LWT Communications will donate more than 500 hours to nine area nonprofit groups during this week's CreateAthon.

Employees of LWT, a Montgomery marketing and advertising firm, will provide free creative services to the nonprofit groups for 24 straight hours -- from noon Thursday until noon Friday.

David Allred, a partner in LWT, said participating in the national charity campaign promotes team-building and also helps the profit side of the business by generating new clients through the charity work.

"After the second year I realized we got as much out of it as people we help," Allred said.

It will be the company's sixth year of participating in the CreateAthon, which is in its 10th year.

Workers at the nonprofits are not at all bashful about what the free professional work means to their groups.

"We are absolutely thrilled and delighted," said Hallie Wall, development director for Resurrection Catholic Missions, one of this year's nonprofit groups.

"I cannot tell you how important it was for us to be selected," she said. "We are so grateful to have been selected."

LWT will create a complete marketing plan and a brochure for Resurrection, which operates a number of social service and educational programs.

Wall said the Father Walter Center for Handicapped Children is the group's biggest program. The group also operates programs for senior citizens, an addiction center and a school.

Wall said she hopes to raise her group's profile, and eventually its ability to raise money, through the CreateAthon.

"We hope we will be able to have a larger identification in the Montgomery area," she said.

Allred said his company typically charges about $100 per billable hour. With 23 employees working 24 hours, LWT estimates its donation to the project is worth about $55,000.

"We put a lot of effort into our work for our paying clients," he said. "We feel the same way about our CreateAthon clients."

LWT notifies its regular clients in advance that it will be closed for CreateAthon. Some clients send food or other treats to the office for CreateAthon, Allred said.

"Our paying clients for every other day of the year make this possible," he said.