At Faith in Marketing, we whole-heartedly believe that life is precious and our time on earth is short. With that in mind, we actively participate in the community, and constantly encourage others to do the same.

In April, Faith in Marketing president, Thom Hiatt, emceed the American Lung Association’s “Taste the Decade – Fabulous 40s” event at San Diego’s newly remodeled Naval Training Center in Point Loma. Prior to the event, Faith in Marketing designed all event signage and secured promotional time on KOGO-AM, Star 94.1, as well as a live appearance from News 8’s Weather Anchor Shawn Styles. The event was the association’s most successful yet.

In June, we were invited to host “Austin’s Day” at Rancho San Diego Elementary School. Austin is suffering from leukemia, and the event was developed to raise funds to help Austin’s family. To help promote the event, we happily volunteered to design a full-color flyer, and a website for the event, which supplemented an e-campaign. Thom Hiatt, acting as emcee, hosted the event and the live auction. The community came together to raise nearly $10,000 in just three hours!

In July, our entire staff participated in the 2006 Scleroderma 5K Walk at Shelter Island. Prior to the event, we donated a website to “Team Monique” to promote the walk and encourage people to sign up. Monique is the dear mother of one of our clients. Monique passed away in 2003 from Scleroderma. This year, team Monique more than doubled in size to 40 participants.

Whether you can give one hour a month, or three hours a week, you’re guaranteed to feel better after giving back to the community. And it’s usually fun, too! Here are some ideas to get you started:

* Help at Church – they tend to have a variety of groups you can join

* Mentor a Child – join Big Brothers & Big Sisters, or contact your local elementary / middle schools

* Be Healthy – contact the blood, lung, heart, cancer, scleroderma, leukemia societies and associations. They always need smiling volunteers and fresh ideas.