ffriends in service helping

ishPublic Relations Proposal for

Presented by:

December 6, 2010

Conor Harrington, Jenna Jablonski, Travis Johnson, Lethia McFarland, Zoee Silber, Colleen Wormsley

1

Table of contents

fish

Honeycomb PR Introduction 2Executive Summary 3Theme 3Situation Analysis 4-6SWOT Analysis 7Objectives 8Strategies 9-10Target Audiences 11-12Tactics 13-18Measurement and Evaluation 19Budget 20Timetable 21Media Outlets 22Press Release 23-24Public Service Announcement 25Advertisements 26-27Facebook Page 28Web Site 29Brochure 30Flyer 31Volunteer Appreciation Materials 32Staff Biographies 33-38

1 2

honeycomb PR

Honeycomb PR is a full-service public relations firm located in Ithaca, NY. Started in 2010, Honeycomb PR is dedicated to enhancing their clients’ image and continually generating “buzz” for their clients’ business or organization.

Honeycomb PR has proven to be a leader in the field of non-profit public relations. Our first client, Friends in Service Helping, gave Honeycomb the chance to develop a campaign that is simple, yet effective.

Honeycomb PR is staffed by 6 passionate public relations professionals. The team is proficient in writing, social media, graphic design, and, most of all, creating buzz for your business!

fish

executive summary

3

themeNavigating new possibilities

Through this plan and the “navigating new possibilities” theme, Honeycomb PR introduces a fresh, bold look for FISH. With a redesigned logo and unified brand image, FISH can distance itself from its historically religious affiliation and remarket itself with an emphasis on simplistic, personalized service. As we have created, infusing more of FISH’s personality into their brand image will engage the community, and will propel the organization forward “on the road to success.”

Friends in Service Helping is a non-profit organization that has been giving Tompkins County residents a “lift” for over fifty years. Now, it’s time for Honeycomb PR to give FISH a “lift.” FISH has many opportunities to capitalize on and Honeycomb PR can aid FISH to make these opportunities realities. Honeycomb PR has prepared a comprehensive public relations campaign with dynamic ideas, visually appealing graphics, and effective writing. With the ideas contained in this proposal, we strongly believe that FISH can enhance their image and prolong their future as a non-profit in Tompkins County, New York.

fish

3

situation analysis

4

Organization History

Friends in Service Helping, also known as FISH, is a volunteer, non-profit organization that provides a complimentary transportation service for Tompkins County residents to and from medical appointments. FISH primarily assists elderly, ill, and low-income individuals who lack the ability and resources to transport themselves to medical facilities. Friends in Service Helping was founded in England as a social movement, but in 1966, FISH was brought to Tompkins County to help and assist local residents. Originally, FISH was affiliated with St. John’s Episcopal Church, however, the organization is now non-sectarian and is governed by a six member Board of Directors. The organization is currently funded by and is an affiliate member of United Way of Tompkins County, a volunteer-led, non-profit organization. FISH is currently one of only six service agencies in Tompkins Country ranked as a “high impact” organization. In 2006, Friends in Service Helping became a grant recipient of the Federal Transit Administration Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant aiding the organization in expanding the volunteer driver program. Friends in Service Helping recently received the Award for Excellence by the Tompkins Trust Company. FISH was recognized by the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County for the commitment and positive impact made by all of their volunteers.

fish

situation analysis

Competition

The service that Friends in Service Helping provides is unique and valuable, even as it competes with the local transportation service, Gadabout. The demand for both FISH and Gadabout speak to the necessity of the role of supplemental transportation in Tompkins County, validating our efforts to strengthen FISH. Gadabout has a similar purpose to that of FISH, but utilizes a slightly different approach. After analysis, we have concluded that one of Gadabout’s strengths is branding. Its easily recognizable vehicles and news coverage put it in the public spotlight. In our proposal, we have used the strategies of Gadabout as ideas to make FISH more visible in the community. FISH, however, stands out against its competition in the areas of personable service, individual attention, free cost, and specialization in medical transportation. These are the areas that we will highlight throughout our promotional efforts for FISH.

Media History for FISH

The Ithaca, NY branch of Friends in Service Helping, or FISH, hasn’t demonstrated a strong media presence in the past. FISH recently created a web site and relies on telephone communication and postal mailings to communicate with their volunteers. The FISH web site is limited and does little to entice the audience. FISH has been featured in local media outlets such as The Ithaca Journal and Positive News. The latter was an article detailing an award they won from the Tompkins Trust Company. FISH has had no exposure to radio, television, magazines, or social media. In order to effectively obtain volunteers and execute the mission of the organization, FISH needs a stronger media presence that will appeal to their target demographic.

