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Weber Shandwick Launches Social Innovation Specialty Practice

Posted on: Tuesday, 2 June 2009, 08:30 CDT

- Announces Social Innovation Fellowship Program Participants -

NEW YORK, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick announced today it has launched a global Social Innovation specialty group. Social Innovation expands and deepens the firm's ongoing work for clients interested in corporate responsibility, sustainability, strategic philanthropy, cause marketing, and advocacy. Using its own proprietary "3C" approach to advancing successful societal and environmental initiatives on behalf of clients, the specialty practice offers custom-designed programs that empower Consumers, guide Companies, and strengthen Communities.

• CONSUMERS: The Greenhouse. The Greenhouse recognizes that consumers worldwide have become a driving force for social and environmental change and increasingly reward organizations that meet these standards. The Greenhouse engages consumers through multi-platform campaigns both online and offline and provides them with the necessary depth of knowledge required to become productive brand, social and environmental advocates.
• COMPANIES: Planet 2050. Planet 2050 is the firm's corporate responsibility practice which focuses primarily on businesses, NGOs and governments. Planet 2050 works closely with its clients to demonstrate ROI to their bottom lines from business value to reputation.
• COMMUNITIES: Social Impact. Social Impact focuses on non-profit organizations and foundations to help them advance issues critical to the health, well-being and vitality of individuals and communities worldwide. With an understanding that the non-profit sector faces unique challenges on tackling social and environmental issues, Weber Shandwick's Social Impact team works with clients to build insights-driven and strategic communications to solving problems impacting these unique institutions and populations.

Weber Shandwick's chairman Jack Leslie said, "Weber Shandwick has continually been recognized for its client work on corporate responsibility, sustainability, strategic philanthropy, foundations, and cause marketing. We won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations an unprecedented three times and actively support our employees' pro bono outreach worldwide with our "Making a Difference" program. Social Innovation is a natural progression of our emphasis on building Advocacy for the major issues confronting clients, communities and organizations around the globe."

Social Innovation Fellowship Program

As part of the Social Innovation specialty practice, Weber Shandwick announced the start of its 2009 Social Innovation Fellowship Program. The firm has partnered with leading foundations to select top university student leaders and "embed" them in the agency for 12 weeks this summer. The fellowship participants will work under the direction of Weber Shandwick's Social Innovation team -- as well as the partner foundations -- to research and develop innovative ideas and communications strategies that address pressing social issues facing organizations today.

• Working with the Gill Foundation, three Fellows have been selected to develop a communications toolkit and best-in-class strategic approach to fostering collaboration between corporations and non-profit organizations on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) issues. These Fellows will work in Weber Shandwick's New York office.
• Working with the Notah Begay III Foundation, one Fellow has been selected to develop sustainable, model programming for young Native Americans facing increasing rates of obesity and diabetes. This individual will work in Weber Shandwick's Minneapolis office.

"We believe in the philosophy of embedding and we know that organizations that embed innovative social or environmental programs and principles in business, communications and philanthropic strategies solidify reputation, strengthen consumer and employee loyalty, drive growth, and make a positive impact on the world," said Chad Boettcher, senior vice president, Social Innovation, at Weber Shandwick. "We are excited to tap into the creativity and insights of top college students on developing socially innovative programs that can help drive client success."

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 77 markets around the world. The firm's reputation is built on its deep commitment to client service, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, corporate/financial and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advocacy advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. Weber Shandwick was named Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and Large PR Firm of the Year by PR News in 2008.

The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations an unprecedented three times. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Gill Foundation

Established in 1994, the Gill Foundation's mission is to secure equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression. In its 15 year existence, the Gill Foundation has become one of the nation's largest private foundations focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights. During these years, the foundation has invested more than $120 million to support programs and nonprofit organizations across the country that share its commitment to equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

The Gill Foundation also works to enlist and educate donors to provide the effective, large-scale financial support necessary to achieve equality, and joins with like-minded organizations and individuals to put forward a shared vision for doing so. It strives to increase support for equality by improving communications with the American people, and by raising awareness of the contributions made by gay men and lesbians to society. Today, as ever, the Gill Foundation remains invested in equality. For more information, visit www.gillfoundation.org.

Notah Begay III Foundation

The Notah Begay III Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was started by PGA TOUR golfer and Stanford University graduate, Notah Begay III in 2005. The mission of the Foundation is to deliver sustainable, health and wellness youth sports programs in Native American communities in the form of soccer and golf programs. The Foundation strives to be a catalyst for monumental change in Indian Country with three goals including:

• Get Native youth up and active to prevent the future spread of diabetes
• Offer programming designed by Native Americans for Native American Youth
• Positively impact the Native American culture.

For more information on Notah Begay III and the Foundation, visit: www.notah.com.

Contact: Jennifer Norton Weber Shandwick 212-445-8314 norton@webershandwick.com

SOURCE Weber Shandwick Worldwide

Source: PR Newswire

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