American Red Cross

The ADS Group and Studio 120 are proud supporters of Red Cross. This year Studio 120 was responsible for producing all of the videos for the elected Heroes Award winners. These Heroes were nominated for putting others’ lives before their own and attending to human suffering in the time of an emergency. The awards that were recognized Thursday, June 5th were for heroes in the Twin Cities for the following categories: COMMUNITY: Presented to an individual who displayed leadership and commitment to his or her community by making a positive and significant impact. GOOD SAMARITAN: Presented to an individual who displayed courage and compassion upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident. FIRST RESPONDER: Presented to an individual or group of the public service community (i.e. EMS, firefighter, or law enforcement) who went above and beyond the call of duty. GIVE LIFE: Presented to an individual whose commitment to blood and platelet donation played a significant role in ensuring the health of patients in our local communities and throughout the country.  MILITARY: Presented to an active, reserve or retired member of the Armed Forces or ROTC or civilian that has made a significant impact on the military community. YOUTH GOOD SAMARITAN (Under 21): Presented to an outstanding young person who displayed courage and compassion upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident.   Shane Lineham- First Responder Shane Lineham received the First Responder award for saving the life of 17 year old Dan Mannon. Dan had set out to enjoy a day at Afton Alps, to experience snowboarding for the first time, when a life changing incident occurred. After...

CenterPoint Telly

We’re proud to announce that CenterPoint Energy has received a Telly Award for their recent video about how to conserve energy in your home in order to save money and help preserve our environment. The Telly Awards are highly coveted and competitive and Save Money, Save Energywas selected from over 11,000 submissions nationwide. CenterPoint was looking for a way to communicate effectively with their clients and video proved to be the answer. Using rich visuals and simple suggestions, the video Save Energy, Save Money offers easy energy-saving tips as well as outlining the financial impact each small change makes over time. Studio 120, our full service audio and visual production division, produced this video for CenterPoint and we couldn’t be more pleased at its success. Your message, our medium. Whether you need a fundraising or an identity video, a documentary or a theatrical production, Studio 120 can help you put your best face forward. From scripting and casting to filming and postproduction, we work with you every step of the way to ensure your message is captured professionally and authentically. Congratulations to CenterPoint Energy on their efforts to conserve our natural resources! [youtube...

United Way Campaign Week

The ADS Group is proud to be hosting a campaign week in support of the Greater Twin Cities United Way! We’ve scheduled a week full of contests and events to raise money to fight poverty within our community. Reps at United Way are always available to help companies facilitate such a campaign and they make it very simple to do so. They provide signage and literature, and speak at your kickoff meeting about the impact our dollars make right here in our own neighborhoods. They’ll also provide a helpful list of activities other companies have successfully hosted during their own campaigns, to aid in planning. Our goal is this week is to raise both money and awareness. Small donations add up and there’s no denying the incredible power of teamwork. We’re proud of our people for embracing these events with enthusiasm – and perhaps a tiny bit of competitive spirit. Our department managers are panhandling for change today and we may have to play referee. Rumors of extortion and blackmail are flying. Nobody wants to be the manager with the least amount of funds raised, so perhaps there are threats circulating of withholding departmental services until donations are made. If you’re in the Twin Cities area and interested in hosting a campaign of your own, get in touch with Tim Anderson to find out how you can help! Tim Anderson Greater Twin Cities United Way andersont@unitedwaytwincities.org...

Project Homeless Connect

Yesterday, the Minneapolis Convention Center was transformed. Transformed into a one-stop service center aimed at removing some of the barriers facing our homeless population. Transformed into a place of hope. Project Homeless Connect included 400 services providers and 1100 volunteers, all there serving 2000 guests who are currently homeless or existing on the brink. Hot meals, haircuts,hair replacement systems,  dental work, legal help, employment information and housing advocates. All gathered under one roof in a show of love for our community, donating time and talent to create a space where people could gather to receive information and critical services in one location. Volunteers worked with guests on a one-on-one basis, escorting them through the maze of services and helping guests prioritize their plan of attack for the day. We shared stories and we shared lunch. The goal is that the homeless left the convention center with a renewed sense of hope, and that the volunteers left the convention center with a renewed sense of purpose – eradicating these problems to the best of our ability. The motto of Project Homeless Connect is Ending Homelessness, One Person at a Time. This is a great example of impact. If you think you’re too small to make a difference, think again. Even if you make a lasting impression or a hopeful connection with one person, you made that person’s day a little bit better. Isn’t that reason enough to volunteer? Project Homeless Connect runs these events twice a year and the next one will come around in December. We’ll be there again and we hope you will be, too....

Formula for Hope

Yesterday we had the honor of filming the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery’s Formula for Hope. An annual fundraiser luncheon to benefit the Crisis Nursery, the event included notable speakers and some very moving stories. The Crisis Nursery provides a safe place for parents to leave their children for up to three days while they are tackling family issues. The nursery provides food, shelter, and peace for these children as well as a library of resources for the parents. Last year’s luncheon raised over $400,000 and with the 850 attendees this year, we can only hope to shatter that number. The nursery offers critical social services for families on the brink of disaster and provides them tools to build stronger, healthier family relationships in the future. This is an initiative we can’t afford not to support as a community. Please check out their website for more information about the needed services they provide to keep our children safe, and give generously of your money and your...

Wifflin' for Wishes

Whose heart doesn’t melt when hearing stories of the work that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does? Terminal illness is always sad, but in the case of children it’s even more tragic. HRL Twin Cities is hosting their 8th annual Wifflin’ for Wishes, a  wiffleball tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota – a charity that grants an ill child’s wish to go somewhere special, to do something spectacular or to have something they covet.Every 27 hours, a Make-A-Wish wish is granted right here in Minnesota. Help us help HRL Twin Cities make this the best Wifflin’ for Wishes tournament yet! Since 2005, HRL has raised nearly $25,000 for Make-A-Wish. Join us on June 9th and let’s drive that number outta the park. The cost to register a team is only $100 and 100% of all proceeds from the tourney go to support our local Make-A-Wish chapter. CLICK FOR MORE...