WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of radio stations across the country have been encouraged to help wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan become this nation's most successful and well-adjusted group of veterans. To help meet that objective, stations have been providing everything from free concert tickets to invitations to visit the studios and meet their favorite DJs.
TMPG, Inc., the award-winning media promotion company, came up with the idea to enlist the participation of radio stations as an extension of the agency's own pro bono work on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "honor and empower" wounded military personnel who are now back home following combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We've contacted radio stations we do business with across the United States, urging them to get in touch with Wounded Warriors directly to discuss how they can provide opportunities to enrich the lives of these veterans and their families," says Michael Valentino, CEO of TMPG. "So far, the response has been tremendous," Valentino said.
Stations have also stepped up by contributing tickets to sports events that can be used by veterans and their families; providing access to station events; and airing of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) making listeners aware of the Wounded Warrior Project.
For its part, TMPG has recorded PSAs at their on-premise production facility and is making the spots available to stations to make it even easier for them to support WWP.
"Whatever We Can Do. . ."
"Every year, thousands of men and women return home from combat both physically and emotionally wounded. Whatever we can do to help them recover and make a productive transition back into civilian life is time and money well spent," Valentino said.
Founded in 1991, TMPG has a solid niche in developing and implementing non-traditional radio campaigns for clients that include Kraft, American Express, BMW, Sara Lee and others.
In May, the firm donated use of its state-of-the-art sound studio to record and distribute a series of PSAs on behalf of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. That effort helped MMRF set a record for donations collected at a local fundraising event.