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Wray Ward Wins ‘Outstanding Philanthropic’ Award

Wray Ward, one of the Southeast’s largest independently-owned marketing communications agencies, was named Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business by the Charlotte Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Wray Ward was recognized for donating more than 1,100 hours in pro-bono services to non-profit organizations during the past year.

“We are extremely proud of the awards we win for our creative work, but the award from the AFP is especially meaningful to us,” said Jennifer Appleby, president and chief creative officer of Wray Ward, a 30 year-old marketing communications firm employing 70 people in Charlotte, N.C. “This award is a testament to the people at Wray Ward who offer seemingly limitless creativity and generosity to organizations in need in our community.

“We donate our time and creative resources to non profit groups in our city because we are passionate and compassionate about the causes they represent, and we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to do what we love for a good reason,” Appleby said.

The award, presented to a small business (less than 250 employees) whose gifts or charitable activities enrich a community within the Charlotte (N.C.)/Metrolina region, recognized Wray Ward as a role model of philanthropic activity serving many segments of the community.

In the past year, Wray Ward’s pro-bono activities included work for the Arts & Science Council (ASC) of Charlotte Mecklenburg to refresh the ASC brand identity to capture the energy, creativity and diversity of the organization’s cultural mission and programs. The effort included designing a new logo, stationery package, collateral pieces, Web site, door hangers, posters, print ads, outdoor boards and other communications materials and designing a brochure for the Campaign for Cultural Facilities. Wray Ward also financially supported the ASC Employee Fund Drive, receiving the ASC’s Ovation Award for the company with the largest percentage dollar gain in their ASC Fund Drive efforts over the past year.

Wray Ward also donated time or financially supported organizations including Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Charlotte Center City Partners, United Way, POST (Partners in Out of School Time), the Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust, Communities in Schools, and Discovery Place.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Wray Ward is one of the southeast region’s largest, independently-owned creative marketing communications agencies, providing clients with programs that include advertising, media planning/buying, public relations, interactive and direct marketing. Founded in 1977, the agency’s clients include Crescent Resources, Huber Engineered Woods, North Carolina Education Lottery, Springmaid and Wamsutta home fashions, Sunbrella performance fabrics, VELUX skylights and WIX Filters.