As an agency that works with a variety of organizations and businesses in many different industries, we are always proud to highlight the good work of our clients – deeds that may not always contribute to their bottom lines, but that contribute to the quality of life in the communities where they do business.
Such was the case February 19 when our client Gas South teamed up with the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA) and Feld Entertainment to provide a special evening at the circus for 250 Atlanta-area children with special needs. The children not only attended the circus, but were treated to a special pre-show event with circus performers and circus animals on the floor of Philips Arena.
The event was the inspiration of Mike Bodker, mayor of Johns Creek and chair of MAMA, who had met representatives of Feld Entertainment at a national mayors’ conference last summer. Feld Entertainment owns and operates the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and had done similar events for children with special needs in other cities.
For a sponsor for the event, Bodker turned to Gas South; the company had worked with him and the City of Johns Creek on several community-oriented projects in the past and was enthusiastic about stepping up to support this event. As lead sponsor, Gas South purchased 500 tickets to the circus for 250 children with special needs and an accompanying adult, and also donated souvenirs and concessions for the children. The evening was something truly special – for the children, the performers, MAMA and Gas South.
Sponsorships and community involvement are good ways for businesses to build name recognition and good will, and help company employees feel good about where they work – and we are always happy to look for the right opportunities for our clients (though, it should be noted, Gas South has always been actively involved in the communities it serves). But as this great circus event demonstrates, often the biggest benefit of community sponsorships is making a difference in peoples’ lives.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.