Flint Hills Resources - educational outreach programs

Project description
As a part of its partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota, Flint Hills Resources sponsors educational outreach programs that bring teachers from the museum to elementary schools throughout the state that might not otherwise be able to take advantage of the museum's resources.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
Goff & Howard has strong connections with reporters at Twin Cities newspapers, television stations, and radio stations as well as with Greater Minnesota media.

How we have assisted them
Goff & Howard collaborated with both Flint Hills and the Science Museum to develop a comprehensive strategy to gain media coverage in Twin Cities and local community newspapers as well as television coverage. Localized press releases generated significant coverage in city newspapers throughout the state, and photo opportunity advisories produced exposure in Twin Cities newspapers and television stations.

Results
Flint Hills' educational outreach programs received substantial coverage in daily and community newspapers as well as television newscasts. The 2010 media coverage surrounding this program reached tens of thousands of people.

"Flint Hills Resources' products and educational programs reach the entire state. With Goff & Howard's media relations help, we make sure that our messages also have a broad reach."

Jake Reint, director of communication, Flint Hills Resources

Saint Mary's University - Toys for Tots

Project description
For the last two years, Saint Mary's University's Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on Toys for Tots, a program providing hope and happiness to economically disadvantaged children during the holiday season.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
Goff & Howard has worked with Saint Mary's University's Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs since 2006. Media strategy is an important part of our work together, and it resulted in identifying Toys for Tots as an excellent recurring opportunity for the university to get involved in the community.

How we have assisted them
Goff & Howard has helped Saint Mary's explore Twin Cities media opportunities while also finding a toy-giving niche that reflects its education mission. Saint Mary's has encouraged donors to contribute toys that spur creativity and thought.

Results
Reps from Saint Mary's University have been interviewed during the KARE 11 10 p.m. newscast both years that the university has participated in Toys for Tots. This has helped raise awareness for Saint Mary's strong Twin Cities presence, in addition to the university's main Winona campus.

"Thanks for always thinking of ways to get the most value for our media relations dollar. Talking about Toys for Tots on KARE 11 was a definite highlight!"

Julia Jenson, director of marketing and communications, Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

Walmart - $4 prescription drug announcement

Project description
Walmart launched a new $4 prescription drug program in Minnesota in November 2006, which made more than 300 generic drugs available at a reduced cost.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
Walmart Minnesota needed an experienced team to help gain localized media coverage across the state to ensure this important announcement reached its audiences.

How we have assisted them
Goff & Howard created a custom Minnesota media list and targeted select media outlets around the state. We invited outstate media to join a conference call with Walmart officials and invited Twin Cities television stations to visit a metro Walmart store to learn more about the program. We also coordinated media interviews throughout Minnesota.

Results
All major Twin Cities television stations and several television stations in Greater Minnesota media markets reported the story. Radio stations and newspapers across the state covered the story extensively – it is estimated that the newspaper stories alone reached more than 1.9 million readers.

Clear Channel Outdoor - digital billboard introduction

Project description
When Clear Channel Outdoor of Minnesota introduced digital billboard technology to the Twin Cities, it provided the technology to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to expand the capabilities of the AMBER Alert network, which seeks to bring about the safe return of abducted children.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
This new technology is about much more than advertising. Clear Channel Outdoor wanted to make sure that the public safety benefits offered by the digital billboards were clearly communicated to the public.

How we have assisted them
Goff & Howard helped Clear Channel Outdoor build a relationship with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and its Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. We then helped Clear Channel Outdoor and the Department of Public Safety coordinate a news conference and announcement materials. We also monitored the print and broadcast news coverage so that we could gauge the successful results of media relations efforts.

Results
Numerous print and broadcast media outlets covered the story, including Twin Cities television stations KARE11 and WCCO, Minnesota Public Radio, the Star Tribune, and the Pioneer Press.