Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Overview

First Annual Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

“Pittsburgh Hugs the World” September 6, 2012

Summary:

PositvelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM, a nationally recognized on-line media outlet, is organizing the First Annual Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM on September 6, 2012.  This innovative and exciting event will bring local, regional, and national exposure and recognition to the city of Pittsburgh, and to these four nonprofit organizations:  Cancer Caring Center, Sickle Cell Society, Inc., and Passion for Life Foundation and Operation Troop Appreciation.  There will be a series of activities during the year culminating in a major event on September 6, 2012.  It is the great wish of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates to make an event that brings national attention and prominence to these local charities, their missions and attention to Pittsburgh as city of friendship and co-operation. 

Benefits of Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

·         City wide Pittsburgh exposure

·         Additional national coverage

·         Credibility with government and city officials

·         Name and branding recognition

·         Enhancement of possibilities for donations and volunteers

·         Organizers of event:

o   Mary Pam Kilgore is seasoned event planner whose major event in Pittsburgh has grown from 500 to 4,000 attendees in nine years.  In her twenty-year career as an event planner, she has helped to raise thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations.

o   JoAnn Forrester is a thirty-year business consultant who has raised over 40 million dollars for small businesses.  As the co-founder of Celebrate & Share and the Women of Achievement event, and the Pennsylvania Hall of Achievement JoAnn has excelled in helping organizations that benefit women and children.

o   Joanne Quinn-Smith, received the Small Business Administration Journalist of

The Year Award for highlighting small businesses and nonprofits on her four

Internet radio shows and Pittsburgh’s first internet radio and TV network.

She is a sought after media source and in 2010 PositivelyPittsburghLive Magazine.com™ was one of four national finalists for best media website through the National American Business Stevie Awards.

o   All three principals are board members with various local organizations including the National Association of Women Business Owners.

o   CVs for all are available upon request.

o   Both JoAnn Forrester and Mary Pam Kilgore are hosts of Pittsburgh syndicated internet radio shows.

·         Marketing and Public relations campaign provided to the charities through the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM is valued at $100,000.00 plus

·         Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, owned by Joanne Quinn-Smith, is a recognized expert in the niche of Web 2.0 Branding

·         PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM is providing for one year a dedicated internet TV channel for the charities.  This will give the charities access to a platform of over one million accumulated listeners and 220,000 monthly hits to the websites, 62,000 unique visitors per month.  Value of this yearly dedicated channel subscription alone is over $7,000.00.

Description of Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Events:

Lead Up Events:

A number of activities have been established with the support of Pittsburgh City Council including

• February 14^th Proclamation declaring September 6^th as Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Day.  There will also be a group hug with City Council Members.
• Hug Ambassador Events are open auditions to be huggers at the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Events of September 6^th. 
• Hug Ambassador Auditions will be held in the City Council Districts.  Next year we look to do preview events in all City Council districts.
• Hug Ambassador Auditions will scheduled during the months of June, July and August
• Hug Ambassador Categories will include, but aren’t limited to:
• Best Granny Hugger
• Best EMS Hugger
• Best Sports Hugger
• Best Entertainment and media Huggers
• The Hug Ambassador Event Winners will be determined by contributions made on Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Facebook page and donations raised at the preview events.  All winners will secure Act 33 and Act 34 clearances prior to the September 6^th event.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Outdoor Event, September 6, 2012

• The outdoor event will be held in five locations in downtown Pittsburgh.  These Hug locations are the City County Building, Market Square, Katz Plaza, underneath Macy’s Clock, and one location to be determined.
• After checking with the Pittsburgh Police Traffic Division it was determined, the best hours for the outdoor event will be 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. 
• There will be signage and entertainment to draw attention to the Huggers. 
• The hugs will be free.  Donations will be accepted.
• The necessary permits to have the outdoor Hug-A-Thon event will obtained by Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Gala Event September 6, 2012

• The evening event will be a gala event held at a downtown venue.  The event will be from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Celebrity Hug Stations will be set up around the room.  Celebrities will include local sports figures, media personalities, and entertainers. 
• There will be sponsor tables and other vendor tables representing various local and national businesses. 
• There will be sponsor signage throughout the room.
• There will be musical entertainment during the day and at the gala event in the evening.
• There will be a silent auction and ticket auction
• There will be food.
• The expected attendance is 300. 

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Promotion

• Viral Facebook Campaign with Videos of Huggers
• Send a Hug Campaign to Your Favorite First Responder
• Text message donations
• Dedicated Channel on PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM
• Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM

Super Facebook FanPage with Reveal Pages for sponsors, contests and prizes

• Viral Social Media Campaign
• Branded Press Releases for all organizations provided by Dreamweaver Marketing Associates to be distributed
• Online calendar and event promotion
• Online and traditional interviews by principal media sponsors
• Full media plan available upon request

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Sponsorship

• There are various levels of sponsorship for the Pittsburgh-Hug-Thon ranging from $50.00 to $50,000.00.
• PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com is a Title Sponsor and Founder of the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™. 

