Thought Center

Thought Center

5th Annual CES Executive Event

SPR traveled to the Consumer Electronics Show this year to support Clara Mayer and Brian Callahan at their annual Executive Event, hosted by Rose Snyder & Jacobs.  The room was on fire with an incredible mix of high-powered business leaders and entrepreneurs from a variety of industries.  Truly an incredible gathering of old and new friends sharing ideas, making connections and sipping on cleverly-named cocktails — including Nerd Nectar, Drone Your Sorrows, and the Grapefruit Reboot (names courtesy of SPR, naturally!)

CES 2015 did not fail to deliver on exciting innovations and new technologies.

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Cause Marketing: It’s Not About Your Company

The Starfish PR team at Power Women, Power Tools hosted by Habitat LA

We have been working with nonprofits in Los Angeles for over a decade — so we’ve definitely learned how best to tie your business in to a charitable organization. For one thing, it’s not about YOU: it’s about those who benefit from your gifts.

Having been on both sides of cause marketing, we understand what the real story is. We’ve been pitching media, creating content and telling these stories through blogs and other mediums with great success for many years.

Here are some tips if you’re planning to partner with a charitable organization:

Ask your staff which causes are important to them. By polling your staff, you will gain great insight into what matters to them, possibly discovering some real philanthropists in your organization. You will want employee buy-in, so their input is vital.

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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles & Bank of America Complete Home in Partnership with Dorsey Family in Compton

Dorsey Family

Home Dedication Ceremony to be held Thursday, Nov. 20th

Los Angeles, CA – November 17, 2014: Bank of America and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) have completed the renovation of a home in Compton, CA, which will be dedicated to new homeowner Trenisha Dorsey on Thursday, November 20th. The home was donated by Bank of America to support the affiliate’s efforts to build affordable housing in partnership with hardworking, low-income families in greater Los Angeles.

“Thanks to the donation of these properties by Bank of America, families like Trenisha Dorsey’s are given an opportunity to build stronger foundations and thrive,” says Erin Rank, President and CEO, Habitat LA.  “We are extremely grateful to Bank of America and its employees for caring enough to help us build hope, lives and communities in such a meaningful way.

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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Announces Annual Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program

Donations will Provide Holiday Gifts to 25 Habitat Partner Families

Los Angeles, CA- November 14, 2014: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ (Habitat LA) Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program was developed to help provide support to families who recently moved into their new Habitat home or received home repair services due to a financial need. Despite the fact that they now have a decent, sustainable and affordable home, many still lack the resources for holiday “extras”. More than half of the families Habitat LA serves earn less than 50% of the County’s area median income. For a family of four, that equates to $40,750 annually. This year’s participants are children, senior citizens, disabled, veteran and military families.

A donation of $250 will sponsor an entire family, but a monetary or gift card donation of any amount will also make a big difference.

“Your generosity fills me with hope and the need to give back.

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More than 800 Volunteers will Help Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Transform a Long Beach Neighborhood During Annual Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon

Washington Neighborhood Transformation Begins Nov. 6th through 8th

Los Angeles, CA — November 5, 2014: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) is pleased to announce its annual Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon (HBAT) will take place Nov. 6-8 in the Washington Neighborhood in the City of Long Beach. Habitat LA will bring together more than 800 volunteers to revitalize the neighborhood.

Follow @HabitatLA and #HBAT14

During the HBAT, volunteers and partner homeowners will be taking part in a long-term strategy to revitalize this community – the Washington Neighborhood. In three days, volunteers will build two new homes, repair six homes for families residing in the neighborhood and provide repairs for four nonprofit organizations – The Long Beach Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool and The Guidance Center.

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PARALLETEK Expands Engineering Team with Three Strategic Hires

Additions Increase Company’s Commitment to Quality & Service

Santa Fe Springs, CA – October 29, 2014: PARALLELTEK is pleased to announce the appointments of Design Engineers Sheldon Sermonia and Chris Lee, as well as Project Manager David Herrera, to its growing team. Since its founding in 2013, PARALLELTEK has quickly become a competitive AV integrator and the addition of Sermonia, Herrera and Lee will help the company to meet the growing demand for unified technology solutions in the marketplace.

“There is a wealth of opportunity in this industry and to be competitive we need to provide great products, but we must also exceed expectations when it comes to service,” said Anthony Minite, president. “Sheldon, Chris and David are extremely talented and possess the expertise and commitment it takes to over-deliver for our clients. We are thrilled to have them join our growing team.

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Stars of SHOWTIME Series “Shameless” and “House of Lies” to Build Affordable Homes with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles on Sat., Oct. 25th

William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Kristen Bell, Shanola Hampton and Ben Schwartz Set to Join Their Cast Members and Producers for Habitat for Humanity Build

Los Angeles, CA – October 21, 2014: Stars from the SHOWTIME original series “Shameless” and “House of Lies”, along with network executives, will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) to help build houses for hardworking low-income homebuyers. Volunteers will help complete a seven-home neighborhood currently under construction in greater Los Angeles and their scope of work for the day will include the group working on siding, roofing and painting on the homes.

“We are so excited to have the support of everyone at SHOWTIME,” says Erin Rank, President and CEO, Habitat LA.

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Los Angeles’ Kings, Lakers & Chivas USA Organizations Donate Exclusive VIP Experiences to Support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Bidding is Open on CharityBuzz.com Through Tuesday, Oct. 14th

Los Angeles, CA — October 2, 2014: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) has partnered with the LA Lakers, LA Kings and Chivas USA to offer exclusive experiences at upcoming home games. The packages, currently open for bidding on auction website Charitybuzz, include autographs, player meet and greets, and the opportunity to be the “Honorary Ball Kid” at an upcoming LA Lakers game.

LA Kings Package:
Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille has autographed a Habitat for Humanity hat and T-shirt, which the winning bidder will receive along with a Drew Doughty autographed puck and two lower-level seats to a home game at STAPLES Center during the 2014-2015 season.

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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Commemorates 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with Special Build Events

Los Angeles, CA — September 29, 2014: Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) commemorated the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with a series of build events that brought together veterans and active military, as well as communities from nearly every faith tradition, to help build four new homes in Lynwood between September 10th and 13th.

9/10: Veterans Build Day – Veterans and active military were among the volunteers who built with Habitat LA during this special build day. Also in attendance was Halley Burnett, the daughter of Tom Burnett, who was one of the “Let’s roll” heroes of hijacked United flight 93. Ms. Burnett shared her story, as did other volunteers, during an emotional lunch break.

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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Celebrates Grand Opening of Newest ReStore Location in Bellflower

Ribbon Cutting and Community Recycle Event Scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 20th

Los Angeles, CA – September 17, 2014: On Saturday, September 20, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) will celebrate the grand opening of its third ReStore. From 9:00 am until 3:00 pm, the parking lot of the Bellflower ReStore location will host a community celebration with food trucks, giveaways, a live remote broadcast from The Sound FM Radio Station, plus recycling and donation opportunities for local residents.

ReStores are home improvement thrift stores which are open to the public and provide significant savings on a variety of items for the home. Since 2004, Habitat LA ReStores have helped divert more than 5,761,975 lbs of materials from local landfills. Habitat LA ReStores are located in Bellflower, Gardena and Norwalk.

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