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nonprofit marketing

New Buzz stars Saint Francis Service Dogs 900 670 Michael Hemphill

New Buzz stars Saint Francis Service Dogs

As originally broadcast Sept. 21, 2022, on Blue Ridge PBS …

For more than 150 Virginians with disabilities, dogs are not only best friends, they literally make life meaningful and possible.

Since 1996, Saint Francis Service Dogs has provided incredibly trained four-legged caregivers that assist in daily living for families confronting autism, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, amputations and paralysis.

Lesser known is the fact that these dogs also provide service to inmates at Bland Correctional Center who help raise and care for them through a prison puppy program. And they provide comfort and calming in facilities throughout Virginia, namely Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center.

Dog-lover and marketing maven Carrie Cousins, director of marketing at LeadPoint Digital, returns to BUZZ to help Saint Francis Service Dogs enhance its popular “Barks & Rec” fundraiser. 

Please join us in thanking these sponsors for making this episode possible:

Coming this fall/winter on BUZZ 1024 576 Michael Hemphill

Coming this fall/winter on BUZZ

Mark your calendars!

We’ve been buzzy producing new episodes – and more importantly helping new nonprofits – for Season 3 of BUZZ!

Tune in to Blue Ridge PBS every Wednesday at 7:00 pm (or our YouTube channel) to watch previous episodes and these new ones:


September 21- Saint Francis Service Dogs

For more than 150 Virginians with disabilities, dogs are not only best friends, they literally make life meaningful and possible. Since 1996, Saint Francis Service Dogs has provided incredibly trained four-legged caregivers that assist in daily living for families confronting autism, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, amputations and paralysis.

Lesser known is the fact that these dogs also provide service to inmates at Bland Correctional Center who help raise and care for them through a prison puppy program. And they provide comfort and calming in facilities throughout Virginia, namely Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center and Virginia Tech School of Medicine.

Dog-lover and marketing maven Carrie Cousins, director of marketing at LeadPoint Digital, returns to BUZZ to help Saint Francis Service Dogs enhance its popular “Barks & Rec” fundraiser. 


October 19 – West End Center

In the 1970s during summers and after school, children often wandered the streets without supervision of Roanoke’s West End, a neighborhood defined by poverty and crime, vacant lots and vandalized buildings. But then a group of churches and civic groups came together to establish West End Center as a safe haven — and more importantly, hope — for the neighborhood children.​

Today, West End Center serves about 150 children each year, providing them and their families with low-cost academic enrichment, wellness programs and leadership training to become productive, responsible adults. 

BUZZ partner 5Points Creative returns to provide a comprehensive marketing package to promote West End Center to a wider audience.


November 30 – FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge

For much of its history, FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge helped the National Park Service maintain vistas and hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. But in 2021 the National Park Service ended the partnership, inspiring FRIENDS to pivot and expand its mission beyond the parkway to the communities of the Blue Ridge.

That pivot includes celebrating the region’s musical heritage by hosting the first-ever Blue Ridge Jamboree, an annual event with multiple shows in the communities where FRIENDS chapters are located. The inaugural Jamboree features “Doc Watson at 100” with performances by Wayne Henderson, Jack Lawrence, T. Michael Coleman and Jack Hinshelwood. 

New to BUZZ, Big Lick Entertainment is donating its time and expertise to help plan and promote the Jamboree.


January 4 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia offers a safe place to learn and grow, plus life-enhancing programs and character development experiences for hundreds of schoolchildren. 

Within its 11 sites in Roanoke, Salem, Montgomery and Franklin counties, BGCSWVA promotes the development of boys and girls by instilling “a sense of competence, a sense of usefulness, a sense of belonging, and a sense of influence.”

In need of a digital overhaul, BGCSWVA receives a website upgrade from a member of the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke.


January 11 – Roanoke City Schools’ Art Program

From marching bands and string ensembles to musical theater, visual arts and all-star choruses, Roanoke City Public Schools’ arts programs are second to none in Virginia. 

But coming out of the Covid pandemic, many students and their families too often aren’t aware of all the free artistic offerings — and life-long opportunities — that the school system provides. 

In partnership with the Roanoke Cultural Endowment and City of Roanoke, BUZZ highlights the programs and people that comprise the Roanoke City Public Schools’ arts education … in hopes that more children will be inspired to participate. 

BUZZ Season 3 premier features Grandin Theatre Film Lab 900 504 Michael Hemphill

BUZZ Season 3 premier features Grandin Theatre Film Lab

As originally broadcast August 10, 2022, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Since 2016, Grandin Theatre’s Film Lab has provided an after-school program for high school students eager to learn how to make movies.

