The Results
Turning a community center into a non-profit leader
Our media relations work has yielded local and national stories, amassing more than 48 million media impressions valued at nearly $4 million over two years. The Y’s programs have been featured on every Chicago-market TV station, radio news, and prominent print publications, including a major feature on the front page of the Sunday Chicago Tribune. For the Y’s creative mentor program that pairs military veterans with Chicago area teens fighting the pull of gangs, Marj Halperin and team landed a significant, 13-minute segment on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered program, closely followed by a report on CBS Sunday Morning.
The team also worked with the Y to mobilize supporters for its Teen Reach afterschool programming and Child Care Assistance Program following funding cuts. Through a joint effort, Marj and team prepared messaging materials and identified pivotal legislators, connecting them with families in their home districts facing the effects of these cuts.
Through a strategic approach to public affairs, Marj Halperin and team were able to raise awareness of the Y as a non-profit leader in the city and the state, deepen relationships with community partners and government leaders, highlight its expertise in early childhood education, and promote the organization’s deep roots in communities throughout the Chicago area.