5fish

5

situation analysis

Gadabout Volunteer Basis

Volunteer drivers typically serve a half-day shift each week. Gadabout primarily seeks volunteers with a Commercial Driver’s License and trains and tests its volunteers. At this time, the volunteer basis mainly consists of retired Cornell professors. Gadabout is currently striving to recruit volunteers to accommodate the growing demand for its services.

Gadabout Public Relations

Gadabout has been featured in local publications such as the Cornell Chronicle and the Lansing Star. It has received media coverage for its annual “Volunteer Driver of the Year” award.

Gadabout Services

Gadabout is a supplemental transportation service specifically operating in Ithaca, New York. It provides rides to disabled residents and residents over the age of 60 who live more than a quarter-mile away from a public transportation route under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each van is wheelchair-accessible and easily recognizable by its bright yellow color and butterfly emblem. Gadabout is affiliated with the United Way and has been growing since it was founded in 1976. The largest part of its annual $1 million budget comes from rider fares. Gadabout charges $1.50 for each one-way trip and $2.00 for one-way outside of city limits, a rate comparable to that of the local public transportation system, the TCAT. Gadabout provided 64,000 rides in 2009 and expects this number to increase in 2010.

6fish

swot analysis of fish

7

Strengths: • Provides a free and convenient service to

people who need rides to medical ap-pointments

• More personalized than Gadabout• People who use FISH form a relationship

with the driver• Specialization in medical transportation

Threats:• Gadabout has more funding and more

awareness• Lack of a constant flow of money• Volunteer availability• Tompkins County non-profit competition

for volunteers

Opportunities:• Since FISH is no longer associated with

the Retired Senior and Volunteer Pro-gram (RSVP) in Tompkins County, they no longer have to limit their volunteers to senior citizens

• They can take advantage of the thou-sands of college students in the Ithaca area

• FISH was awarded $1,200 from the Award for Excellence given by the Tomp-kin’s Trust Company

Weaknesses:• Lack of volunteers• Volunteer availability• Volunteer age• Overlapping of patient schedules/lack of

multiple volunteers• Limited awareness of organization• “Regular transportation” - just cars

fish

Objectives1. Attract more volunteers

It is essential that FISH attracts more volunteers in order to facilitate the demand for rides that the organization receives. Although FISH currently has a moderate number of volunteers, it would be greatly beneficial to increase drivers by 5 or 6 and phoners by 3 or 4. In addition, FISH would benefit from a 10% increase in clients. This can be easily achieved, especially if FISH markets to both the senior citizen and college students audiences. We have developed strategies and tactics that will fulfill this objective.

2. Increase Awareness

Unfortunately, FISH is not a recognizable non-profit in Tompkins County, despite its valuable mission. We believe an increase in public awareness will greatly help accomplish every goal FISH sets. We have developed strategies and tactics that will fulfill this objective.

8fish

strategies

9

• Create a sense of volunteer appreciation

By creating a sense of volunteer appreciation, we will define and honor the role of the drivers and phoners serving others through Friends in Service Helping. By defining their role, we first distinguish their work in the community, which will attract potential volunteers. Likewise, defining their role will clarify expectations of volunteers so potential volunteers will be aware of their tasks and their impact on the community. This initial step will facilitate the counterpart of our first strategy: honoring the work of the volunteers. Prospective volunteers will know that we reward participation; volunteering for FISH is not a “thankless” task. Their efforts will be recognized by the organization as well as by the community.

• Diversify volunteer basis By increasing diversity among FISH volunteers, we will address their needs for both younger volunteers as phoners and volunteers from more locations in Tompkins County as drivers. These two services are critical to the function of FISH and the future of the services it provides. This strategy will work hand-in-hand with media coverage, spreading information about FISH to sub-communities that have not been previously exposed to its volunteer opportunities, increasing the scope of prospective volunteers.

fish

Strategies• Generating more media coverage

By generating more media coverage, we strive to increase community awareness of FISH. Through various media installations, we hope to communicate to the public the multiple volunteer opportunities available through this organization. Specifically, we will convey the necessity of the services that FISH provides to the community followed by a call to action motivating prospective volunteers to choose FISH as their service outlet. Improving the media presence of FISH will allow the organization to become a recognizable service and volunteer opportunity in the community.

