adcharlotte

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rob Niccolai, Managing Director of the Charlotte office
336.575.4488 or rob@woodbine.com

Woodbine Gives Thanks By Giving Back This Holiday Season

CHARLOTTE, NC – (Nov. 21, 2007) Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the season of goodwill, and at Woodbine, a local ad agency located in Charlotte’s South End, they’re giving thanks a little differently this year. Instead of sending dozens of thank you notes to the people who’ve made Woodbine feel at home in its first year in Charlotte, agency executives will award one deserving Charlotte-focused non-profit organization with 200 pro bono marketing services hours. Woodbine calls their community outreach program, “Dating For A Cause” because not just any non-profit will do. The agency is searching for their perfect match in the Queen City to give their hearts, time and thinking to.

Woodbine launched their “Dating For A Cause” microsite on October 22nd and invited all area non-profits to complete the 10-question online Compatibility Questionnaire by November 8th. Click here to view: www.woodbine.com/datingforacause. Several local companies and clubs helped to promote the new program, including 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.

More than 50 charitable organizations registered, and based on pre-established criteria, Woodbine selected 25 finalists to move on to the next round, a speed dating cocktail that was held on November 14th at Loft 1523 in Elizabeth. Twelve Woodbine employees, including the agency’s CEO, Maureen Hall, President, Peter Mitchell and the Managing Director of the Charlotte office, Rob Niccolai, waited at their numbered “dating stations” for their chance to meet-and-greet finalists, learn more about how they serve the community and why they should be chosen to receive the pro bono marketing hours.

On Friday, November 16th, the agency’s “Dating For A Cause” selection committee met to discuss their top five picks. After hours of voting, weighing pros and cons, deliberation, as well as receiving several tasteful bribes from excited non-profits in the running, Woodbine will be ready to announce the winner next week after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Headquartered in Winston-Salem and with 22 years in business, Woodbine opened its Charlotte office in July 2006 as a means to expand its statewide 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.

Photos attached. Captions: Photo #1. Rob Niccolai and Laura Sather, Woodbine’s Charlotte employees, conduct their date with Hometown Heroes, a non-profit for children based in Monroe. Photo #2. Jessica Knight, Woodbine’s PR director, talks to the ladies from Charlotte-based, KinderMourn, that helps parents and friends through the grief process when a child dies.

Thanks,

Jessica L. Knight, APR
PR Director

Woodbine
210 South Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

2108 South Blvd., Ste. 116
Charlotte, NC 28203
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TEL 336.724.0450 x135
FAX 336.724.6725
WEB www.woodbine.com