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Brought to you by:

Simple
Solutions
i

A Public Relations Plan for the


Habitat for Humanity’s
Rexburg Project

Brought to you by:

Simple
Solutions

As drawn up by:
Jeff Ballif
Whitney Hollman
Bryce Greenwood
Jocelyn Giles
Erika Porter
Haley Ruud

Brother Ryan Hales


Communications 335
Public Relations Writing
ii

Table of Contents
Title Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Corporate Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Plan Overview/History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Media Advisory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Article. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Public Service Announcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Social Media - 6

Dinner Entertainment - 7

Prizes - 8

Paper House Cut-Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Photos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Biographies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12

Contact Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14


1

Corporate Profile
Simple Solutions is a public relations firm that was founded in 1995. Simple Solutions is a New
York based public relations firm that emphasizes crisis management and product launches. Its
mission is to plan and execute simplified solutions for the public relations needs of any individual
or organization. It has satellite offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, London, Johannesburg
and Tokyo.

Opportunely, Habitat for Humanity is coming to Rexburg, Idaho. Simple Solutions is pleased
to announce that it will be overseeing a plan to support and market Habitat’s endeavors in the
community. Simple Solutions’ main goal is to generate interest in the organization and in a
fundraiser to support the efforts of the organization as it strives to bring decency and hope to
those less fortunate in the Rexburg community.

Simple
Solutions
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Plan Overview
The following plan will include material highlighting a new Habitat for Humanity project in
Rexburg, Idaho. The material includes a media advisory and newspaper article which will
be distributed among local news outlets, a public service announcement which will given to
regional radio stations, and plans for utilizing social media platforms. It also includes plans for
an invitation only fundraising event. The fundraiser will be a dinner party where the guests will
learn more about Habitat for Humanity and learn details such as the location and housing plans
for the upcoming project.

History
Habitat for Humanity is an international, nonprofit organization that is devoted to buildling
simple, affordable housing for people who cannot afford to buy or build decent shelter for
themselves. The organization was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Over the years,
Habitat for Humanity has become a presitigious affiliation, with involvement from people such
as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. Since its initial project over 40
years ago, churches and community groups around the world have joined in the effort to tackle
poverty and bring hope and decency to low-income families everywhere. Today, Habitat for
Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses and sheltered more than 1.5 million people in
more than 3,000 communities worldwide.
3

Media Advisory
The following is a media advisory that will be sent out to local TV stations to alert community
members of the fundraising event.

Fundraising Dinner Party to Benefit Habitat for Humanity in Rexburg, Idaho

WHAT: A fundraising dinner party will be held to generate funds that will go toward a new
Habitat for Humanity house in Rexburg, Idaho. Habitat for Humanity will unveil the location
and house plan for the upcoming project.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, from 6 until 8 p.m.

WHERE: The event will be held in the Special Events room in the Hyrum Manwaring Student
Center on the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus in Rexburg, Idaho.

HOW: Patrons from the local community and surrounding areas will be invited to the dinner
party and to contribute to the cause. During the dinner, live music will be provided. There will be
two speakers, one of whom will unveil the location and house plan for the Habitat for Humanity
house in Rexburg. A prize drawing, featuring a grand prize weekend getaway, will be held
following the dinner and speakers to show appreciation for the patrons and their generosity.

WHO: Habitat for Humanity is an international, nonprofit organization that focuses on


decreasing poverty and homelessness. Since its founding in 1976, over 300,000 homes have been
built worldwide in over 3,000 communities. Volunteers build each home with donated materials.

WHY: The only way each Habitat for Humanity home can be built is through donated finances
and building supplies. By having a fundraising dinner party, patrons of the local community
have a chance to support this great cause and have a fun night out. Rexburg has been chosen as
the next build site of one of these homes. According to Habitat for Humanity in the Idaho Falls
area, 20 homes have been built under this affiliate since 1994.

For more information, contact Haley Ruud at 212.819.7803 or hruud@simplesolutions.com.

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Article
The following is an article that will be sent to the local newspaper, the Standard Journal, to
alert community members of the fundraiser.

Habitat for Humanity announces new Rexburg project


City of Rexburg proud to host and support new housing development

REXBURG, Idaho – The nonprofit group Habitat for Humanity announced Tuesday that
its next housing project will be in Rexburg, Idaho.
Chris Branson, the Idaho Falls chapter president of Habitat for Humanity, explains why
the organization chose Rexburg as the location for their next project. “We know that the people
of Rexburg have big hearts and are likely to support a cause like ours. It is America’s Family
Community after all.”
The mayor of Rexburg, Richard Woodland, pledges the city’s support of the new project.
“We’re very excited and honored to be a community that was chosen by Habitat for Humanity
for a new project. We’re supporting them all the way.” City council members were pleasantly
surprised in October of this year when the nonprofit organization requested a building permit
for the Rexburg project. “We’re honored at the opportunity the city of Rexburg has to host the
new project,” said councilmember Bart Stevens.
To raise money for the event, an invitation only benefit dinner will be held on the campus
of Brigham Young University-Idaho in January 2010. Regarding the dinner, Branson said, “We
made the decision to keep it by invitation only, but we encourage members of the community to
get involved by donating money, time and supplies.” The event is aimed at raising funds for the
upcoming project.
Habitat for Humanity is an outreach program that works with members of communities
worldwide to build safe and affordable housing for lower income families. The projects are
funded by donations and constructed by volunteers. For more information, contact Jeff Ballif
at 212.819.7806 or at jeff.ballif@simplesolutions.com. Please also visit the Habitat for Humanity
Web site at visit www.habitat.org.
5

Public Service Announcement


The following are samples of a 10- and 30- second public service announcement that will be
sent to local radio stations to alert community members of the project.

