Ad2 Tampa Bay Picks Starting Right, Now As Pro Bono Client

Ad 2 Tampa Bay, a network of Tampa Bay's young advertising professionals, has selected a nonprofit, Starting Right, Now, for a free ad campaign as part of its pro bono efforts. The startup nonprofit helps homeless youth in Tampa Bay through continued education and mentoring, and helps homeless families by improving parental employment and providing assistance with securing stable housing.

"Starting Right, Now was chosen because as an organization we saw a unique opportunity to help not only the homeless youth of Tampa Bay, but also the community by educating and raising awareness through a fully integrated advertising campaign," says Shannon Byrne, PR director of Ad 2 Tampa Bay. "We expect the ad campaign to launch in the first quarter of 2012."

Joel and Vicki Sokolik founded Starting Right, Now through a pilot program that helped homeless families through one-on-one mentoring. The program focuses on mentoring parents on maintaining employment and saving money, while educating children on the importance of education and independence. The nonprofit organization has a mission of ending the cycle of homelessness in families.

While Ad 2 Tampa Bay plans the launch of the ad campaign, there are plenty of opportunities for non-advertising professionals to help.

"The community can help by becoming familiar with what the organization does for the youth in Tampa Bay," says Byrne. "They can also share with someone about the organization and its successes, or consider becoming a mentor. It's a life-changing experience for not only the youth, but the mentor too."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Shannon Byrne, Ad 2 Tampa Bay