• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Tahoe-based ad agency SJ Marketing uses holiday gifting project to support 4 local non-profits

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Last month, award winning advertising agency SJ Marketing turned its annual client-gift project into a community support campaign, raising more than $1,250 for area non-profits. Proceeds from the campaign, “You’ve Been Givted,” went to four local charities: Awaken Reno, a human trafficking awareness organization; PetNetwork, a Tahoe-based animal shelter; Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT), a local grassroots effort; and the Reno-Tahoe area Meals on Wheels organization.

SJ Marketing owner Kelly Houston said, “When the team met to talk about this holiday’s client gifts, all the usual ideas fell flat. Everyone agreed that ‘stuff’ is fun to give and get, but, in the end we wanted to help others who could use some support which led us to the ‘Givted’ campaign.”

“You’ve Been Givted” provided clients an option to support a local charity in lieu of a holiday gift from the agency. “The whole ‘givt’ concept signifies the combination of getting and giving a gift at the same time,” Houston said.

Account services director Diana Evans said, “To come up with the charity list, each member of the SJ team offered their favorite local organization—one with personal meaning, then we all voted on the top four.”

The agency’s creative team designed an email blast to its client list. The four charity options were included and clients asked to choose to support. SJ collected those choices and made donations to the charities in the clients’ names.

About the Charities
Awaken Reno provides support and rescue services to women and girls caught in commercial sexual exploitation. Their services include long-term and emergency support, mentorship, counseling, transitional housing, transportation, financial aid for college, legal and medical assistance, and a drop-in center.

PetNetwork provides shelter and adoption services to unwanted animals in the Lake Tahoe area. The organization has been active in the area for more than 30 years.

Families for Early Autism Treatment works to provide early intervention for children with autism in Northern California. The group focuses on advocacy for children from lower-income families.

Meals on Wheels is a well-known national organization that supports more than 5,000 local senior nutrition programs in the U.S. The group provides meals and social interaction for isolated senior citizens to improve health and quality of life.

Houston said, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of the campaign. And we’re so thankful to our clients for their awesome response and engagement in the effort. The whole thing was definitely a win.”

SJ Marketing is a creative-based advertising agency founded in 1980 and located in Incline Village, Nev. The agency specializes in travel and tourism marketing, but has clients that reflect all aspects of business and trade. Creative services include marketing strategy, R&D, campaign concepting, design and implementation, digital marketing, email marketing, website development, SEO content campaigns and social media management. Visit the SJ Marketing website at sjmarketing.com.

Top Stories

... or see all stories

The Nevada Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs is honored to announce bipartisan approval of a statewide initiative to expand early learning centers and child care access for Nevada families.

The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the state’s contentious “ghost gun” ban, reversing a lower court’s ruling that the law banning the sale of unfinished frames and receivers of a firearm was unconstitutionally vague.

By state law, once Carson City’s population reaches 60,000 residents, they will be mandated to create a new courtroom complete with a new judge and staff.

However, that comes with a price tag of at least $800,000 in staffing alone — and doesn’t include the price to expand the courthouse.

Reno Tahoe Comedy is proud to present Bobcat Goldthwait at Piper's Opera house in Virginia City on Saturday, April 27. Since his first appearance on the David Letterman Show at the age of 20, Bobcat has gone on to maintain a thriving career as a writer, director, actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian.

The Nevada State Prison Preservation Society is once again offering tours to the community beginning in May and continuing through the month of October.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Carson City will host its first "Walking as One at 1" labyrinth walk on Saturday, May 4 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at 314 N. Division at Telegraph.

"Walking as One at 1" happens on World Labyrinth Day each year where participants across the globe engage in a labyrinth walk at 1 p.m. local time. This synchronized practice creates a 24-hour rolling wave of peaceful energy that passes from one time zone to the next across the world. The idea is to collectively contribute to a sense of unity and harmony.

The Carson City School District will host a quarterly Community Connections event next week, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 5:45-7:30 p.m. at Carson High School.