• Strengthen branding of FISH to more effectively convey organizational goals

One of our fundamental strategies of promoting FISH is improving the organization’s branding. Similar to the strategy of increasing media coverage, branding will clarify the organization’s purpose and needs to the community, thereby making it locally recognizable. Specifically, branding goes beyond simple media coverage by providing the continuity between all FISH materials necessary to build a strong brand image across all the mediums that they employ. With continuity and unity among all FISH brochures, posters, and volunteer materials, for example, the public will be able to recognize FISH more readily. This strategy will help communicate with the volunteers and users of FISH, thereby increasing public awareness.

Honeycomb PR has also designed a new logo for FISH that exudes sophistication, boldness, and speaks to the mission of the organization. This new logo can be a part of FISH’s new identity and be a recognizable symbol for the organization.

fish 10

target audiencesSenior Citizens - as volunteers

One of the primary target audiences chosen for this campaign was retired men and women between the ages of 55 and 70. The decision to target this particular audience was based off of the need for both driver volunteers and phone service volunteers. This specific demographic will be targeted due to the increased spare time individuals have after retiring from a career. Any volunteers from this demographic would provide stability and consistency to the volunteer schedule. Those in possession of a motor vehicle and valid driver’s license can volunteer to transport clients to and from medical appointments. Those with limited access to vehicles, or who would rather abstain from driving, could aide with the phone service and assist in driver-client transportation coordination. An important factor when recruiting and selecting drivers is the potential relationship between the volunteer and the client. A positive rapport will result in a high client retention rate, and provide a concrete reputation for Friends in Service Helping. The ability to develop a reliable and trusting relationship with the client depends on volunteer consistency. This target audience has the greatest amount of time to dedicate, therefore resulting in a more dependable volunteer schedule.

Senior Citizens - as clients

One of the target audiences chosen for this campaign are senior citizen clients. They are men and women over the age of 55 who require FISH’s driving services. They are in need of rides to doctor’s offices, medical appointments, or pharmacies to pick up prescriptions. FISH’s clients may not be able to drive themselves for several reasons. They are unable to drive because they may be frail or they no longer have their license. They might also not have access to a car because of insufficient income. Since FISH’s services are free, there are no limitations to the income of the clients. Senior clients are being targeted in order to increase awareness of FISH’s services and increase the number of clients that FISH has.

fish 11

target audiences

fish 12

College Students

College students will make up the other half of the primary target audience for volunteers. These young people have a large presence in Ithaca and the surrounding area, given that Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins County Community College are all nearby, so they are a significant, untapped resource. This target audience is between the ages of 18 and 23, and have cars. Specifically, we will target students studying in the Gerontology Department at Ithaca College, who already have in interest in suiting the needs of aging and ailing people. Participating in FISH would align with this interest that they already have, making them the more inclined to help. At Cornell University and Tompkins County Community College, neither of which have Gerontology departments, we will specifically target students in the Health Sciences department.

tacticsReaching the Community: Generating Media Coverage

• Press Release and PSA

To communicate the mission of FISH to the public, the organization should contact local media outlets to convey their message. FISH should distribute a press release signifying the organizational goals and accolades of the organization to the Ithaca Journal, the Ithaca Times, The Ithacan, and the Cornell Daily Sun, all of which are among the most widely read publications in the community. To target radio listeners, FISH should disseminate a public service announcement relaying the organization’s purpose and initiatives. Doing so would reach those traveling in their cars, or at their office, who do not have as much time to read through the newspaper. Reaching out to the public through both of these media channels will ensure that the local community becomes aware and therefore more interested in FISH.

• Poster Ad campaigns

To raise awareness of the organization, FISH should focus their efforts on generating more local media coverage. FISH should implement a poster advertisement campaign around the three neighboring college campuses—Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College to motivate young people to get involved in the organization. This series of print ads will publicize FISH, its mission, and its accomplishments, to entice student involvement, with emphasis on the need for volunteer callers.

fish 13

tacticsUtilizing Online Media

• Facebook for FISH

With the popularity of social media constantly on the rise, it is crucial that FISH communicates to the public on the same platform. While some of FISH’s clients may not have access to a computer or Internet, this free resource will mostly serve as a hub for information and happenings in the organization, to facilitate a constant flow of communication between the organization and its people. Facebook will allow for FISH not only to give details and information about the organization, but also to feature current and upcoming events. Taking advantage of this free and expansive media vehicle would allow for FISH to increase their media share.