For more information, contact:


Whitney Hollman
w.hollman@simplesolutions.com
212.819.7805

December 7, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RADIO (10 seconds)


HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS ACCEPTING FINANCIAL AND BUILDING SUPPLY
DONATIONS FOR AN UPCOMING PROJECT IN REXBURG. DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED
THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. FIND OUT NEEDED BUILDING SUPPLIES AND
MORE BY VISITING WWW DOT HABITAT DOT ORG.

RADIO (30 seconds)


AROUND THE WORLD, OVER ONE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS
AND ALMOST TWO BILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN SLUM HOUSING. THAT IS WHY
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS WILLING TO HELP FIGHT THIS PROBLEM. HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY IS ACCEPTING FINANCIAL AND BUILDING SUPPLY DONATIONS FOR
AN UPCOMING PROJECT IN REXBURG. DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH
THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. TO FIND OUT NEEDED BUILDING SUPPLIES AND MORE
VISIT WWW DOT HABITAT DOT ORG.

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Social Media
The following is a plan of how Simple Solutions will use new media, such as Twitter and
Facebook, to alert people about the fundraising event.

Facebook - Simple Solutions plan for Facebook is to create a local Habitat for Humanity group
that people can join to receive information on upcoming regional projects. Group members will
be able to connect with others who have the same desires to volunteer. The target audience of
college students and middle-aged community members will be reached through this Facebook
group. Our YouTube videos will be available through the Facebook page.

Twitter - Twitter will be an effective platform for the distribution of information to the target
audience of college students. It will notify the students involved of dates, times and locations of
the upcoming Rexburg project.

YouTube - Simple Solutions will create a YouTube account, where videos related to the Rexburg
project can be uploaded. These videos will focus on capturing the lives of people who have been
affected by Habitat for Humanity projects in the past. Anyone will be able to view the videos.
7

Dinner Entertainment
The following is a plan for the entertatinment that Simple Solutions will provide during the
fundraising dinner for its guests.

On Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, Brigham Young University-Idaho will be hosting the Habitat
for Humanity Benefit Dinner in the Special Events room of the Hyrum Manwaring Student
Center. In order to attract the invitees to the event, a plan for entertainment has been designed.
Considering that the event will be a host to over 50 prestigious guests, including the
mayor and members of the city council. The entertainment needs to be tasteful and sophisticated,
yet fun and enjoyable.
Each semester, BYU-Idaho holds an event called Grand Pianos Live, where students
participate in a talent show to showcase their piano skills. The winner of Grand Pianos Live
from the Fall 2009 semester will be invited to provide classical piano background music for the
guests throughout the evening. The ambiance and atmosphere of the evening will be serene and
welcoming because of the tasteful music being played.
Once all the guests have finished eating, a slide show containing pictures and testimonials
about the effectiveness of the Habaitat for Humanity program will be shown. The slide show
should last in between seven and nine minutes and will be set to music.
Other entertainment will include two guest speakers. The first speaker will be the City of
Rexburg’s mayor, Richard Woodland. He will speak of the city’s involvement in the Habitat for
Humanity project and will unveil crucial details of the plans that the city has for the upcoming
project. The next speaker will be Habitat for Humanity’s chapter president, Chris Branson.
For more information about the fundraising event, contact Erika Porter of Simple
Solutions at 212.819.7801 or eporter@simplesolutions.com. For more information about Habitat
for Humanity’s upcoming project in Rexburg, please visit www.rexburg.org or www.habitat.
org.

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Prizes
The following is a plan of how Simple Solutions will involve secondary sources to support
the event and the organization by using them to give away prizes to the dinner guests.

The Habitat for Humanity fundraising dinner will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 9,
2010, in the Special Events room in the Hyrum Manwaring Center, located on the Brigham Young
University-Idaho campus in Rexburg, Idaho. BYU-Idaho Catering Services will begin serving
dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the prize drawing will begin at 7 p.m. Invitees who have purchased a
ticket for the event will be entered in the prize drawing. Simple Solutions will randomly draw
three names to determine the prize winners.
The first place award winner will receive a grand prize weekend getaway to San Diego,
Calif. sponsored by Rexburg-Madison County Airport. The second place prize winner will
receive a Canon PowerShot A610 Digital Camera from the Rexburg Walmart. The third place
prize winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Applebees in Rexburg, Idaho.
Habitat for Humanity and Simple Solutions have collaborated with Rexburg-Madison
County Airport, Walmart, and Applebees to sponsor and acknowledge their logos at the
fundraising dinner and the site of the upcoming project.
9

Paper House Cut-Out

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Photos

Top left: Volunteers working on a housing project in New Mexico.


