Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

A recent study published by the University of Chicago followed a sample of young adults for six years, from the time when they were 17 or 18 years old and still living in temporary foster care. The results were troubling.  Only 7% of the young women and 5% of the young men had even an associate’s degree.  Fewer than half currently had a job, and most of those working were not earning a living wage (more than one quarter had no income from employment during the past year and half who had worked reported annual earnings of $8,000 or less).  Nearly 40% of these young people have been homeless or “couch surfed” since leaving foster care.  Most notably, as a group, these young people were less educated, more likely to be incarcerated, more likely to experience homelessness, and less likely to be employed than their peers who entered adulthood as part of a permanent family.

To bring awareness to this issue, and to better connect individuals with ways in which they can get involved, CASA of Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services banded together to host a rally on the steps of downtown Pittsburgh’s City-County building. Along with organizing talks by local former foster children, CASA and DHS also mobilized a “flash mob” with CASA and DHS staff members carrying life-size cut-outs representing the number of children currently within the foster care system.

To help support the promotion of the rally and drum up awareness for the Forgotten Child Campaign, I worked with CASA of Allegheny County to “brand the issue” itself, giving the Forgotten Child Campaign a unique identity and setting it apart from their other efforts. Along with postcard-sized handouts, we designed and set up a dedicated micro-site and communication mechanism to collect information from those interested in helping or attending the rally and to carry the momentum for the effort long after the event had past. The event was attended by over 100 people.

View the Forgotten Child Campaign website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (Freelance)

Well, it’s official…CASA of Allegheny County is going green, and I am proud to be helping them get there.

CASA is kicking off a move to a more economical electronically-focused communications strategy, both to trim back costs and to broaden their reach in an environmentally-conscious way.

To notify their audience who normally hears from them then via print, I have developed a postcard for a blanket mailing. This is the first step in our working together to begin slowly directing traffic to the CASA website for quarterly newsletters, event invitations, and other types of materials that have been previously printed.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose — children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children otherwise would have no voice.

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (Freelance)

Following on the heels of a well-received FY07 Annual Report, CASA of Allegheny County again planned an announcement of their milestones for FY08. This time, not surprisingly, a smaller budget necessitated a more straightforward approach to the communication of CASA’s successes for the year.

Using a single-fold standard-sized self mailing postcard, I designed a simple and warm piece featuring kids holding their “grade” for CASA’s performance this past year!

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose — children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children otherwise would have no voice.

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

For communication with the general public, I created a brochure system for CASA of Allegheny County that used an insert approach. Using die-cut tabs, any in a series of information cards can be substituted for the different types of audiences CASA reaches out to, including potential advocacy volunteers, donors or the general community.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole  purpose — children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

I was responsible for all concepts, design and production coordination for the CASA Volunteer Poster series, used to recruit potential advocacy volunteers and donors.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose…children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /

2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

CASA of Allegheny County is just one local organization in a nationwide network of regional CASA offices. With strict national identity guidelines to adhere to, CASA of Allegheny County made clever use of their standards to recreate a full set of materials from the ground up.

Their new presence in the community started with a fresh new website, complete with smiling children and a warm and inviting look and feel. A primary goal for CASA’s new campaign was recruiting volunteers. An increase in these numbers means more help for the children — and that’s top priority. Launch of the new site increased their website traffic by more than 120%.

The CASA site also underwent a revamp  in February of 2008 to wrap the entire site architecture in a content management system (CMS). CASA staff can now handle all of the needed changes using a customized administrative interface.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose – children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /
2005 ADDY
Website | Public Service

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

For their first-ever annual report, CASA of Allegheny County set out to communicate to an expanded audience of donors, supporters and volunteers. With a careful balance of whimsy and elegance, the report covers CASA’s community impact over the year, as well as their ambitious plan for growth.

Along with emotional and moving stories, statistics and financials, the report announces CASA’s 25-year growth strategy, laying the groundwork for an increasingly widespread advocacy effort.

Equal in importance to the practical information was CASA’s underlying message — planning for their legacy of service to the children and families of Allegheny County was as critical as their current activities.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole  purpose — children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

With strict national identity guidelines to adhere to, CASA of Allegheny County made clever use of their standards to recreate a full set of materials from the ground up.

I was responsible for the design of an updated identity system, including business papers and personal note cards.

This identity was also extended to a refreshed website, quarterly newsletter, corporate brochure, annual report and various other collateral.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose…children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /
2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

I handle all design and production of the Cigar Dinner and Auction materials each year, including invitation, sponsor recognition signage and event program.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose – children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /
2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

I handle all design and production of the CASA of Allegheny County quarterly newsletter.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose – children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /
2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

I handle all design and production of the Spring auction event materials each year, including invitation, sponsor recognition signage and event program.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose – children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children otherwise would have no voice.

/ Award /
2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >