It’s time once again for nonprofits throughout Hawaii to put their best foot foward for the possibility of receiving as much as $1 million in marketing services from Ad 2 Honolulu.
"We look forward to supporting the community again this year by helping another nonprofit organization," said Laura Ward, Ad 2 Honolulu public service co-chairwoman.
The organization, itself a nonprofit comprising advertising and marketing professionals age 32 or younger, is always honored to help bring awareness to a nonprofit organization that is helping Hawaii’s people, she said.
The winner of last year’s campaign, the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, made big strides in public awareness with the help of Ad 2, said Lisa Kimura, executive director.
The re-branding "was the most enormous impact," she said.
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies saw "great response" from the public service announcement Ad 2 produced, "which again, is not something we have the budget to produce with our current means," she said. The PSA "reflects the agency in a way that is memorable, and fun," she said.
"We did notice an increase in the number of people reaching out to us" for various services, said Kimura.
"Our biggest hope is that we can follow up" with the increased public awareness in a way that will "translate into private donations."
As in so many previous years, Ad 2 Honolulu’s work for Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies won first place in the Ad 2 Division of the American Advertising Federation’s Club Achievement Competition.
Previous campaigns that have helped local nonprofits and won awards for Ad 2 Honolulu were done for Aloha Medical Mission Dental Clinic, Hawaii Heart Foundation and Hawaii Cord Blood Bank, among many others.
Ad 2 Honolulu has formulated these public service campaigns since 1969.
There are no set criteria for nonprofits hoping to be considered, said Michelle Burchfiel, Ad 2 Honolulu president.
"We look for an organization we can help make an impact," she said.
"We’re offering marketing services, so, it’s what we can do with the talent that we have available."
The Ad 2 public service committee will review the applications, whittle them down to a final group and then conduct interviews with the finalists, Burchfiel said. "We want to have the nonprofit selected by the end of August."
Campaigns are funded through community support and volunteer efforts.
Interested nonprofits can get more information and an application online from www.Ad2Honolulu.org or by emailing info@ad2honolulu.org
The application deadline is July 31.
Far-flung ohana
It’s so local-style for people from Hawaii to get together to celebrate their island ties, though they be thousands of miles away.
Hawaii people make "ohana" where bloodlines and family ties may be nonexistent.
It is just that sort of connection that the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California will celebrate from 5:30 to 8 p.m. July 30 at the Hukilau restaurant in San Jose, established by Hawaii expats.
Organizers invite Hawaii expats to come share summer stories, enjoy pupu and try Hukilau signature cocktails.
A $10 donation will be asked at the door for the Wiki Wiki business sharing program, Hawaii-related raffle prizes, Hawaiian music by Rodney Takahashi and a chance to win a round-trip ticket anywhere Southwest Airlines flies.
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On the Net:
» hccnc.com
» www.dahukilau.com
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
