HPA Client Launches New, Life-Changing Program

On behalf of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pa. (CILCP), Hershey Philbin Associates (HPA) coordinated and launched a new program that generated interest and intrigue locally and nationally from not only the media, but a general awareness throughout the client's targeted disability community.

The CILCP, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the rights of persons with disabilities through the elimination and prevention of barriers, sought to overcome the obstacles that exist with most referral systems. In response to these barriers, CILCP developed the first-ever, one-stop resource in Pennsylvania that not only assists people with disabilities to obtain basic services and programs, but also offers access to life-changing opportunities that the consumer may not have envisioned.

HPA branded the new program "Living Well With A Disability - One Call. Countless Resources. Endless Opportunities." The program's name and tagline were kept highly guarded until the unveiling at a press conference held at the Capitol Rotunda on July 24, 2007.

HPA booked a line of influential speakers and advocates of people with disabilities from around the area including Speaker of the Pa. House of Representatives, Dennis M. O'Brien and Pa. Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, and Chair of the Governor's Cabinet for people with disabilities, Estelle Richman. At the press conference, CILCP unveiled the program, the program's Hot Line, three television commercials produced by HPA and a Web site developed by HPA.

The unveiling and emotional remarks were heard by nearly 100 social service leaders, advocates and representatives. The launch of the program resulted in coverage from four TV network news affiliates, four regional print publications, full coverage of the press conference shown twice, state-wide, from PCN and national coverage from Open Minds, a trade publication.

Since the unveiling, the Hot Line has received nearly 200 phone calls from individuals requesting not only basic services such as housing and home accessibility, but callers who want to utilize the program's unique services. For instance, a man who is a quadriplegic and wants to hang-glide; a woman wants to publish a book; and a caller who wants to become an attorney.

The Web site has seen almost 700 visits, and nearly 4,000 page views. More specifically, on the day of the launch, the Web site saw 112 hits, and nearly 300 visits two days after the launch of the commercials.

Efforts continue to increase awareness of this program for the CILCP as HPA develops a bi-monthly e-newsletter for the "Living Well With A Disability" program. The first issue was distributed in September. To date, there are nearly 200 people signed up to receive the e-newsletter.

For more information on how to get your organization or program recognized, please contact Victoria Radabaugh.

HPA Brings York and Hanover Social Service Leaders to Meet With State Officials at Family First Health
Events held for National Health Center Week 2007

Hershey Philbin Associate's (HPA) client, Family First Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, hosted their third annual event to celebrate National Health Center Week for Legislators, state and local officials, the health and dental community and supporting social service organizations to discuss health and dental issues important to the community.

Using an integration of Government Relations and Public Relations services, HPA coordinated two events for Family First Health during National Health Center Week, drawing individuals from the surrounding communities.

The Government Relations department at HPA scheduled a Legislative tour for Representative Steven R. Nickol (R-Adams/York) to tour the new Hanover Dental Center on August 6. On August 7, the Government Relations department arranged for Senator Mike Waugh (R-28), Representative Eugene DePasquale (D-95) and Estelle Richman, Pa. Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare to attend a Lunch and Learn session to discuss "York County's Oral Health Delivery System."

"Getting your local and state officials involved in matters that affect our communities can be mutually beneficial for many years to come," said Linda Rhinehart Vice President of Government Relations at Hershey Philbin Associates. "Helping people help others is what it's all about."

Both the Legislative tour and the Lunch and Learn session were publicized by HPA's Public Relations department and resulted in media coverage from the Hanover Evening Sun, Gettysburg Times, York Dispatch, York Daily Record, ABC-27 and FOX-43.

Further, this year's Lunch and Learn session garnered more community attention than ever hosting nearly 100 social service representatives from 36 different organizations, resulting in an overall awareness through both the media and through the client's targeted public.

"By using a mix of communications and government relations services we were able to provide our client with a wide range of support and recognition from policy makers and social service leaders. This interest resulted in major local and regional media coverage," said Jamie Fulginiti, Public Relations Coordinator at Hershey Philbin Associates.

For more information about how Hershey Philbin Associates can build stronger relationships for your corporation or organization, contact Jamie Fulginiti.

Walking, Talking and Living like an Egyptian: One Student's Experience

Zach Miller, a recent government affairs intern at Hershey Philbin Associates, studies political science at Gettysburg College with a concentration in International Affairs and Middle Eastern studies. However, last semester, Zach found himself in the center of Middle Eastern and International Affairs as he spent four-and-a-half months in Egypt studying at the American University of Cairo.

