CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 16, 2009 — First there was Woodstock. Then there was Goodstock, a 24-hour pro bono marketing marathon to benefit nonprofit causes created five years ago by Knupp & Watson, a Madison, Wis.-based strategic communications agency. And now there’s Goodstock Charlotte, being held for the first time in October at Luquire George Andrews (LGA), an integrated marketing agency nearly 1,000 miles away in North Carolina.

"The premise of Goodstock is simple,” said Andy Wallman, president and executive creative director at Knupp & Watson, who co-founded Goodstock in 2004 and has since seen $1.1 million in goods and services donated to Madison-area nonprofits from Goodstock events. "We are always approached by local nonprofits that do great work, need marketing tools, and just don’t have the resources to work with an agency. By giving them our undivided attention and expertise for 24 hours straight, we give back to the community and have fun in the process."

The idea was so appealing to Judi Wax, LGA senior vice president/director of public relations, she approached Wallman, her former colleague, about hosting a Goodstock event in Charlotte in honor of LGA’s 25th anniversary. "Our hope is that next year, more marketing agencies will want to get onboard. Our dream is to have Goodstock happening all over the country," said Wax.

"Since we founded LGA 25 years ago, we have worked with and supported many nonprofits throughout the Charlotte area," said Steve Luquire, founder and CEO of LGA. "This year especially, we know that budgets are tighter and resources are more limited – which makes it even more difficult for nonprofits to market themselves. This is our way of giving back."

Knupp & Watson and LGA will host simultaneous 24-hour Goodstock events Oct. 15 – Oct. 16, where recipients will have access to advertising, public relations and marketing experts who will produce the marketing pieces they need most, such as a print ad, brochure, feature article, press kit, radio script, logo and identity package, social media strategy, Facebook page, and more – all overnight and all for free.

Their applications will be evaluated on the following:

  • The services they provide
  • Their need for and inability to fund marketing, advertising and PR initiatives because of budget cuts, reductions in donations or a measurable increase in demand for their organization’s services due to the economic downturn
  • Their status as a 501(c)(3)
  • Their availability to meet with their Goodstock team during the 24-hour period

"I never imagined that one Goodstock would turn into two, but it’s clearly an idea that’s bigger than both of us," said Wallman. "At Knupp & Watson, we’re all about touch, and what better way to touch those who need it most than through a love-in event like Goodstock?",

To learn more about Goodstock, go to www.goodstock24.com

About Knupp & Watson
Knupp & Watson is a Madison-based strategic communications agency offering advertising, marketing, public relations and interactive services. As passionate strategists, they‘re on a mission: to create extraordinary ideas that are bigger than brands. For more information, go to www.knupp-watson.com.

About Luquire George Andrews
A leader in integrated communications in the Southeast, Charlotte-based Luquire George Andrews (LGA) provides advertising, marketing, public relations and interactive services to a broad range of clients from major regional corporations to global Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit www.lgaadv.com.