Carson Animal Services Initiative, also known as CASI, welcomes the community to enjoy an evening of great music, delicious food and wonderful live and silent auction items to support animals in need.

Earlier this month it was announced that Carson City’s Burlington Coat Factory would be closing. Rumors of a potential Hobby Lobby taking its place have now been substantiated.

The popular craft store applied for a permit for the location Wednesday, according to the Carson City Planning Division.

MINDEN — The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that it has published preliminary copies of the revised Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study report for Douglas County and incorporated areas. These materials are available for public viewing on FEMA's website.

Hello fellow anglers. Yes, it is that time of year for the California opening day fishing season. This year we actually will have an opening day. Last year with our excessive snow pack, we were not able to get on many rivers until mid summer due to runoff.

Carson City Fire Department and multiple agencies will host the 2nd annual wildfire education and preparedness workshop for the community Tuesday, April 30.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City branch Pet of the Week is Macy, a 6-year-old gal who has been at our shelter since the end of January. She was surrendered because her owner could no longer have animals.

Nevada State Museum staff invite all to contribute to a bee hotel this Saturday, April 20 as they celebrate Earth Day in Carson City. Participants are encouraged to contribute to the bee hotel, a nesting place for solitary bee friends, and learn about other ways you can help native pollinators.

Drawing on humor splashed with insight, nationally recognized syndicated cartoonist Brian Crane, also known as “Mr. Pickles,” packed the house as guest speaker Tuesday at the Carson City Senior Center.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to provide some tips related to online safety for juveniles. It is important for parents to know how to set up their children’s devices for several reasons.

Carson Area MPO

Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has posted a draft "Local Road Safety Plan" for public review and comment. A Local Road Safety Plan is a method for developing a locally tailored framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements.

While waiting in line I always carry along a little Kipling, mainly to call upon this one little snippet to sustain me, “If you can wait and not be tired by waiting.” I do love his epic little poem, “If.” That poem has helped me to maintain my balance on more occasions than I can count.

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum in historic Virginia City is pleased to announce the much-anticipated third annual Victorian Tea Party and Historic Fashion Show, scheduled for Mother’s Day weekend on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit is proud to announce the addition of two new K9 teams. Our latest additions have just completed K9 school and are now deployed to the Patrol Division of the Sheriff’s Office. The addition of these two K9s maintains our service of seven dog teams, as we continue toward our organizational goal of eight K9 teams to provide full-time coverage for the Carson City community.

Lane reductions will take place Fridays through Mondays on U.S. 50 in Dayton beginning Friday, April 19 as the Nevada Department of Transportation replaces concrete barrier rail in the highway median.

The four Douglas County School District board members who have been front and center through controversy since being elected in November 2022 all pulled out of a decision to accept a settlement agreement on a Writ of Mandamus during their meeting last Tuesday.

The 42nd annual Chili on the Comstock returns to heat up Virginia City on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. As a qualifier for the International Chili Society World Finals, guests can indulge in a diverse array of chili styles, from spicy to mild and chili verde, all expertly crafted by some of the finest chili cooks in the West.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Crowell Boardroom of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

Two were arrested Monday for possession of stolen personal and business checks amounting to more than $555,000, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around the capital city.

Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies made four arrests on Monday for warrants and one arrest for alleged possession of drug paraphernalia, according to booking reports.

Common Ground Church Youth Group did volunteer work at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City on Saturday to wrap lilac bushes with wire fencing in order to protect them from deer.

Carson City will be front and center Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, when it hosts the 2024 NIAA State Track & Field Championships at the Jim Frank Track Complex at Carson High School. The two-day event will draw more than 1,000 athletes (from four different classifications) and countless fans and spectators from across the state to the capital city.

Photo courtesy of Friend of the Nevada State Railroad Museum

The Carson City Historical Society hosts Adam Michalski, who will present a talk called "The Railroad and Carson City," on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Carriage House behind the Foreman-Roberts Historic House located at 1207 Carson Street, Carson City.