• Community Service Databases

Given that Ithaca is a community with a large non-profit organization base, with many students and adults alike looking for service opportunities, there are a number of databases featuring community service opportunities. FISH should post volunteer information on these websites in order to market themselves as a worthwhile volunteer opportunity to those looking for an organization to devote their time. Placing volunteer opportunities on community service websites (i.e. Volunteer Tompkins, Cornell Public Service Center, and Ithaca College Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs General Service Opportunities) will allow for willing volunteers to come to FISH.

fish 14

tacticsSolidifying the FISH Brand Image

• Monthly Newsletter

To maintain a smooth flow of communication, FISH should produce a monthly newsletter for volunteers and clients. This newsletter will include the volunteer schedule, volunteer of the month, and organizational happenings. In a step toward convenience and sustainability, the newsletter will also take the form of an e-newsletter for those wishing to receive it in this manner.

• Buying a domain name for the FISH website

FISH should invest in a domain name such as ithacafish.org, so they may continue to reinforce the strength of their brand. The organization can buy its own domain name from a website such as godaddy.com for an inexpensive monthly fee. Doing so would provide FISH a clear, memorable website name, where volunteers and clients can visit and easily find what they’re looking for.

• FISH Informational Brochure

Because FISH is a lesser-known organization in the community, it is essential that the organization find a simple, easily accessible way of communicating its mission and work to the public. The best way of fulfilling this need would be assembling an informational brochure to distribute at doctor’s offices, at events, and around the community where anyone can pick up one and quickly find out about the organization, with hopes of inspiring involvement.

fish 15

tacticsGive Volunteers “a Lift”

• Volunteer Appreciation Package

To foster volunteer appreciation, FISH should assemble a “FISH Volunteer Appreciation Package” to welcome new volunteers and to thank current volunteers. The purpose of this package is two-fold—to entice volunteers by providing them with this package as soon as they decide to devote their time to the organization; and to sustain volunteers by nurturing a sense of pride in their work with FISH. Each package will contain an informational brochure, a personalized nametag, a car magnet with the FISH logo on it, and a keychain. These branded tokens of appreciation will simultaneously thank the volunteers for their service and cultivate a sense of volunteer pride in their work and in the organization.

• Volunteer of the Month

To encourage volunteers, FISH should promote a volunteer of the month. The highlighted volunteer will be featured at the organization, in the FISH newsletter, and even in the local newspapers, detailing their outstanding contributions to FISH. Spotlighting volunteers’ service in this way will give them an incentive to participate and shine in the volunteer program because volunteers will see their work is appreciated and rewarded. • Involving Student Organizations

To increase volunteer diversity in the organization, FISH should partner with student organizations on the three local college campuses. Doing so would allow FISH to work closely with other student organizations dedicated to the same interests in healthcare and aging studies, such as the Aging and Gerontological Education Society (AGES) at Ithaca College and the HealthNutS club at Cornell University, so that they may further disseminate FISH’s message. In addition to involving these student organizations in their mission, FISH would also be able to use this as a way to recruit student volunteers as phoners and drivers.

fish 16

tacticsInvolving the Public: Community Events

• Silent Auction at Apple Fest

Apple Fest is one of the Ithaca community’s most celebrated events, which brings out a high volume of community members. FISH should rent a table space in the Commons throughout the festival and host a silent auction, as a fundraiser for the organization. This would be a great opportunity for FISH to seek the sponsorship of local businesses, through a donation of items for the silent auction. Possibilities include gift certificates from gas stations, Kinney Drugs, La Tourelle Resort & Spa, and Moosewood Restaurant, among many others.At the event, people may bid on the donated items, indicating the desired price, increasing as more people bid. The silent auction could continue after the initial event on FISH’s website for the following week, which would encourage people to keep bidding online, increasing their website traffic and views. Additionally, the stand at AppleFest will feature FISH’s informational brochures, organization posters, and current volunteers to provide answers to questions that community members and potential volunteers may have.

• College Poster and Slogan Contest

In an effort to engage a younger community, FISH should sponsor a creative poster and slogan contest on the campuses of Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College, where students can create an original poster featuring a slogan that speaks to the organization. With a prize of $50, this promotional event would capture the attention and creative ingenuity of college students, stimulating their interest in FISH so that they may choose to later volunteer their time in the organization.