While in Cairo, he took several classes and explored Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. Zach's coursework helped him gain understanding and respect for the Middle Eastern culture and its people. While in Egypt, he took an international politics seminar, a 20th century Middle East history course and, a course in both Elementary Arabic and Egyptology.

"The insight I learned from these classes made me realize that I'd like to focus my career on Egypt's interaction with the United States."

Considering the Middle Eastern interaction with the U.S., for the most part, Egyptian's perception of the U.S. is positive.

"Egyptians feel America is a place for opportunity-especially for jobs," Zach said. "They can tell the difference between an American citizen and an American politician."

Zach's coursework and background gave him insight into the many cultural differences between America and Egypt. However, he learned the most about Egypt through personal experience.

"Synchronizing yourself with the daily Cairo bustle and integrating yourself into other people's lives is really how to learn what it means to be Egyptian," Zach said. "While it was important to study the history, politics and sociology of the country, I found that those subjects were given new meaning by living there."

His assimilation did not come without struggles. One of Zach's first problems was learning how to interact with the opposite sex.

"Most people high-five and generally touch on the arm or shoulder, or kiss on both cheeks," he said. "I was very hesitant in determining whether I should emulate those behaviors or not."

It wasn't just interpersonal interactions that required adjustment; everyday activities posed even more difficulty.

"I had to squeeze my way to the front to get my food order because there are no lines and I quickly learned that nobody obeys traffic laws," Zach said.

The traffic, in Zach's words, was "organized chaos." While Egypt has traffic signals, many people do not obey them. Instead, people communicate through honking. Only the wealthy have cars, others rely on public transportation such as subways and taxis.

While traffic laws aren't a top priority, countering terrorism is. There is very little crime because of the vast police presence, but taking a picture of a bridge or government building is illegal because of the threat of terrorist attacks.

The Egyptian government goes great lengths to protect its citizens, but most of the population has little or no say in the governmental process. Egypt has a one party system where only those involved (or friends of those involved) have influence.

"It is hard to get what you want when you aren't in the system," Zach said. "Politicians are more likely to offer a position to someone they know rather than a normal citizen of Egypt."

With the distinct separation of classes, political patronage has a strong influence in Egypt.

During Zach's stay, the government amended the Egyptian Constitution to give the president more power. When a referendum was taken to gauge the population's opinion of the change, there were only 107 votes. Seventy percent were in favor of the change. Seventy-five people spoke for a country made up of nearly 78 million people.

Despite the social and political differences, Zach has a great deal of respect for the country and what he learned there.

"[Egypt] is the only place that I could have gone in the Arab world that is a city of cultural crossroads. Everything was an experience, from eating dinner in Lebanon with a Lebanese family, to climbing Mt. Sinai in a dazed and freezing state or wandering with a stranger into a Palestinian refugee camp."

Zach will be returning to Gettysburg College for his senior year this fall and is hoping to get into the fields of intelligence analysis and counter terrorism after graduation.

Know someone interested in finding an internship related to public relations, marketing, government or graphic design? Contact Internship Coordinator, Megan Kurtz.

HPA Media Relations Lands Client on CBS-21

Hershey Philbin Associates utilized its media contacts and placement expertise to land long-time client, Family First Health, on CBS-21 Morning News on July 11, 2007.

The segment, which highlighted Family First Health's Nurse Family Partnership titled "Helping Moms" was scheduled to run in conjunction with a CBS Evening News special on Katie Couric's "American Spirit" series.

"It is so important for us to stay in tune to what is going on around the nation so that we can capitalize on opportunities like this one," said Jamie Fulginiti, Public Relations Coordinator. "Knowing that CBS Evening News had plans to feature the Nurse-Family Partnership at a national level gave us the perfect angle with our local CBS affiliate resulting in increased exposure for our client."

CBS-21's Courtney Monie interviewed Kara Kehm, Nurse Family Partnership supervisor and a mother who benefits from the program in a one-and-a-half minute segment giving viewers a better understanding of what Family First Health and the Nurse-Family Partnership have to offer to the York Community.

For more information on how to get your organization the media attention it deserves, please contact Jamie Fulginiti.