But dozens of films later — some of which have received EMMY awards and been screened in festivals around the world — and the Film Lab remains somewhat unknown despite the fact it’s earned its own red-carpet treatment.

Using Film Lab’s own tools and talents, BUZZ seeks to shine a spotlight on this amazing program with a special hour-long episode that launches of our third season on Blue Ridge PBS.

BUZZ features Roanoke’s Healing Arts to conclude Season 2 900 506 Michael Hemphill

BUZZ features Roanoke’s Healing Arts to conclude Season 2

As originally broadcast July 27, 2022, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Throughout his life, Dr. Robert L.A. Keeley was not only known for his medical talents in the Roanoke Valley, but his musical gifts as well. So much so that upon his death, Carilion Clinic in collaboration with the Keeley family founded a Healing Arts program.

Today, Carilion Clinic offers a variety of “healing arts” resources such as artists-in-residence who provide therapeutic treatments to patients and staff.

Other nonprofits are also working in this space. Roanoke Symphony has partnered with Anderson Music Therapy on regular programs for memory-loss nursing home residents. Taubman Museum of Art hosts “healing ceiling tiles” in which community members turn ceiling tiles into artwork that’s hung in Carilion Clinic patient rooms. And 5 Points Music Sanctuary provides help for everyone from children with autism to adults suffering from depression.

This episode is the third of a 6-part series of BUZZ focusing on Roanoke’s arts and cultural nonprofits, produced in collaboration with the Roanoke Cultural Endowment, City of Roanoke, and Carilion Clinic.

NEWS RELEASE – BUZZ kicks off Season 3 with Happy Hour and Watch Party 900 506 Michael Hemphill

NEWS RELEASE – BUZZ kicks off Season 3 with Happy Hour and Watch Party

July 25, 2022 (Roanoke, Va.) – To celebrate the premier of Season 3 of BUZZ, all are invited to a Happy Hour on Aug. 3 at Olde Salem Brewery in downtown Roanoke and a free Watch Party on Aug. 9 at the Grandin Theatre.

Launched in August 2020 on Blue Ridge PBS, BUZZ features Virginia nonprofit organizations receiving pro bono “marketing makeovers” from creative professionals affiliated with the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke. 

“During our first two seasons and 22 episodes, we’ve shared the stories of more than 30 different nonprofits, and provided them with valuable marketing resources to help them create more buzz,” said Michael Hemphill, Buzz4Good creator and show host. “Season 3 promises to be even more impactful featuring nonprofits such as Saint Francis Service Dogs, Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge, and Roanoke Public Schools’ art programs.”

The season kicks off with a Happy Hour on Aug. 3, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ole Salem Brewery on Market Street in downtown Roanoke. One dollar of each beer sold will go to AAF Roanoke to support production of future episodes.

On Aug. 9, Buzz4Good hosts a free sneak peek Watch Party at the Grandin Theatre for its season premier that airs Aug. 10, 7 p.m., on Blue Ridge PBS. The episode is a special hour-long BUZZ  that not only stars Grandin Theatre’s Film Lab but is being produced by Grandin Theatre Film Lab.

“The Grandin Theatre has been home to all of our BUZZ watch parties,” said Hemphill. “We’re thrilled to start Season 3 by providing the Grandin with more buzz of its own.”

Virginia is home to hundreds of nonprofits – from homeless shelters and food banks to children’s choirs and art museums. As skilled as these organizations are in fulfilling their missions, they often lack the time, expertise, personnel or bandwidth to properly promote themselves. This lack of good marketing – this shortage of buzz, if you will – limits their ability to reach more clients, patrons, volunteers and donors who will further their cause.

Over its first two seasons, BUZZ has featured Southwest Virginia Ballet, Healing Strides of Virginia, Mill Mountain Zoo, RAM House, Eastmont Community Foundation, Feeding Southwest Virginia, Virginia811, Giles County foster care, Blue Ridge Women’s Center, Christiansburg Institute, Children’s Assistive Technology Service, Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley, Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Children’s Theatre, Tudor House, Council of Community Services, Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia, and others. All are available on demand at buzz4good.com/episodes

In fall 2021, Buzz4Good added a weekly radio show airing Saturdays 4 p.m. on WFIR (also available on buzz4good.com/podcast) that interviews nonprofit leaders throughout Southwest Virginia.

Season 2 concludes Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m., with an episode on Roanoke nonprofits involved in the “Healing Arts,” produced in partnership with Carilion Clinic, Roanoke Cultural Endowment and City of Roanoke. The Grandin will host a free Watch Party that night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Register for all events at buzz4good.com/events

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Contact:

Michael Hemphill | Creator of Buzz4Good
www.buzz4good.com | michael@buzz4good.com | 540.556.2879
@buzz4good on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn