FROM: The Marcus Group, Inc. Contact: Kaitlyn Sweeney

Overlook at Great Notch (973) 890-9590

150 Clove Road

Little Falls, NJ 07424

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2011

Agency Selects Seven Nonprofits to Receive Free Ad/PR Services

“Forty for Goodness Sake” anniversary project receives overwhelming response

Expands to give multiple charities a marketing boost
 

LITTLE FALLS, NJ – While many charities have found that the tough economy has soured the spirits of giving, The Marcus Group – a boutique agency specializing in advertising, crisis communications and public relations – has expanded its “Forty for Goodness Sake” project, originally slated to help one lucky nonprofit, and will now help six additional organizations.

To commemorate its 40th anniversary, The Marcus Group’s employees conceived its “Forty for Goodness Sake” project as a way to celebrate the agency’s anniversary and highlight its history of charitable giving. And, they couldn’t have been more accurate in recognizing the need.

The agency initially planned to select one nonprofit to receive its award-winning communications expertise free for one year. However, after receiving an overwhelming response from the nonprofit community – more than 130 submissions – The Marcus Group discovered many organizations could benefit from specific marketing project work, and selected six additional groups to help on a one-time, project basis.

After rigorous review and consideration, The Marcus Group selected Little Kids Rock (Cedar Grove, NJ), a nonprofit providing free music instruction and instruments for students in underfunded public schools nationwide, to receive its marketing services free for one year. With a growing number of music programs being eliminated or compromised in quality due to budget cuts, The Marcus Group recognized a growing need for this service in the community.

The agency selected the following six nonprofits for project work, including Web design and social media services:

· 2nd Floor Youth Helpline (Hazlet, NJ);

· American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey (Fairfield, NJ);

· Cooperative Housing (Somerville, NJ);

· Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City;

· Table to Table (Fort Lee, NJ); and

· Waves of Health (Livingston, NJ)

“We like to give back and support charities,” said Alan Marcus, president and CEO. “We’re going to treat these charities as we would any other client – and hopefully, we’ll help them grow.”

Additionally, The Marcus Group plans to host a special nonprofit marketing seminar to provide free advice and marketing tips to all of the organizations that applied.

Company officials value the free year of service well over $100,000 based on the most recent experience with Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey, a nonprofit cancer support organization that The Marcus Group will continue to help.

To vie for its services, the agency invited New Jersey and New York metropolitan area nonprofits to describe how a successful communications campaign will benefit the organization and community. Qualified candidates had to be a 501(c)(3) organization from the New Jersey or New York metropolitan area, and have no current outside communications representation.

The Marcus Group’s anniversary campaign is consistent with its 40-year history of contributing services and leadership to nonprofit organizations. Most recently, the agency stepped in to provide communications services to Gilda’s Club when the organization faced bankruptcy. The Marcus Group helped stabilize the organization, recruit new leadership and conceived and executed one of the most successful events of its kind in Bergen County history last fall: Freddie Roman’s “Ladies of Laughter,” which attracted more than 1,000 to a performance by female comediennes honoring Gilda Radner’s memory.

For more information about The Marcus Group, visit or call 973-890-9590.

About The Marcus Group, Inc.

The Marcus Group, Inc. is a full-service advertising, public relations and crisis communications agency. Founded in 1970, The Marcus Group provides award-winning strategic communication services to a diverse group of commercial and not-for-profit clients.

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