fish 17

tactics• “FISH Night”-Appreciation Dinner at Maxie’s Supper Club To play on the “FISH” acronym, FISH will host a special volunteer and community dinner at Maxie’s Supper Club, a local restaurant specializing in seafood and Southern Comfort cuisine. At the dinner, FISH volunteers and board members will be joined by journalists and potential sponsors, celebrating the work of FISH and its committed volunteers with a sit down meal in a social, lively atmosphere. Through this occasion, FISH and community members can interact on the commonality they all have—a sincere interest in the successful mission and work of FISH. “FISH Night” allows FISH to seek the sponsorship of Maxie’s Supper Club, where the restaurant would incur most of the costs of the dinner, in exchange for publicity of the restaurant. This engaging event will also spawn positive media coverage by the invited journalists and the interest of future sponsorship by the invited local businesses. Community members who don’t volunteer with FISH could also attend, but would need to pay the full, tax-deductible cost for dinner.

fish 18

measurement & EValuationIn order to track the success of the public relations campaign, Honeycomb PR will be monitoring the results of the desired objectives and implemented tactics over the course of the year. We will continue to chart the accomplishments following the conclusion of the campaign.

Media CoverageHoneycomb PR will collect and keep press clippings from any newspapers or magazines in which Friends in Service Helping was mentioned. We will observe the amount of media coverage ranging from the beginning of the campaign through the end of the campaign as well as the time following the conclusion of the campaign. Honeycomb PR will also keep record of any mention of FISH on local radio stations and television programming.

WebsiteWe will be monitoring the amount of website traffic after introducing and releasing the latest version of the FISH website. We are hoping to increase website traffic by about 10%.

VolunteersHoneycomb PR will track the amount of first-time volunteers willing to assist FISH. Over the course of six months, we are hoping to obtain five to six new driver volunteers and three to four new phone volunteers

ClientsIn addition to evaluating the success of the campaign by tracking volunteers, we will also be watching for an increase in client activity. Client activity will be measured through an increase in phone calls and an increase in actual clients. We are hoping to improve client activity by 10%.

fish 19

21%  

9%  

5%  

5%  

4%  4%  

38%  

14%  

Print  Ads   Domain  name   Keychains  

Nametag   Magnet   Prize  Money  

Surplus   Dinner  

budgetSince Friends in Service Helping is a non-profit organization, they lack extensive funds to implement a large public relations campaign. However, Honeycomb PR has devised a plan that will be both cost effective and successful. Also, Honeycomb PR suggests using the grant money FISH received from the Tompkins Trust Company. PressPress releases in local and college newspapers:The Ithaca Journal $0.00The Ithacan $0.00The Cornell Daily Sun $0.00

Print Advertisements, Monthly Newsletter, Brochures:Estimated printing costs $300.00

Radio Public Service Announcements on Local and College Radio:Estimated PSA cost $0.00

Internet Promotion:Social media and local web site promotion $0.00Purchase of domain name $120.00 ($10.00/month)

Public Promotions:Apple Fest Booth $0.00

Volunteer AppreciationAppreciation Packages for Existing VolunteersKeychain 30 @ $2.50 each $75.00Name tag 30 @ $2.50 each $75.00Magnet 30 @ $1.60 each $48.00 *can order more as volunteer base increasesMaxie’s Dinner 40 @ $5.00/head $200.00 *costs can be defrayed via Maxie’s and sponsors’ donations

FISH Slogan Contest/Promotion:Prize money $50.00

Budget: $1,200.00Total Plan Costs: $868.00Surplus for FISH: $332.00

fish 20

timetable

fish 21

media outlets Newspapers:Ithaca Journal(607) 272-2321Contact: David Hilldwhill@ithacajournal.com

Ithaca Times(607) 277-7000Contact: Rob Montanaeditor@ithacatimes.com

Tompkins Weekly(607) 327-1226Contact: Jim Graneyjgraney@twcny.rr.com

Ithaca Advantage(607) 273-1611Contact: David Barryads@ithacaadvantage.com

Cornell Daily Sun(607) 273-3606Contact: news@cornelldailysun.com

Cornell Chronicle(607) 255-4206cunews@cornell.edu

The Ithacan(607) 274-3207Ithacan@ithaca.edu

Radio:WIII 100.3 Oldies (607) 257-6400Contact: Josh Martinnews@cyradiogroup.com

WBVR 93.5 FM(607) 273-4069Contact: Kara Capellinews@wbvr.com

WEOS 90.3315-781-3811Contact: Aaron ReadRead@hws.edu

WICB 91.7 FM(607) 274-3142Contact: Cory Healywicbpsa@gmail.com

Online:Lansing Star(607) 533-4567Contact: Dan Veanerdan@lansingstar.com

fish 22

press release

fish 23

Friends  in  Service  Helping  150  Pearsall  Place    Ithaca,  NY  14850                     Lethia  McFarland               Public  Relations  Specialist               Cell  Phone  (717)  715-­‐2274               Lmcfarl1@ithaca.edu  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE    

