25 years of creating, contributing and serving. For us, the Work is all about possibility. That’s why partnering with our community is such an essential part of what we do. 25 years of sharing our creative services, volunteer time and financial support with local charitable organizations like the Springfield area’s Camp Barnabus, Care to Learn and the Price Cutter Charity Championship, as well as the national chapters of organizations like the American Heart Association and Court Appointed Special Advocates (C.A.S.A.). Creativity shouldn’t just sell. It must also serve.
Because what you do proves who you are.
When hunger and hygiene rob a child of dignity, school is no longer a priority. Care to Learn funds the emergency needs of kids—be it food, a toothbrush, or a pair of shoes—so they can return to the classroom with the confidence to focus on learning. The Work: By rebranding the Care to Learn Fund, The Alchemedia Project helped renew donor enthusiasm around this critical and life-changing organization.
The American Red Cross is the nation's premier emergency response organization, part of a worldwide movement to offer politics-neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and devastating natural disasters—across the street, the country, and the world. The Work: The Red Cross had a most impressive goal: to raise over $2.6 million dollars locally for the Campaign for Redness. We pitched in by doing what we know best: creating a persuasive informational brochure that promoted our local Red Cross chapter, outlined campaign goals and benefits, and gave interested local humanitarians a way to pledge more easily.
Secondhand smoke isn’t merely an annoyance. It’s a serious health hazard that can cause heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems and cancer. The One Air Alliance promotes smoke-free air in all of Springfield to protect the health of its residents, workers and visitors. The Work: A joint effort between Marlin and The Alchemedia Project, our Smoke-Free Springfield campaign helped build awareness around the need for a more consistent smoke-free ordinance via print, transit, online, and outdoor.
Terminally ill children and those with special needs face realities that no other youngsters do. Each year, Camp Barnabas gives more than 1,300 challenged children a way to face the world as participants, not merely observers. The Work: Our “Kids Being Kids” awareness campaign brought together some of our strongest in-house disciplines—TV commercials, print advertising and direct mail; a dynamic combination of creativity meant to inspire. To raise funds. To celebrate an incredibly inspiring group of children, and the summer camp that gives them a place to simply be themselves.
For nearly 40 years, Earthwatch has protected our shared planet. Now, in the face of today's most pressing environmental emergencies, this essential organization is mobilizing to find creative ways to respond to the defining moment of our generation. The Work: We do not own the earth; we merely steward it for our grandchildren. At the Marlin Network, we deeply acknowledge this: That’s why we created this motivational poster to build awareness and promote volunteer opportunities for this increasingly critical cause.
Sometimes, just being there is the greatest gift. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) makes a lasting impact on children's lives, in a voice that speaks for them with courage and commitment when they cannot speak for themselves. The Work: Getting people to volunteer their time and financial support for any vital cause asks them to “stand up” and be counted. Our Stand Up Campaign did exactly that with a full-court effort of TV commercials, print ads and outdoor billboards focused on the organization’s most important consideration—the children CASA helps.
In its 21st year , The Price Cutter Charity Championship, presented by Dr. Pepper, has been responsible for raising a 20-year total of $7,736,272.26 in gifts to a variety of children’s charities for the John Q. Hammons Foundation—an important, ongoing way of making a significant impact on the lives of children throughout the Ozarks. The Work: Golf and good causes come together in Springfield every year at the annual Price Cutter Tournament. And cars, too, as in this years “Car for a Cause” Giveaway. The Marlin Network is proud to serve as a Lead Sponsor and advertising resource for this yearly part of the PGA tour, in benefit of local children’s organizations.
World Aids Day—December 1st—is our official reminder that it takes only action to stand in the way of suffering. Cry Africa’s holistic care and support services work to counter the spiritual, social, physical, and economic effects of HIV/AIDS across the African continent. The Work: At The Marlin Network, our commitment to change renews itself every day. That’s why we created a poster to further awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and World AIDS Day, a dream held in common with Cry Africa: to see this devastating disease gone forever.
Many intellectually-challenged children live lives of neglect and isolation, excluded from full participation in school or society. The Special Olympics finds the empowering athlete in each of them; a gateway to competence, acceptance and joy. The Work: Our ad campaign helped to promote the Special Olympics by sharing what is most inspiring about it—the joy of the participants and their genuine love of sport. The campaign made the reasons why anyone should support this great organization instantly as evident as the reason its participants succeed: “Because They Can.”
With its extensive informational programs, and events like the annual Heart Ball, The American Heart Association dedicates itself to educating people on ways to prevent cardiovascular disease--work that’s as important as life itself. The Work: The “Heart of Rock and Roll”, Heart Ball 2008’s rockstar-themed event gave attendees a chance to rock their…well, hearts out. And more importantly, it also raised serious cash to help children with congenital heart defects. With an all-access pass for creating graphic t-shirt designs to posters to print adverting, the Marlin Network was proud to be a partner of this party for life.
The SIDS Foundation is a national nonprofit health care organization dedicated to the prevention of sudden infant death and the promotion of infant health; goals sought through a comprehensive nationwide program of research, clinical services, education, and family support. The Work: The fundraising effort for the local SIDS Institute chapter was an unusual one: The event at Price Cutter Park (home of the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks) invited local businesses to discover whether they had the muscle to “Punch It Out” of a minor league baseball field. The support materials sure did: The Marlin Network designed the event’s fun logo and t-shirt.
The local Springfield area is home to a number of great local charitable organizations that deserve our support. A short list of those we’ve focused on includes: Ozark Greenway Trails, Therapeutic Riding of the Ozarks, Ozark Food Harvest, Southwest Missouri Humane Society, The Northview Senior Center and Habitat for Humanity. The Work: Doing good is one of the things we believe in, here. That’s why the Do Goodery Program was created. A company-wide initiative throughout the Marlin Network, Do Goodery encourages and enables associate volunteerism at local charities. And with all the do-gooders we’ve got here, the hours really add up.
Why should culture be the province of big cities alone? The not-for-profit Springfield Regional Arts Council fosters, promotes and encourages our own regional cultural and educational organizations. Proof that the Arts are indeed for everyone. The Work: Our poster/post card campaign took the message of the Arts to one of its most important support constituencies: local businesses, part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness and support, most particularly among new corporate members.
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