Southern California PR firm Authentic PR is awarding $10,000 in PR services to a Los Angeles or Orange County nonprofit for its 2012 Gift of Hope Award. Due to the tough economic climate, donations to nonprofits are down. Authentic PR wants to help one organization by handling its publicity and marketing for a year so it can apply more donations directly to community needs. Nonprofits should submit applications by January 6th, and the winner will be announced on January 17th.

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Southern California Company Announces Call for Entries for the $10,000
Grand Prize for its 2012 Gift of Hope Award for Outstanding Southland
Non-Profit Service
Authentic PR will award $10,000 in public relations services for one year to the winning
Los Angeles or Orange County-based Charity
Thursday December 1, 2011 – Southern California – Due to tough economic climate with non-
profit organizations receiving fewer donations, Los Angeles and Orange County based charities
are invited to compete for $10,000 in publicity, marketing services for 2012.
According to Giving USA, a report compiled by the American Association of Fundraising
Counsel, figures on American philanthropy in 2010 showed that individuals and bequests
contribute 80% of donations. That number goes to 87% percent if you include family
foundations. Corporate giving falls in the minor 15 - 20% range. Entering 4th quarter of 2011,
more than half of contributions to non-profits are down from 2010.
Mary Ann McQueen Butcher, Managing Partner for Authentic PR said, “If you study the statistics
or simply read the news, it’s obvious that a large segment of the population is barely getting by.
That means many of them need and, hopefully, are getting help from local charities. It’s these
local charities that need as much of our support as possible. Further, we want to do our part
after the holidays when contributions slow down.”
“We have the expertise to make a difference for at least one non-profit organization,” remarked
Dustin C. Parker, Partner. “There are scores of non-profit’s helping families, animals, homeless,
environment and many others. We want to handle the publicity & marketing for the winner of this
competition so they can apply more of their donations directly to the needs of the community
while we work to increase cause awareness which can become more contributions.”
Submissions will be accepted Friday, December 2, 2011 - Friday, January 6, 2012.
Winners will be announced on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
TO BE CONSIDERED, NON-PROFITS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING:
• Be a current 501(c)(3) organization in good standing for minimum 3 years
• Organizations must be based in Los Angeles - Orange County (may be affiliated with national
charity). Programs of nonprofits, unincorporated nonprofits and coalitions are ineligible
• Organizations may self nominate or have someone/company apply on their behalf
• Provide a 500-word narrative or a 5-minute video provided that includes the following:
o A description of the charity’s work, who it serves and why it needs services

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• Three references are required. References can include board members, funders, community
partners or other stakeholders, but are preferably not staff members of the nominated
organization.
• The immediate past year’s financial statements or recent 990. If the 990 is not available, then
internally-­‐produced financial statements with descriptions of internal review and controls may be
submitted
• One Letter of recommendation from someone who isn’t a staff/board member at the nominated
organization or the person making the nominating & can corroborate/validate the information
submitted, activity, initiative or accomplishments
HOW TO NOMINATE A NON-PROFIT:
Visit Authentic PR on Facebook www.Facebook.com/AuthenticPR. “Like” the page and then
gain access to the nomination application.
To submit your video, visit Authentic PR at www.YouTube.com/AuthenticPR Create A Video
Response to Gift of Hope Video.
HOW NOMINATIONS ARE EVALUATED:
The Authentic PR Management & trusted advisors will review all submissions.
ABOUT AUTHENTIC PR:
While just over four years old, Authentic PR has decades of successful marketing and public
relations experience thanks to its principals and staff members who have worked directly for and
with companies like Disney, Intel, Century 21, Cisco Systems, Google, Pepsi and Frito Lay.
The organization builds strategies for traditional marketing and public relations as well as digital
marketing, social media and search engine optimization for companies large and small.
CONTACT INFO:
Mary Ann McQueen Butcher, Managing Partner - Authentic PR
310 492-5815 / 714 845-7141
info@Authentic-PR.com
Facebook: Authentic PR Twitter: @Authentic_PR
Images are available at www.Authentic-PR.com or http://photobucket.com/AuthenticPRPhotos
Additional information is available at
www.Authentic-PR.com/Nonprofit