FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORFOLK, Va. – Members of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hampton Roads Chapter will join forces with the United Way of South Hampton Roads to bring communications skills and advice to local nonprofit organizations during the 22nd annual United Way Day of Caring on Sept. 13.
The United Way Day of Caring was established in 1991 to promote the spirit of volunteerism, increase awareness of local human service organizations and demonstrate how people working together for the common good can accomplish great things. Traditionally, United Way matches local volunteers in the South Hampton Roads community to nonprofit organizations and schools to complete tasks such as landscaping, painting, gardening and direct client support. This year, however, many nonprofit organizations expressed a need for assistance with their public relations projects.
“When the PRSA Hampton Roads Chapter approached us about donating their marketing and public relations experience to local agencies, we saw an opportunity to begin leveraging intellectual capital,” said Pam Smith-Rodden, vice president of communication and marketing for the United Way of South Hampton Roads. “For most people, volunteering for Day of Caring means painting, cleaning and landscaping. This opens a whole new level of volunteer engagement that’s incredibly valuable to our agencies. We hope this is the beginning of something wonderful.”
Sixteen nonprofit organizations from across the Hampton Roads area will receive assistance in a variety of public relations tasks ranging from website design and social media plans to fundraising campaigns and development of marketing materials.
“We are excited about providing our skills and experience to nonprofit agencies that can use them,” said Mary Prier, the PRSA Hampton Roads Chapter president. “It provides us with a meaningful way to truly make a difference in the nonprofit community.”
This event is also part of national PRSA’s PR Serving America Initiative, which invites local chapters to use their public relations skills for community service.
The PRSA Hampton Roads Chapter serves public relations professionals in the greater Hampton Roads region with professional development programs, resources and services. For more information, visit: http://prsahr.org/
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