As we have watched the disaster in the Gulf Coast unfold, many of us are wondering what we can do to help. The Austin Ad Fed has launched a strong effort to assist professionals in the afflicted Gulf Coast areas in any way possible; GSD&M as well as several other local shops have taken a strong leadership role in direct contact with the New Orleans agencies that are re-grouping.
At Texas Advertising, our students and faculty asked what role could we play - beyond donations of money, housing offers, food and time - as professionals. Two faculty members--Neal Burns and Sean Thompson--have met with some of our students and offered to coordinate a "competition" to develop Public Service Announcements (PSA) concepts for several of the areas of concern.
The Texas Advertising program and Austin area advertising agencies will over the next few weeks join together to create public service announcements in response to an appeal written by Robbie Vitrano, Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of Trumpet Advertising in New Orleans. It is up to each individual team to determine the target, medium, and creative concept based upon Robbie Vitrano's brief.
Contacts: If you have any questions about the project please feel free to contact us.
Neal Burns, nburns@mail.utexas.edu
Sean Thompson, thompsonian@hotmail.com
To participate: Please e-mail your team of 2-5 people to meags@mail.utexas.edu , a graduate student who has volunteered to help administer this effort.
9/13/2005