Many adfolk help OTSC luncheon reach $500K goal

Lead agency Two by Four seven Platinum Sponsors and a small army of dedicated adfolk from 10 agencies who worked since last summer planning the 102nd annual holiday Off the Street Club luncheon, expect close to 750 guests Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Swissotel

Some 72 tables of 10 have been sold as of today and raffle tickets are still going fast, says Jen Nicks, Two by Four’s VP/director of operations. 

The annual holiday luncheon is the major fundraiser for the  club that has been a safe haven for disadvantaged inner-city kids in one of the most dangerous and poorest neighborhoods in Chicago since the turn of the century. 

Founded in 1900 by a Catholic priest, the advertising industry began supporting the Club two years later and hasn’t stopped since.  It has been headed since 1981 by the tireless and compassionate Ralph Campagna, a candidate for sainthood if there ever were one.

The luncheon is expected to raise $500,000-plus for the Club, abetted by the sale of raffle tickets by most of the city’s ad agencies and PR firms.  The big raffle draw is a $10,000 cash prize generously donated by the board of the director of the Chicago 4As.

This year’s luncheon success is due to new people and new agencies getting involved, says Nicks. “A group of people from DDB and Omni Media brought on new media entities that hadn’t been involved in the past.” 

The agency list includes Laughlin Constable, Sponge, Marketing Store, PHD Novius, Accuen Omnicom and many new media companies, Media Mass, Rocket Fuel, Resolution Media, Yext, YuMe, Diane Nevin and Edelman.

Nicks says kudos are especially due to the people instrumental in table sales – Trish Chuipek of OMD; Sue Selig and Bob Scarpelli of DDB; the Digitas team of Caitlin Sinns and Kevin Nazal for raffle sales “and to our friend Jackie Vitiello at O&M for helping with the luncheon day of logistics.”

While Nicks acknowledges the help received, she cites her agency’s contributions: Jessica Montrie, PR; copywriters Adam von Ohlen, Alex diBucci, Matt Kappmeyer and Mike Vithoulkas; art directors Kitti Gould and Hanser Quintela; designer Alyssa Low.

Also Rubin Gomez, director of production; Josh Fotheringham, production artist; Molly Ryerson, production manager; Matto Bertesa, interactive programmer, and account people Chad Snyder, Julie Baker and Andrea Patsalides.

“We had phenomenal people working on our two videos,” Nicks adds, crediting Cutters’ video, directed by Bo Akers and Cap Gun’s, directed bu Alex Fendrick and edited by The Colonie’s Tom Pasterelle.

Two by Four’s president/executive creative director will make the opening remarks at the luncheon, followed by Ralph Campagna, and the Girl and Boy of the Year presentation and raffle drawings.

If you’ve not purchased your raffle and luncheon tickets, you may still do so at http://www.2012otscluncheon.org/.