News Release

For Immediate Release
February 20, 2009

For more information contact
Marketing Strategies, Inc.
Denise Blackburn, APR or Sarah George
(843) 692-9662
pr@marketingstrategiesinc.com

Grace Ministries Named ’09 SparkStart Recipient

Myrtle Beach, SC— GRACE MINISTRIES has been selected as the Marketing Strategies, Inc. 2009 SparkStart recipient, an award that totals over $2,500 in free public relations and marketing counsel.

Marketing Strategies, Inc., a local advertising and public relations firm, introduced the SparkStart program in 2005 in an effort to give something back to non-profit organizations in Horry County.  “Instead of giving a little to everyone we decided to partner with one organization at a time, in order to make a real impact on their success,” explained agency President and CEO Denise Blackburn-Gay, APR. 

GRACE MINISTRIES, a United Way partner agency serving Horry County, is a private, non-profit program founded in 2006 with a focus on improving the health and well-being of our aging population.  Working with the Horry County Council on Aging and local interfaith communities, GRACE MINISTRIES, through its Neighbor to Neighbor program, provides transportation, without fees, for those who have no other means of accessing health care.

GRACE MINISTRIES will apply their SparkStart grant to expand their Neighbor to Neighbor program, a non-medical support service for the elderly and chronically ill in Horry County that matches volunteers with those who need their help.  “Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is entering into its’ second year. Marketing Strategies is developing a brand image for our program and a public relations strategy that will help us reach our goal of obtaining a bank of volunteers that can support the clients we serve,” explained Harry Campbell, GRACE MINISTRIES Executive Director.

SparkStart recipients are chosen based on the needs and goals of the organization. Marketing Strategies, Inc. works with each group to transform their complex needs and issues into simple, powerful and cost effective messages that will move others to action. Prior recipients have included the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, Waccamaw Youth Center, The Horry County Historical Society and SharedCare.

For more information on SparkStart, visit http://www.marketingstrategiesinc.com/ and click on the SparkStart icon.


Harry and Ann Campbell of GRACE MINISTRIES review materials with Sarah George of Marketing Strategies. GRACE MINISTRIES was recently selected as the Marketing Strategies, Inc. 2009 SparkStart recipient.