FISH  TO  CELEBRATE  A  YEAR’S  WORTH  OF  WORK  AT  MAXIE’S  SUPPER  CLUB    ITHACA,  NY-­‐  November  1st,  2011—  Ithaca’s  Friends  in  Service  Helping  (FISH)  will  host  its  1st  annual  “FISH  Night”  community  dinner  at  Maxie’s  Supper  Club  on  Friday,  December  2nd,  from  7:00-­‐10:00  PM  to  commemorate  the  organization’s  work.    The  dinner,  sponsored  by  Maxie’s  Supper  Club,  will  celebrate  a  year’s  worth  of  volunteer  service  and  dedication  to  the  community,  with  a  seafood  dinner,  a  play  on  the  “FISH”  pun.      Maxie’s  will  host  FISH  volunteers  and  board  members,  in  addition  to  invited  journalists  and  potential  sponsors.  This  social  event  will  feature  wines  from  Americana  Vineyards,  and  a  lively  atmosphere  in  which  to  interact,  where  FISH  members  will  mingle  with  guests,  facilitating  questions,  concerns,  comments,  interests  in  FISH.      Eleanor  Carey,  an  executive  board  member  of  FISH,  says,  “We  are  very  exciting  to  be  celebrating  the  work  of  our  volunteers  in  the  community  through  this  dinner.  We’d  like  to  thank  Americana  Vineyards  and  Maxie’s  Supper  Club  for  graciously  sponsoring  our  event.”    FISH  is  also  encouraging  the  outside  public  to  join  in  celebrating  the  work  of  their  fellow  community  members  by  purchasing  a  tax-­‐deductable  ticket  to  the  dinner  for  $20  per  person.  Community  members  in  attendance  may  also  use  this  event  as  an  opportunity  to  learn  more  about  giving  back  to  their  community  through  involvement  in  FISH.      Those  who  wish  to  purchase  tickets  to  the  dinner  should  contact  Eleanor  Carey  at  1-­‐866-­‐255-­‐6545    to  RSVP.  For  additional  information,  visit  ithacafish.org.    About  FISH  Friends  in  Service  Helping  (FISH)  is  a  non-­‐profit  organization  whose  mission  is  to  provide  free  transportation  to  Tompkins  County  residents  to  and  from  medical  appointments.  FISH  primarily  assists  elderly,  ill,  and  low-­‐income  individuals  who  lack  the  ability  and  resources  to  accommodate  their  own  transportation  for  medical  needs.  The  ongoing  work  of  FISH  is      

-­‐more-­‐      

fish 24

Friends  in  Service  Helping  150  Pearsall  Place    Ithaca,  NY  14850                     Lethia  McFarland               Public  Relations  Specialist               Cell  Phone  (717)  715-­‐2274               Lmcfarl1@ithaca.edu  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE    

FISH  TO  CELEBRATE  A  YEAR’S  WORTH  OF  WORK  AT  MAXIE’S  SUPPER  CLUB    ITHACA,  NY-­‐  November  1st,  2011—  Ithaca’s  Friends  in  Service  Helping  (FISH)  will  host  its  1st  annual  “FISH  Night”  community  dinner  at  Maxie’s  Supper  Club  on  Friday,  December  2nd,  from  7:00-­‐10:00  PM  to  commemorate  the  organization’s  work.    The  dinner,  sponsored  by  Maxie’s  Supper  Club,  will  celebrate  a  year’s  worth  of  volunteer  service  and  dedication  to  the  community,  with  a  seafood  dinner,  a  play  on  the  “FISH”  pun.      Maxie’s  will  host  FISH  volunteers  and  board  members,  in  addition  to  invited  journalists  and  potential  sponsors.  This  social  event  will  feature  wines  from  Americana  Vineyards,  and  a  lively  atmosphere  in  which  to  interact,  where  FISH  members  will  mingle  with  guests,  facilitating  questions,  concerns,  comments,  interests  in  FISH.      Eleanor  Carey,  an  executive  board  member  of  FISH,  says,  “We  are  very  exciting  to  be  celebrating  the  work  of  our  volunteers  in  the  community  through  this  dinner.  We’d  like  to  thank  Americana  Vineyards  and  Maxie’s  Supper  Club  for  graciously  sponsoring  our  event.”    FISH  is  also  encouraging  the  outside  public  to  join  in  celebrating  the  work  of  their  fellow  community  members  by  purchasing  a  tax-­‐deductable  ticket  to  the  dinner  for  $20  per  person.  Community  members  in  attendance  may  also  use  this  event  as  an  opportunity  to  learn  more  about  giving  back  to  their  community  through  involvement  in  FISH.      Those  who  wish  to  purchase  tickets  to  the  dinner  should  contact  Eleanor  Carey  at  1-­‐866-­‐255-­‐6545    to  RSVP.  For  additional  information,  visit  ithacafish.org.    About  FISH  Friends  in  Service  Helping  (FISH)  is  a  non-­‐profit  organization  whose  mission  is  to  provide  free  transportation  to  Tompkins  County  residents  to  and  from  medical  appointments.  FISH  primarily  assists  elderly,  ill,  and  low-­‐income  individuals  who  lack  the  ability  and  resources  to  accommodate  their  own  transportation  for  medical  needs.  The  ongoing  work  of  FISH  is      

