EGC and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi team up to announce help for charities

 

Suozzi, ad agency unveil marketing plan for charities
By Sid Cassese | Newsday (republished)

In what could be a warning of potential budget cuts for not-for-profit agencies, Executive Thomas Suozzi and the head of a major Long Island ad agency yesterday announced a marketing plan to help local agencies raise money.

"The number of people needing help have gone up, while the funds available to these humanitarian agencies have gone down during this economic downturn," Suozzi said at a news conference in Mineola.

He did not say the agencies would get less county money in 2009, but he has said that "everything is on the table" in his effort to keep spending down.

Ernie Canadeo, the chief executive of EGC Media, which he called Long Island's leading advertising agency, announced that on Sept. 18, over 24 hours, his firm will donate 1,000 man hours - worth about $1 million - for a "CreateAthon" of professional ads to get money for the agencies.

"We will then reach out to major media to donate ad space," he said, adding later that Newsday had agreed to participate.

"Long Island not-for-profits, with their limited resources, are critical to the health and well-being of our communities," said Newsday spokeswoman Deidra Parrish Williams. "We are impressed with the pro-bono work being done by EGC to create these ads, and we will be donating space in Newsday to make sure they are seen by all Long Islanders."

Matt Crosson, president of the Long Island Association, pledged the business community's support. "It is important to symbolize to the entire community that we're there to support the needy," he added.

Leaders of several not-for-profits spoke at the conference, including United Way president Christopher Hahn, who said "there are 300,000 poor people here on Long Island."

Other agencies represented included Momma's House; Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Long Island; Dress for Success; Autism United; Art Start; and the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.