Cliff Freeman & Partners, an award-winning full service advertising agency, today announced it has become the pro bono agency of record for Invisible Children, a media-based organization that documents the stories of children affected by conflict and injustice. Cliff Freeman & Partners (CFP) is officially partnering with Invisible Children to share ideas and raise awareness for their cause, which, at this point, is primarily focused on the exploitation of children as soldiers in Uganda. Invisible Children is seeking to not only raise awareness of this plight, but to also raise funds to help assist and rehabilitate these “invisible children.”
Cliff Freeman will specifically collaborate with Invisible Children for the launch of a new program called MEND. A micro-economic solution to the overwhelming need for sustainable jobs for women in war-torn Uganda, this idea
centers around a fashionable handbag. Made in Uganda and sold in stores nationwide, this new campaign will focus on the story behind each bag, bringing the product full circle.
“There is no shortage of passion and creativity at CFP and we are genuinely excited to bring ideas to the table and help raise awareness of Invisible Children and its programs,” said Jeffrey M. McClelland, CEO and Chief
Client Office, Cliff Freeman & Partners. “We believe in the good work that Invisible Children is doing and hope to contribute to the effectiveness of programs that are designed to involve youth in the cause without losing the
organization’s unique grassroots groundswell and approach.”
Some of the current and upcoming programs that Invisible Children uses to raise awareness of the plight of child soldiers exploited in Uganda include, among others:
> Invisible Children: Final Cut: A feature-length film to be released in theaters worldwide that will tell the complete story of the filmmakers’ journey to Uganda and the 23-year war. The first documentary of its kind, audiences will be empowered to respond to the story in a tangible and life-changing way.
> Bracelet Campaign: Provides much-needed economic opportunities for war-affected individuals in otherwise unemployable areas. Each of the bracelet makers is trained in savings and investment in order to leverage their
earnings into future economic opportunities. Each bracelet is packaged with a short film that tells the story of a child affected by the war, increasing awareness worldwide.
> Schools for Schools: An innovative program that provides schools around the world with an opportunity to directly raise funds and awareness to help renovate and rebuild secondary schools in northern Uganda, helping to bring them to a nationally competitive standard. Within the program’s first year, more than 1,500 schools across America raised over $3 million for the program.
“Having an agency of record with Cliff Freeman & Partner’s reputation and integrated creative talent is a huge plus for Invisible Children,” said Jason Russell, co-founder and president, Invisible Children. “The agency’s support of
our core philosophy to leverage media and creativity to spread grassroots awareness and mobilize action will be an invaluable tool as we strive to help children who have been displaced and brutalized by war.”
ABOUT INVISIBLE CHILDREN, Inc:
Invisible Children is a social, political and global movement using the transformative power of a story to change lives. By inspiring youth culture to value creativity, idealism and sacrifice, the movement fuels the most effective,
adaptable and innovative programs in the world. Programs on the ground focus on long-term development through education and economic opportunities, while awareness and advocacy efforts focus on educating and inspiring the Western world to use their unique voice for change. The organization was created after the release of the 2004 film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a revealing documentary about the life of child soldiers in northern Uganda. For more information, visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
ABOUT CLIFF FREEMAN & PARTNERS:
Cliff Freeman and Partners (CFP) is a full service advertising agency headquartered in New York City. Winner of multiple international awards and recognized throughout the industry for its creativity, the agency works with
national brands including Quiznos, Snapple, Baskin Robbins, Barnes & Noble, Bonefish Grill and Valley National Bank. CFP was founded in 1987 by Cliff Freeman (Chairman & Chief Creative Office), Arthur Bijur (Vice Chairman) and Pete Regan (COO).
