TMCnet News
CreateAthon helps tell organizations' storiesSep 17, 2010 (The Akron Beacon Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The apple logo that has been used to promote Akron Public School schools for nearly two decades could soon be falling from the tree. A group of artists, writers, Web and graphic designers spent 24 hours beginning Thursday and ending today coming up with a new logo for the school district as well as helping 19 other agencies with other communications-related projects. WhiteSpace Creative, a 16-year-old communications firm located on North High Street in downtown Akron, held its ninth CreateAthon starting Thursday morning. The firm's 20 staff members worked around the clock designing Web sites, making brochures, videos, advertisements, logos and other tasks, said Keeven White, owner of the firm. "We use our talents to give back to the community in the best way we can," said White, 43, who splits his time between his home in Canton and Charlotte, N.C., where the firm opened a sales office this year. He estimated the value of the pro-bono work his company performed at around $75,000. The CreateAthon was started by RIGGS, a South Carolina-based agency, in 1998. WhiteSpace staff members worked this week on Web sites for Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, the Women's Endowment Fund and the Rape Crisis Center. Staffer Derek Stulpin, 30, of Cuyahoga Falls, worked on making the Rape Crisis Center Web site. Stulpin said he hoped his work would convey "a message of strength and perseverance. The goal is to give people a sense that you can look past this and there are things in the future." Goal of 60 ideas Staff member Vince Rinaldo and another worker planned to come up with as many as 60 different ideas for a new Akron school logo to possibly replace the apple. They also were assigned to come up with a new "tag line," a short punchy statement or a few words that will go with the logo. "I want something that is a classy logo to represent Akron," said Rinaldo, 27, who has worked at WhiteSpace three years. White, who planned to work through the entire 24-hour span, said he planned to "push [the staff] creatively." Leah Campanalie, a spokeswoman for the Akron school district, said they are anxious to see what the WhiteSpace artists come up with. Campanalie said any proposal will go before the school board for its review. The district isn't currently using an official tag line but in recent years has used the phrase "smart choice." Unveiling this morning Nonprofits taking part in the event were to be presented with their brochures, advertising, Web site designs and other products this morning, White said. He said he hoped the new Web sites created by the staff will be up and running by Monday. The agency received nearly 50 applications from nonprofits for the CreateAthon, White said. The goal of the 24-hour straight service project, he said, is to "help other people tell their stories." $8.4 million More than 1,008 nonprofit agencies with 2,143 projects valued at $8.4 million have benefited from the creative effort since 1998, when CreateAthon started nationwide. For information about CreateAthon and how to apply to be included next year, contact coordinator Jennifer Snider at 330-762-9320 or [email protected], or go to http://www.whitespace-creative.com or http://www.CreateAthon.com. Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or [email protected]. To see more of the Akron Beacon Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ohio.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |