Hosting CreateAthon, a National, 24-hour PR Marathon — GVSU PRSSA – Grand Valley State University Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

We are truly so honored and excited to partner with PRSSA and CreateAthon to create campaigns for five local nonprofits. Those on GrandPR leadership believe that giving back impacts more than just the organization we’re serving; it also empowers and motivates our staff and, as the campaigns are implemented, the community. Leading by example, we want to instill a mindset of service before our staff go beyond GVSU and into the workforce; which is why it was an easy choice to apply to participate in CreateAthon.

CreateAthon is a 24-hour marathon to develop communications campaigns for nonprofit organizations. We were selected as one of only four student-run PR firms in the nation by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) to host a CreateAthon marathon. Applications to host CreateAthon marathons are very competitive and have more than doubled in the program’s second year with PRSSA.

GrandPR’s CreateAthon will be held on Friday, March 23 from 7pm to Saturday, March 24 at 7pm. We will work with Grand Rapids Public Library, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, HQGR, Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Kids’ Food Basket to develop campaigns utilizing integrated marketing techniques, public relations strategies, creative digital and broadcast tangibles, and more.

“The CreateAthon is a great example of how universities can join with community partners to provide a high-impact learning experience for students while also benefiting local nonprofit organizations and the constituents they serve. GVSU is proud to be a CreateAthon host, and we look forward to seeing the excellent, student-produced work that results from it,” Jonathan Hodge, PhD, GVSU School of Communications Director.

Left to Right: GrandPR's vice president of operations, Sarah Pontbriand; CEO, Sabrina Antcliff; and executive director, Trevor Bryan.

CreateAthon was founded in 1998 by Riggs Partners, a marketing consultancy in Columbia, South Carolina. It has grown from a single-market event to a 501(c)(3) organization that has attracted more than 100 marketing and communications firms, universities, corporations and professional clubs as official CreateAthon partners. Cumulatively, CreateAthon has helped more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom by delivering pro bono marketing projects valued at more than $24 million.

We have been working closely with PRSSA National and have received support from their Vice President of Professional Development, Ashliegh Katherine, among other PRSSA National and local mentors. GrandPR has seen a wave of support from the community, including: 8ThirtyFour Integrated Communications, SaboPR, Mighty in the Midwest, Boxboom Creative, GVSU School of Communications, and BlackTruck Media & Marketing at the time this blog was written. GrandPR’s Createathon has also garnished the attention of Grand Valley State University’s President, as President Haas will be in attendance for our kickoff at 7pm on Friday.

“We have a very diverse and talented firm, we are looking forward to creatively solving tough problems that plague our area nonprofits so they can get back to satisfying their missions,” Adrienne Wallace, GVSU Faculty Advisor for GVPRSSA & GrandPR.

Follow along on March 23 and 24 @Grand_PR and @GV_PRSSA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as PRSSA National’s Snapchat @PRSSAnational for live content!