Moms searching for Bobcat souvenirs this weekend will have the opportunity to benefit Athens while making memories.
A T-shirt promotion at College Book Store will donate $2 for every Moms Weekend T-shirt sold to My Sister’s Place, an Athens shelter that helps victims of domestic violence. The shirts cost $10.99.
The weekend has traditionally been one of the best for sales, and the business routinely donates more than $1,000 from the sales, said Andrew Stout, a managing partner at the store.
“It’s a very worthy local cause,” Stout said. “Since we’re a local company, we try to support local philanthropy as much as possible … and do it in a way that gets noticed.”
The store does one such event each quarter coinciding with busy weekends. A benefit during homecoming weekend supports the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, while another during Sibs Weekend supports Big Brothers Big
Sisters, Stout said.
“It’s a philanthropic model you can do continually,” Stout said. “It helps give our customers a reason to feel good, helps customers feel good about what we do, and hopefully attract more customers.”
ImPRessions, an Ohio University student public relations firm, helps publicize the event.
“It’s a very grassroots (campaign),” said Will Harris, an account executive for ImPRessions. “It gets (members) out working with people and gives them a chance to come up with ideas on their own. It’s a valuable experience.”
ImPRessions devotes much of its spring activity to the sale, and members write press releases, post fliers and contribute graphic design to the event, he said.
Harris said he hopes sales will be better this year.
“I think especially with the economy on a better note than last year … you’ll get a better result.”
My Sister’s Place organizers did not return calls seeking comment.
tn336706@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCampus
