You can also follow the link to the YouTube posting to find a Homeless Service Organization near you through the National Coalition for the Homeless.

More on Mission

In Mission, Kobe Bryant documents an honest account of challenges facing residents of Skid Row, the downtown Los Angeles area with the largest concentration of homeless people in the United States. Through his personal and candid conversations with residents of The Los Angeles Mission

Gift Togetherness

May 8, 2024December 18, 2012 by Roger Darnell

I am very proud to share Thornberg and Forester’s “The Gift of Togetherness,” part of a powerful campaign from DDB Chicago promoting Ronald McDonald House Charities. The campaign’s goal is to raise $1 million by December 31; for every dollar raised, 90 cents support programs globally! To learn more about RMHC and be a part … Read moreGift Togetherness

12.12.12: The Concert For Sandy Relief

May 8, 2024December 10, 2012 by Roger Darnell

Around here, we are already super-excited about Dec. 12, 2012, for many reasons. First, it is our son Riley’s ninth birthday — but also, it’s the date that The Concert For Sandy Relief will be broadcast to over one billion people worldwide. The concert event will air on 34 US networks and television feeds worldwide, in addition to streaming online and on the radio.

Creative entrepreneurs: Tina Roth Eisenberg

May 8, 2024November 12, 2012 by Roger Darnell

Swissmiss is a design blog and studio run by Tina Roth Eisenberg. Besides swissmiss, she also founded and runs CreativeMornings and TeuxDeux. Above, I’m sharing Tina’s presentation from the 2011 Future of Web Design conference. “The talk is mostly about lessons I want to teach my kids, hoping that one day, they will be at … Read moreCreative entrepreneurs: Tina Roth Eisenberg

Bravery from Brand New School and Antidote rewarded…

May 6, 2024May 2, 2012 by Roger Darnell

When Antidote (www.antidote.co.uk) was approached by Diesel founder Renzo Rosso to create a call-to-arms to inspire and mobilize the world’s youth to join the fight to help end extreme poverty in Africa and around the world, Antidote’s creatives wrote a manifesto for The Only The Brave Foundation and approached Brand New School to create a short, powerful animated film. In his treatment, BNS founder and executive creative director Jonathan Notaro proposed the unique storytelling approach that helps the foundation deliver its message in style in the finished production. The presentation is also taken to new heights by the score from Human Worldwide.

The Children’s Playhouse shines on

May 6, 2024April 23, 2012 by Roger Darnell

The Children’s Playhouse was launched ten years ago by a group of local citizens in Boone, North Carolina, who wanted an enriching play environment for children from birth to age eight that at the same time offered parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children. Ann Kiefert, Kathy Parham, Cathy Riggs, Heidi Campbell and my wife Beth Darnell were all members of the founding board. Under Kathy’s leadership, The Playhouse has not only become a widely renowned creative play space for families, it has also become a very powerful force for community goodness.

This past weekend, The Playhouse held its fourth annual Great Friend to Families Awards reception. Launched by Kathy and her forward-looking board members in 2009, this event has honored dozens of Hometown Heroes for their sustained contributions to the well-being of young children and families in our area. Proceeds from this annual event help support The Playhouse and ensure the facility remains accessible to families who might not otherwise be able to use its services.

Read moreThe Children’s Playhouse shines on