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CHARLOTTE, NC – People say that love is free, but award-winning marketing creative sure isn’t. But what if for once it was? That’s what Woodbine, a strategic branding and creative shop located in Charlotte’s South End, is proposing with its first ‘Dating For A Cause’ pro bono contest for 25 non-profit organizations that serve the Charlotte area.

Fed up with the traditional Request For Proposal (RFP) process, likening it to a really bad date, Woodbine decided to network and meet Queen City community members differently than their agency counterparts. Instead of dumping money into a billboard teaser campaign or designing new brochures, Woodbine put 200 hours of advertising and branding services (valued around $25,000) on the table for a deserving charitable organization. Because Woodbine is searching for the perfect match for its company’s values and vision, not just any non-profit will do, hence the quirky e-Harmony-like online dating theme.

Launched October 22nd and promoted with the help of the United Way of Central Carolinas, The Charlotte City Club, Leadership Charlotte, the Center City Chapter of the Charlotte Rotary Club and the Charlotte Business Journal, Woodbine’s online compatibility questionnaire asked interested non-profit executives 10 questions about their organization’s mission and wildest marketing dreams. By the November 8th submission deadline, more than 50 organizations had registered on the agency’s Cupid-inspired microsite at www.woodbine.com/datingforacause. Based on pre-established criteria including organization/agency values-alignment, the possibility for creativity opportunity and a grassroots dedication to the Charlotte area, Woodbine selected 25 finalists to move on to the next communication level.

Finalists must attend Woodbine’s Speed Dating event on Nov. 14th from 3 – 5:30 p.m. at Loft 1523 on 1523 Elizabeth Ave. in Charlotte. Ten Woodbine executives, including the agency’s CEO, Maureen Hall, President, Peter Mitchell, Creative Director, Jimmy Ashworth, and the Managing Director of the Charlotte office, Rob Niccolai, will take their seats at scattered dating stations and wait their turn to chat with excited finalists. After each has the chance to make a good impression, agency leaders will then vote on one winning organization and present them with the grand prize by Monday, November 19.

Headquartered in Winston-Salem and with 22 years in business, Woodbine opened its Charlotte office in July 2006 as a means to expand its footprint, as well as service their longtime client, Lowe’s Home Improvement. Woodbine clients include Hanesbrands Inc., Levolor Window Fashions, Ekornes—The maker of Stressless furniture, Center for Creative Leadership, Piedmont Federal bank, Peds socks and Bonzini USA. Visit woodbine.com for more info.