Utilizing B2B: American Mint and the National Civil War Museum Sign Licensing Agreement

HPA client, American Mint, a leading provider of high quality coins and memorabilia is constantly searching for museums worthy to commemorate with a coin or replica series.

Hershey Philbin Associates arranged a meeting between American Mint and National Civil War Museum Founder and Mayor of Harrisburg, Stephen R. Reed, to discuss the possibility of embarking on an agreement to create a limited edition series of memorial coins.

In August, the agreement was signed by both parties and a limited edition series titled "The American Civil War," will be available to select populations internationally followed by replica knives and guns available for purchase throughout the year.

The relationship between American Mint and the National Civil War Museum will prove to be mutually beneficial as it will reach a national and international market of millions of Civil War enthusiasts, while generating awareness and revenue and driving visitors to the Museum.

Looking to build relationships with other businesses? Contact Bob Philbin.

Michael Reed Brings Untold Stories And Renaissance Jewelry To Suite 3 Gallery

Hershey Philbin Associates welcomes local photographer and silversmith, Michael Reed to exhibit his art throughout the months of September and October 2007 at the agency's Suite 3 Gallery. The Gallery will be available for public view Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and by appointment at 2101 Orchard Road, Suite 3 in Camp Hill, Pa.

The photography exhibit, titled by Reed as "Untold Stories" is a collection of 10 pieces with two unique styles. The first style Reed characterizes by the use of black and white film with an infrared lens while the second he defines as "digital photography that incorporates whimsy with a look into others' visions."

"My photography is stories of what I see in the light and dark sides of the earth. It allows me to relay my vision in perspective to my audience," Reed said.

Reed's silversmithing takes the form of Renaissance jewelry and is made of several different metals such as silver, brass, pewter and copper. Some of the semi-precious stones used to accent the pieces include pearls, hematite and black onyx. Final touches to the jewelry involve emulsion and enameling. All of the metals and stones Reed uses are strictly those that were available in the time of the jewelry's origin.

"I am intrigued by the hand work and uniqueness that comes out of silversmithing, each piece is entirely made by hand; each knot unique and different from the one before it," Reed said.

The jewelry takes the original shape of hand crafted "Old World" free form Celtic knots that Reed mixes with a Renaissance touch. The pieces range from earrings, bracelets, pins, necklaces and watches. All pieces are custom made.

Reed has recently displayed at the Kipona Festival in Harrisburg, Pa. during Labor Day weekend, as well as showings at various retail shows and the Mantis Collective on North St. in Harrisburg.

He graduated from the Pennsylvania School of Art in Design and from Tyler Metal Concepts. For the past three years, Reed has taught classes on silversmithing at the Art Association of Harrisburg.

Get to Know: Megan Kurtz, Account Manager

Megan Kurtz, Account Manager at Hershey Philbin Associates has been with the agency for over two years. However, her relationship with the agency started long before she took on the position.

Megan was a marketing intern at HPA for a semester during her Junior year of college. After graduating, Megan started her career in marketing at an international publishing firm in Hershey, Pa. However, when the opportunity to come back to HPA arose, Megan jumped on the offer. In April of 2005, Megan started at HPA as an Account Coordinator. Just two years later she was promoted to her current position as Account Manager.

"I couldn't wait to come back to HPA," said Megan. "After interning at the agency I knew it was a place I would one day love to work. The environment, the people, the teamwork and consideration that goes into each project is something I couldn't wait to be a part of."

Get to know Megan:

Title: Account Manager, Internship Coordinator, Media Coordinator

Accounts: Center for Independent Living of Central Pa., Keystone Health Center, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Education: Kutztown University, Bachelor of Arts 2004

Favorite Movie: "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"

Favorite Quote: "Creative ideas flourish best in a shop which preserves some spirit of fun. Nobody is in business for fun, but that does not mean there cannot be fun in business," Leo Burnett.

Favorite Food: Ice Cream (too many flavors to choose from!)

Favorite Brand: New York and Company

Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy, Prison Break, The Office

Favorite Song: Lady in Red

Side Interests and Activities: Penn State football, horseback riding, traveling to new cities, spending time with my family.

Favorite Part of Megan's Job: "I love the variety that comes along with my job, as well as the people I get to interact with both clients and within the agency. I have a real passion for helping people, being creative and learning the trades of different industries. It's amazing how much of a rush you can get after launching a new product or event for a client, and seeing their happiness radiate across the room."