-­‐more-­‐      

fish 25

public service announcement

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTLENGTH: 0:30SUBJECT: FRIENDS IN SERVICE HELPING

VOICE: MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TOMPKINS COUNTY, VOLUNTEER WITH FISH, FRIENDS IN SERVICE HELPING. FISH IS A FREE SERVICE THAT HELPS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO MEMBERS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY WHO NEED RIDES TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, BUT DO NOT HAVE A CAR. FISH IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN CAR AND A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING? FISH IS ALSO LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE PHONE CALLS AND ARRANGE RIDES. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-866-255-6545. THE NUMBER AGAIN IS 1-866-255-6545. HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST!

Advertisement

fish 26

Advertisement

fish 27

FISH is looking for volunteers to answer

phones and help arrange rides. Make an impact in

your community by being a volunteer phoner!

Friends in Service Helping (FISH) provides free transportation to medical appointments for

residents in Tompkins County.

For More Info:

Call 1-866-255-6545

or visitithacafish.org

We know you know how to use a phone.

27

facebook page

fish

Friends in Service Helping (FISH) is a non-profit organization in Tompkins County, New York that provides free transportation to medical appointments and health related services.

Friends in Service Helping

28

website

fish 29

brochure

fish 30

flyer

fish 31

volunteer appreciation materials

Keychain Nametag Car Magnet

fish 32

STAFF BIOGRAPHIESConor Harrington is a sophomore Integrated Marketing Communications major in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. He will also pursue a minor in Legal Studies.

Conor is a staff writer for Ithaca College’s admissions magazine, Fuse. He also works as a graphic designer for Park Design House. When not writing or designing, Conor is a resident assistant on campus and enjoys this position very much.

Conor is also very involved in the campus group IC Food for Thought. This is the first campus chapter of a non-profit started by Conor’s friend. He is the Vice-President and values this experience to help children in third world countries and have fun at the same time.

This past summer, Conor was an editorial intern at The Times Leader newspaper where he wrote both news and features stories. On the two days he wasn’t at the newspaper, he was an intern at the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office.

He hopes to someday work in the communications industry in a major city. He is interested in the fields of advertising, public relations, graphic design and journalism.

Conor hails from Dallas, Pennsylvania and enjoys traveling, skiing and playing tennis. He plans to study abroad in London, UK during the spring semester of his junior year.

Contact Conor at charrin1@ithaca.edu

fish 33

Jenna Jablonski is a sophomore Integrated Marketing Communications major in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, NY. Jenna’s minor area of studies is health. She has received the Park Scholar award for academic excellence, passion for media, and dedication to community service.

Jenna enjoys contributing to a breadth of student organizations and community events. On campus, she co-directs this year’s annual Ithaca College Christians on the Road to Emmaus student retreat and is actively involved in other Protestant Community events. Because of her love of Spanish and Latin American culture, she also serves on the executive board of the student organization, Ithaca College Intercambios. As the contact manager, Jenna coordinates and maintains the pairing of Ithaca college students and native Spanish-speakers from the community for weekly language

exchanges. She also volunteers for Megaphone Media productions, developing public relations campaigns for local organizations in Ithaca.

Jenna pursued her passion for the wildlife conservation in her hometown of Jamestown, NY by interning at a local nonprofit organization, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. For the summer of 2010, she produced weekly ads for local newspapers and designed materials for the organization’s 20th anniversary celebration as well as other fundraising events.

Jenna has also enjoyed working at her local Wegmans for the past three years and currently serves in the customer service department of the bakery.

