“Good design for good causes can change the world,” Peyton Rowe, following the first-of-its-kind CreateAthon onCampus

A week after the first CreateAthon onCampus, during which VCU Mass Comm students spent 24 hours working on advertising and marketing projects for local nonprofits, participants proudly announced the success of the event.

Some of the completed work includes four identity packages of logos, letterheads, business cards and envelopes; a finished Web site that has been launched already; a brochure, eNewsletter, brand and marketing plans, a digital presentation and five video spots.

Organizer of the event and former participant of a number of professional CreateAthon events, Peyton Rowe said her students met and exceeded her expectations.

“I’m so proud of the students,” she said. “They all rose to the occasion at all levels: the concepts, the work (and) the presentations. After four years in the making for me, CreateAthon onCampus was everything I had hoped it would be.”

Participating students came from the School of Mass Communications, the Brandcenter and the School of the Arts. For some students, the event was part of a semester-long class, MASC 491: Topics: Nonprofit Project Development; while other participated as volunteers. A total of 43 students and 18 professional mentors devoted their time and efforts for the event, helping 12 nonprofit organizations.

A number of participants shared enthusiasm and pride, looking back at CreateAthon onCampus. First-year Brandcenter student Jake Dubs, 23, said the lessons he learned were serious and philosophical.

“I learned the true value of collaboration and being courteous to others, as well as the value of working with people you actually like working with,” he recapped. “It's not about who is most talented and creative and hard-working. It's about how well you can work together. The Brandcenter greatly emphasizes this too, but it was a much more condensed, real-life version when doing it with CreateAthon.”

For Creative Advertising senior Carly Reed, 21, the event was tiring but rewarding.

“In such a materialistic industry, it was wonderful to work toward helping organizations that really needed it,” she said. “When you push yourself for something you believe in and for a good cause, it can be really rewarding even if you are super exhausted. And I learned you really can accomplish an immense amount of work in 24 hours.”

The next phase of CreateAthon onCampus is working toward getting these advertising and marketing materials produced at little or not cost to the nonprofits. The class will shepherd any work through production, having yet another opportunity to get professional experience outside the classroom . There is a reception to be held for all involved on April 24^th and any deliverables will be given to the nonprofits.

Rowe is optimistic and already has an eye open about future CreateAthon onCampus events at VCU.

“There is no question that CreateAthon onCampus will become a regular event at VCU,” she said. “The learning opportunity is so great for students and with over 5,000 nonprofit organizations in Richmond, there will not be a shortage of work to be done. “

Following this pilot year, Rowe said she plans to assess the program and then package CreateAthon onCampus to present to other schools.

“CreateAthon onCampus is a unique and rewarding experience for students and an outstanding way to give back to the community,” she said. “I want to make it easier for colleges and universities to offer this type of experience to their students who will then create great work for organizations who need it.”

To learn more about VCU’s CreateAthon onCampus, visit its Web site.