SEMpdx had several surplus promotional Snuggies left over from SearchFest 2010, which we had been using as giveaways at our events. However, when we heard that funding was cut for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization’s (IRCO) senior services program, we decided to donate our remaining Snuggies to the seniors in the program; many of whom are unable to pay their heating bills.
So, we rounded up a crew and headed out to IRCO. Approximately 100 seniors were greeted with a fun surprise during their weekly gathering for a Loaves & Fishes meal at IRCO. The free SEMpdx Snuggies were distributed through a raffle to the refugees and legal immigrants who use IRCO’s senior services program.
Here’s some video of SEMpdx giving away Snuggies
And you can see pictures from the giveaway over on our SEMpdx Flickr Group as well
About the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Forced to leave their home countries for fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, nearly 1,200 refugees arrive in Oregon each year. IRCO empowers them to successfully integrate into American society by removing the barriers to self-sufficiency and supporting employment. Many of its clients do not speak English, have little money and lack the social support networks many mainstream Americans can count on in times of need.
- The IRCO Website: www.IRCO.org
- Follow IRCO on Twitter: Twitter.com/IRCOnews
- IRCO blog post on the giveaway: SEMpdx Gives IRCO Seniors Snuggies!
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Coverage:
- OregonLive: Blanket Donation Warms Low-Income Seniors Affected by Recession Cuts
- KPTV: Snuggie Donations Keep Local Seniors Warm
Ben Lloyd, Principal at Add3 and co-founder of SEMpdx, started his internet marketing experience in 1999 as an offshoot of his music industry background where he had the opportunity to promote lifestyle Web sites to teens. Shortly thereafter, he took that experience back to Portland and began agency life where he honed his search marketing skills. In 2003, Ben moved on to form his own search engine marketing agency, Amplify Interactive, which was acquired by Seattle-based digital marketing agency Add3 in 2013. Ben is now responsible for managing the Portland office for Add3 as well as client strategy and marketing for Add3.