The Foundation for the Orthopaedic Children’s Hospital or “el Ortopédico” - as we call it - is one of ARS DDB’s oldest and most prized clients. When Eugenio Mendoza, a very important Venezuelan businessman and philanthropist founded the Children’s Poliomelitis Hospital in 1942, he needed support for his cause from the best agency in town. At that time he came to Carlos Eduardo Frias, an intellectual and visionary businessman, founder of ARS Publicidad (that’s us) who offered to work pro-bono for the hospital. Ever since we’ve been their “agency of record.”

After more than 60 years, it’s become increasingly challenging to creatively convince people to give to charities. However, regardless of the current economic situation, we at ARS DDB have been more than happy to work for the Ortopédico during all these years for two main reasons: because we’ve always shared the common value of educating and investing in the protection of the next and future generations of Venezuelans, and, more importantly, because there are few things as satisfying as knowing that we’re doing our part in bringing a smile to a kid who very much needs it.

To that end, we embrace the entire Foundation as a brand, and as such, develop communication strategies for it to grow and achieve its yearly objectives. We, as individuals, also contribute to the Foundation’s cause through donations and participation in events. In short, working for the Ortopédico is great. Not only because it brings out the best in people’s creativity, but also because the motivation goes far beyond top-or-bottom line results. This in the end yields much higher returns for everyone involved: for the kids and for all of us at ARS DDB.

Javier Moya, Executive – Corporate Communications, ARS DDB

Posted on August 25, 2009 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As schools and parents both face the need to trim budgets, and sports being one area that often falls under the axe, private grants that enable kids to participate in sports make a lot of sense. And so does a gentle reminder of the positive impact sports have not only on physical well being but on the development of interpersonal and social skills. KidSport BC, a community-based sport funding program in Canada that makes just this type of grant, and DDB seek to raise awareness of the importance of sports in childhood development and the achievement of success in life with an entertaining TV and radio campaign that to date has received the 2009 Humanitarian Award from the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters and $3 million in gifted media placement.








Paige Calvert, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications,
DDB Group Canada

Posted on August 31, 2009 3:14 PM | Permalink