In 2002 we were introduced to Helen verDuin Palit, the founder of America Harvest. Helen had been invited to speak to the Tucker Foundation, a community service group at Dartmouth University. We had been recommended to write the speech.

Helen developed the Harvest program concept in 1981 while managing the Yale University Soup Kitchen. She opened City Harvest serving New York City in 1982.

Harvest programs are unique because their focus is gathering good unserved perishable food that would otherwise be thrown out, then delivering it the same day to shelters and soup kitchens for free. There are 954 independently operated, locally run, self-sustaining Harvest programs around the world. Today they will deliver 900,000 meals.

Helen opened America Harvest in 1990 to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, processes and procedures to communities wanting to start their own programs.

Since that first speech, we have written other speeches, marketing materials for our local program Angel Harvest, and a website and collateral materials for America Harvest.

Most recently, Helen was nominated for the 2009 World Food Prize, which is given to an individual whose work significantly contributes to the world food supply.

There are thousands of extraordinary charities and non-profits serving a wide range of needs.

Integrating an appropriate nonprofit into a promotional plan is not only a demonstration of good citizenship; it can be a powerful way to reach a target audience. With imagination as the limiting factor, it can be a real win/win.

The Ford case study shows how this can work on a grand scale. It also fits readily into a integrated marketing program. A strong relationship can be built with a modest amount of cash - non-profits need all of the things that other businesses do - space, technology, expertise, promotion and volunteers.

We can work with you to identify an appropriate opportunity and integrate it into a larger campaign, or help you to activate a current relationship. It's important work that we feel very good about doing.