Jenna will spend the upcoming spring semester in Cochabamba, Bolivia, studying globalization, multiculturalism, and social change. She hopes to complete the Ithaca College Washington, D.C. program the following spring and pursue a position in a public relations agency after graduation.

Contact Jenna at jjablon1@ithaca.edu

fish 34

Travis Johnson is a junior Integrated Marketing Communications major in the Roy H. Park School of Communication at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. He plans on graduating in the spring of 2012.

Travis has been a member of the track and field team for the past 3 years, where he competes in the long and triple jump. He qualified for the ECAC championships his freshman year.

Last summer, Travis worked at a local golf course where he was in charge of landscaping projects around the course. Travis also worked for Belltower Books where he was in charge of buying used books from students and marketing himself as a salesperson.

In Travis’ free time, he enjoys playing soccer or going skiing. He likes to be outdoors and enjoys running. He likes to play the guitar and listen to music. He also enjoys hanging out at his house with his roommates and simply relaxing.

Contact Travis at tjohnso2@ithaca.edu

fish 35

fish

Lethia McFarland is a sophomore Integrated Marketing Communications major in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. There, she has been a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Program, a scholarship program awarding academic excellence, commitment to social justice, and community service dedication since the fall of 2009.

At Ithaca College, Lethia has taken advantage of the opportunity to get involved in student organizations. She is currently the Events Co-chair for the Ithaca College chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, where she is responsible for planning the logistics of club sponsored events, securing event venues, and facilitating ongoing communication between speakers and involved participants. On campus, she is also involved in Food for Thought, Colleges Against Cancer, and LEAD in Education.

Lethia has supplemented her classroom studies with internship experiences. This semester, she is pursuing her interest in non-profit organizations through her internship at the Tompkins County American Red Cross. There she has developed a multiple county media list, written press releases, and compiled press kits. Over the summer, she volunteered her time for a local mechanic business designing advertisements and accompanying promotions for the organization.

At home, she has enjoyed interacting with international guests as a server at Plain and Fancy Farm Restaurant.

This spring, Lethia will spend the semester in Alicante, Spain where she will gain international experience and language expertise, where she hopes to return to the United States fluent in Spanish. For the following spring semester, she has plans to participate in the Ithaca College Washington D.C. Program for additional intership experience. It is her ultimate aspiration to work in a public relations agency upon graduation.

Contact Lethia at lmcfarl1@ithaca.edu

36

Zoee Silber is a sophomore Integrated Marketing Communications major at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY.

With her love and interest for the ever-expanding Public Relations industry, Zoee became a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America in the fall of 2009. After joining her freshman year at Ithaca College, Zoee aided in organizing the annual “Make a Swish for Make a Wish” event in May of 2010.

Last summer, Zoee interned at Metro Marketing Group, a product development firm in Clifton, New Jersey. While interning at Metro Marketing Group, Zoee aided in developing and designing new products to be sold at stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls.

Zoee is from Tenafly, NJ located about 10 minutes outside of New York City. She enjoys spending days in New York City, shopping, singing, and discovering great restaurants. Zoee plans to study abroad at the Ithaca College London Center in the fall of 2011 and in Los Angeles in the spring of 2012.

Contact Zoee at zsilber1@ithaca.edu

fish 37

Colleen Wormsley is a sophomore Integrated Marketing Communications major with a minor in Spanish at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY.

At Ithaca College, Colleen is currently involved in many student organizations. She is the Communications Director for Food for Thought, a non-profit organization that helps children around the world who are suffering from malnutrition, lack of education, and poverty. Some of her responsibilities include publicity, community outreach, and event planning of the group. Colleen is also a member of many other student organizations including IC Haitian Relief Effort, Intercambios, Park Design House Public Relations, the American Advertising Federation, ICTV Publicity, and Relay for Life.

Colleen currently holds a job both at Ithaca College and in her hometown, Middletown, NY. At Ithaca College, Colleen is a Building Operations Staff for Campus Center and Events Services. She is responsible for answering

questions at the information desk, logging attendance at the recreation center, and preparing meeting rooms for events on campus. In Middletown, Colleen works for the Technology Department of the Middletown City School District. She is responsible for updating the Teacher’s Center website, creating newsletters, brochures, and posters for the district, as well as taking photos. In the future, Colleen would like to pursue a career in public relations for non-profit organizations or higher education.

In her free time, Colleen enjoys running, shopping, and traveling. She hopes to travel and study at both the Ithaca College Los Angeles and London Center before she graduates.

Contact Colleen at cwormsl1@ithaca.edu

fish 38