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CreateAthon Blog
TEDx Columbia: A beautiful day
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Written by Teresa Coles
Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining 14 other speakers and performers at the inaugural TEDx Columbia event. What began for me as an Oh my God, how will I ever have time to prepare for this item on my never-ending list became a transformative experience second only to CreateAthon, my subject de jour. While I was more... Read More
TEDx: Exponential Impact for Nonprofits
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Written by Teresa Coles
Earlier this fall, I was both surprised and delighted when I discovered my dear friend Julie Turner had nominated me as a potential speaker for TEDx Columbia. Founded as a four-day video conference in California 25 years ago, TED is now an international program committed to Ideas Worth Spreading. Presenters are asked to talk about their passions, inventions,... Read More
CreateAthon: Grown up and ready to go.
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Written by Teresa Coles
For 14 years we’ve labored through September nights, consuming ungodly amounts of coffee, Coke and cheese puffs in the name of CreateAthon. It hasn’t always been pretty, and it never is when you’re facing drastic shortages of time, money, manpower and supplies. Yet somehow the work always gets done, and every year we leave CreateAthon pondering... Read More
CreateAthon 2011 Work: A Look at Literacy
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Written by Teresa Coles
We all have the opportunity to learn, and the inability to read only affects a few people in the community. It’s really not my issue. Overcoming this all-too pervasive insight formed the basis of the brand strategy we developed for Kershaw County Literacy Association during CreateAthon. With a staggering 23% illiteracy rate in this area, KCLA... Read More
Nonprofits Must Position Themselves for Pro Bono
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Written by Teresa Coles
I had the opportunity to attend a thought-provoking session in DC on Thursday hosted by Taproot Foundation, one of the nation’s strongest voices for pro bono service. It came on the heels of the launch event for a Billion + Change, a national movement to mobilize a billion dollars (now 2 billion) in pro bono... Read More
A Billion + Opportunities for CreateAthon
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Written by Teresa Coles
Twenty-four hours have passed since Peyton Rowe and I attended the launch event for A Billion+ Change, the national campaign to mobilize pro bono services. To say we are still reeling from it all is the understatement of the year. All day long, we tried to talk about what was going on around us, and... Read More
CreateAthon Goes to Washington
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Written by Teresa Coles
Not once in the last 14 years did I ever dream of doing what I’m about to do: Go to Capitol Hill to talk about CreateAthon. It comes in the form of the launch event for A Billion + Change, a national campaign to mobilize $1 billion of pro bono services by 2013. This morning,... Read More
Telling the CreateAthon Story
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Written by Teresa Coles
There’s nothing more exciting than watching our tiny, baby idea — staying up all night to give back to local charities — grow into a powerful movement for creating social good. As CreateAthon grows, so does the chatter about it. Just follow the #createathon hashtag on Twitter and you can see for yourself. We believe... Read More
National CreateAthon® Week Brings Pro Bono Marketing to Nonprofits
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Written by Teresa Coles
It’s finally here. CreateAthon®, a national movement that encourages professionals and students in the communicating arts to put their creative talents to work for social good, announces the beginning of National CreateAthon Week on Sunday, September 11. During this week, marketing, advertising, public relations, interactive and design firms across the country will host 24-hour, pro... Read More
CreateAthon, a Meaningful Experience
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Written by Teresa Coles
What I love most about CreateAthon is using my creativity to help people. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do this. It is a wonderful feeling that can bring you to tears. Our friends at smith&jones in New England feel the exact same way. They’re doing CreateAthon a little different this year... Read More