Student Orgs Collaborate for 24-hour CreateAthon Aiding Nonprofits

Capstone Agency partnered with several student organizations for its annual 24-hour CreateAthon and served eight nonprofits.

Student chapters of the American Advertising Federation, Public Relations Council of Alabama, Public Relations Student Society of America; and Minerva, UA’s creative advertising concentration, teamed up for the cause.

“The goal of this collaboration was to not only gain more participants to be able to increase our number of participating nonprofits but also to open the opportunity for students to develop their skills while exercising their passion for connection, service and helping the community,” said Alison Reed, senior advertising major and CreateAthon public relations and marketing coordinator.

Overall, 57 students and eight faculty worked with Volunteers Enriching Weld in Greeley, Colorado; Hail Mary Rescue in Thibodaux, Louisiana; Girls Club Foundation, which serves the U.S. and Canada, and local nonprofits Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama, Blue Beacon, Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa ReStore, The Hank Poore Foundation and Schoolyard Roots.

The work created during this year’s CreateAthon is valued at $46,410.

A Nonprofit POV

The students pack a lot of collaboration and guidance for the nonprofits into the 24-hour timespan, but it is obvious to the participants how much they put into the project.

“It was clear that they thoroughly researched our organization, listened to us and our needs, and as a result, they provided us with a full marketing package that perfectly captures what we do,” said Ashley Ferry, executive director of The Hank Poore Foundation. 

“There were tears in the room from our team as well as theirs; that is because these students invested not only 24 hours but also their hearts into our project.”

Reed added that through CreateAthon students get to use their talents to do good things beyond campus.

“CreateAthon steps in by helping these nonprofits create communication deliverables that strategically enhance and amplify their missions. With a combination of students’ passion for community and our talents in communications, it is important that we create for good and help these nonprofits,” she said. “Participants leave feeling empowered by their ability to make a tangible difference, motivated by new skills and united with new students they wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at CreateAthon and Why It Matters