Top right: Students laying bricks for a project in South Africa.
Bottom: A completed project in New Hampshire.
11

Biographies
Simple Solutions is proud to present the team that worked on this project.

Jeff Ballif is an Account Executive from Salt Lake City, Utah. He has studied
Communications and Public Relations for two years at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
He specializes in public relations writing and editing, and also has experience with visual
media and design. He has been involved in other public relations campaigns for local
businesses such as the Rexburg Jamba Juice, sweetrosalee.com and the Virginia Theater in
Shelley, Idaho.

Whitney Hollman is an Account Executive from Visalia, California. She currently


attends Brigham Young University-Idaho. She is a Communication major with an
emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology. She has studied Communication
for three years and specializes in writing and interpersonal communication. She has been
involved in a student organization called i-Comm Student Media and has helped design
and copy-edit Web sites including Rigby Andrus Rigby Law Firm and the Brigham Young
University-Idaho Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Bryce Greenwood is an Account Executive from Burley, Idaho. He is currenlty a


student at Brigham Young University-Idaho studying Communication with an emphasis
in Public Relations. He works in a high-end picture frame shop as a sales representative
and personally assists the CEO in creative advertising and sales decisions. In his free time,
Bryce enjoys playing basketball and watching college football. His future plans include
graduating and working in the front office of the NBA.
12

Jocelyn Giles is an Account Executive from Wilsonville, Oregon. She has attended
Brigham Young University-Idaho for four years and will graduate in July with a Bachelor
of Science in Communication. Her area of emphasis is Public Relations and she has a minor
in Business Health. She has taken public relations classes and other communication classes
for two years and specializes in writing, health, and sports marketing. She recently had the
opportunity to work with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes where she wrote press releases, on-
field promotions, promoted events, and assisted with media involvement.

Erika Porter is an Account Executive from Gilbert, Arizona. She is Communication


major with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish. She has been studying
Communication for nearly three years and has had the privilege of working with the
student organization i-Comm Student Media. She has had the opportunity to work closely
with clients like National Cancer Society, Backyard Grill, and Brigham Young University-
Idaho’s R.O.T.C. Erika has also been able to copy edit for BYU-Idaho’s newspaper, Scroll.
She is familiar with programs in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign and loves
working on creative design projects. Erika loves the outdoors and tries to spend all her free
time partaking in all the outdoor activites that Idaho has to offer.

Haley Ruud is an Account Executive currently in her senior year. She is from Woods Cross,
Utah. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations at Brigham
Young University-Idaho. Her minor is Marriage and Family Studies. She is anticpating
her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Communication this coming April. She has
almost two years experience working in the public relations emphasis and is looking
forward to being in a public relations campaign class next semester to have the chance to
compete nationally with a group of peers. She also has expereince in photography, Adobe
Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. She recently completed a public relations internship
with the Utah Grizzlies Hockey club this past summer. Her dream job would be to work
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Public Affairs. Follwing graduation,
Haley hopes to get a job with Intermountain Health Care in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Business Cards
Simple Simple Simple
Solutions Solutions Solutions

Jeff Ballif Whitney Hollman Bryce Greenwood


Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive

570 Seventh Avenue 570 Seventh Avenue 570 Seventh Avenue


14th Floor 14th Floor 14th Floor
New York, NY 10018 New York, NY 10018 New York, NY 10018
Tel. 212.819.7806 Tel. 212.819.7805 Tel. 212.819.7804
Fax. 212.819.7800 Fax. 212.819.7800 Fax. 212.819.7800
jeff.ballif@simplesolutions.com w.hollman@simplesolutions.com bryceg@simplesolutions.com

www.simplesolutions.com www.simplesolutions.com www.simplesolutions.com

Simple Simple Simple


Solutions Solutions Solutions

Haley Ruud Jocelyn Giles Erika Porter


Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive

570 Seventh Avenue 570 Seventh Avenue 570 Seventh Avenue


14th Floor 14th Floor 14th Floor
New York, NY 10018 New York, NY 10018 New York, NY 10018
Tel. 212.819.7803 Tel. 212.819.7802 Tel. 212.819.7801
Fax. 212.819.7800 Fax. 212.819.7800 Fax. 212.819.7800
hruud@simplesolutions.com jgiles@simplesolutions.com eporter@simplesolutions.com

www.simplesolutions.com www.simplesolutions.com www.simplesolutions.com

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Contact Information

Simple Solutions

570 Seventh Avenue


14th Floor
New York, NY 10018

Telephone: 212.819.7807
Fax: 212.819.7800

www.simplesolutions.com

Habitat for Humanity

270 Peachtree Street NW


Suite 1300
Atlanta, GA 30303 USA

Telephone: 800.422.4828

www.habitat.org

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