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Supporters

• Pittsburgh City Council members.
• Media Sponsors
• Soul Pitt
• Eventsburgh
• PG-13 Magazine
• Black Tie Pittsburgh
• Women’s Independent Press
• Positive Pittsburghers™
• PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Radio
• TechnoGrannyShow™ Internet Radio
• EmpressofBiz™ Internet Radio
• PlannersPointers™ Internet Radio
• Pittsburgh Sports Line

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Sponsors

            Building Bridges for Business

            SI Business Associates

            Kilgore Business Services, LLC

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM Team

• Joanne Quinn-Smith, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, Publisher and Editor, Founder Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• JoAnn R. Forrester, SI Business Associates, Strategic Director Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Mary Pam Kilgore, Kilgore Business Services, LLC, Event Planner Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Allen Levine, Pittsburgh Sports Line Host, Community Relations and Development Director Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Linda Handley, Social Media Director, Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Mary Beth Kratsas, MBK Photography, Official Photographer Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM
• Dean Quinn, Development Director, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

About Dreamweaver Marketing Associates: 

2009 U.S. Small Business Administration National Journalist of the Year

Joanne Quinn-Smith, Creative Energy Officer, aka the TechnoGranny™

Dreamweaver Marketing Associates,

Publisher:  PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com^TM

1449 Swantek St.; Pittsburgh, Pa. 15204

412-628-5048

E-Mail: joanne@positivelypittsburghlivemagazine.com

Joanne Quinn-Smith, owner and CEO, Creative Energy Officer, of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, a successful Pittsburgh-based marketing company and trendsetter for online journalism.  Joanne is an internationally known as the “Get Your Google On” Gal.  Better known as Techno Granny to her thousands of online listeners worldwide, Joanne has created a revolutionary online NEW MEDIA platform in Internet broadcasting, blogging and other social media participation that represents the new second generation of the World Wide Web interactions, known in technology circles as Web 2.0.  Joanne is the online publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com™, an online community magazine to disseminate the Positive News for Positive Pittsburghers.  PPL Mag^TM is also an internet Pittsburgh radio and TV network with syndicated channels and online radio and TV capabilities.  Joanne’s radio shows have reached over one million accumulated internet and live listeners.

Miscellaneous:

• Joanne Quinn-Smith and Dreamweaver Marketing Associates own all copyrights, trademarks and service marks and branded material associated with Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh^TM and is responsible for all public relations, promotions, and marketing.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is the parent company of PositivelyPittsburghLive^TM Radio Talkcast and PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Roving Pittsburgher Review: St. Patrick's Pops with Natalie MacMaster

Roving Pittsburgher Review

St. Patrick's Pops with Natalie MacMaster

by

Joanne Quinn-Smith

Natalie Mac Master "Cape Breton Girl!"

Sometimes you get busy and just don’t pay attention to things you have really loved in your life.  That’s the case with fiddle music.  Until my friend mentioned that there was a fiddler coming to Heinz Hall that he would really like to hear because he really appreciated talent, I began to investigate.  That’s when I discovered the concert of Cape Breton Island in Canada lass, Natalie Mac Master. Until the first note of the Irish Rhapsody played by the Symphony Pop Orchestra, I did not remember how much I loved fiddle music.   I have a dim memory of square dancing as a teenager but I didn’t recall the fun of real toe tapping fiddle music.

This demur mother of four fiddled and clogged her way into everyone’s heart.  At one point I am sure she sensed that the audience was concerned at her energetic dancing and she joked into her microphone, “Don’t worry, the other four kids have been through this, too.” 

From the stage she compared Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia to Pittsburgh because of both of their by gone histories of coal mining and truly she might have been a girl from Lawrenceville with her down home attitudes. The only airs she put on were those performed with the symphony. (In fiddle music, airs are often played slowly with rubato, and are not dance tunes.)

I had to openly sigh at her rendition of If Ever You Were Mine, a beautiful fiddle tune that lets you know there really is romance in violin and fiddle music.  In the first half of the show, Stratespey and Three Reels played in 4/4 time made you want to get up and dance even though this symphony crowd was a bit sedate for that.  Ms. Mac Master’s encouraged those who wanted to dance and even with an ailing knee I was tempted.

The second half of the show was as delightful as the first and Natalie’s and Mark Huggins, Associate Concertmaster’s duet rendition of The Anniversary Waltz was like being treated to a succulent gourmet meal of ethereally beautiful music.  This is a duet Mac Masters usually performs with her husband, but Huggins playing was certainly up to the challenge.  I was amazed at how seamlessly the two styles of violining or fiddling meshed.  It was interesting to note as Natalie explained that the fiddle and the violin are basically the same instrument except for the price.

The Three Jigs (traditional fiddle tune played in ¾ time) in the second half actually got a few members of the sedate symphony crowd clapping much to the distress of most of the audience.  The ending of each part of the show was the Stars on the Hill Medley and the Carnival Medley both jammed with melodies and airs and jigs and reels and heart awakening music.

Pittsburgh Symphony Pops with Natalie Mac Master has two days left at Heinz Hall, Downtown, St Patrick’s Day at 7 PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM.  Ms Mac Master will also perform with the pops at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle at 8 PM on Monday.

It’s worth the trip to New Castle if you miss the show in Pittsburgh.

But please, bring open senses, a toe to tap, hands to clap, heads to nod and know that this Cape Breton Lasses music is not sedate.  It is designed to get your heart, soul and whole body to experience the music.  As music changes so much in the 21^st century it is hard to find music that is still an “experience” and Natalie Mac Masters and the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops with a seamlessly meshed performance truly is an “experience” not to be missed.

Host of PositivelyPittsburghLive
Internet Radio Talkcast,
Joanne Quinn-Smith

Joanne Quinn-Smith, Good News Reporter and Host of PositivelyPittsburghLive Internet Radio Talkcast and Publisher of Pittsburgh's First Internet Radio and TV Network, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com  She is also Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, a full service marketing company in Pittsburgh which specializes in Web 2.0 Branding.
(c) Joanne Quinn-Smith 2012