Company pulls an all-nighter to help nonprofits

By Cosby Woodruff • September 12, 2008

The marketing agency soon found the event built camaraderie among its workers that helped the company as much as it helped any nonprofit.

Cindy Scott, who works in business development for the firm, said that was an unexpected but welcome part of the project.

"We knew we would be proud of the work," she said. "We had no idea it would bring us together so much as a company."

Each year LWT lines up a group of nonprofit groups that may need help designing a logo, a brochure or even a complete marketing plan. The company then stops its normal work for 24 hours and works around the clock to put together what the nonprofits need.

Scott estimated the work would cost up to $75,000 if billed at full rate.

This year's event began Thursday and continues to noon today.

Scott said staffers come up with surprising good ideas in the middle of the night, comparing it to pulling an all-nighter writing a term paper in college.

"Sometimes there is something magical that happens in the middle of the night," she said.

The event started simply as a way for the company to help the community.

"That is exactly what it is," Scott said. "We have been a part of this effort for seven years now and every year is more exciting."

This year's non-profit groups are the Children's Museum of Alabama, Center for Childhood & Adolescent Development, Alabama Storyteller's Guild, Nellie Burge Community Center, Autauga County Children's Policy Council, Footprints Ministry, Historic Southview, the Montgomery Chorale and Character@Heart.

Scott said the event is voluntary for the company's 25 employees, who give their own time during the event. Still, she said almost every employee chips in to help.

It is fun, she said, and filling.

"We eat good," Scott said. "That is one of my jobs, and I always have a couple of surprises planned."