UPB Receives $1,000 Scholarship from Blattner Brunner

Showing off the “Annie Award” in front of Blaisdell Hall on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford are, from left, Greg Booth, president and chief executive officer of Zippo Manufacturing Co.; Mary Kay Modaffari, executive vice president, managing director of Blattner Brunner Inc.; and Dr. K. James Evans, Pitt-Bradford vice president and dean of student affairs. Blattner Brunner presented Pitt-Bradford with a $1,000 scholarship in honor of its client Zippo.
(Photo Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford)

Advertising agency Blattner Brunner Inc. presented a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Thursday, May 29, during a ceremony to honor its client Zippo Manufacturing Co.

Presenting the Annie Award Scholarship were Blattner Brunner representatives Mary Kay Modaffari, executive vice president, managing director; Frank Compton, chief creative ambassador; and Ann McFadden, creative director, emeritus. Accepting on Pitt-Bradford’s behalf was Dr. Jim Evans, vice president and dean of student affairs.

The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Pitt-Bradford student.

The Annie Award Scholarship presentation was one part of an award that Blattner Brunner representatives gave to Zippo. The agency also presented Zippo with the first-ever Annie Award to recognize the lighter company for its 2006 marketing plan. The plan included the strategy, messaging, contact/media plan and creative work for the Mini MPL print ads, Better Homes & Gardens partnership and promotion, mall kiosks, elevator doors, stairwells, and outdoor advertising, and mobile marketing.

The award recognizes the work of all Zippo and Blattner Brunner team members involved in developing and executing the plan.

About 35 representatives from Blattner Brunner and Zippo were present at the event.

Blattner Brunner developed the Annie Award to recognize a client and the strategic and creative teams at the agency who produce work that has been recognized nationally and internationally, and has had a positive impact in the marketplace.

The award is named for Ann McFadden, creative director emeritus at Blattner Brunner, and was designed with her in mind. The award is a boomerang, which represents McFadden’s native Australia, in the shape of the letter “A” and features a pair of brightly colored eye glasses, since McFadden wears colorful glasses.

Zippo representatives accepting the award were Greg Booth, president and chief executive officer; Mark Paup, vice president of sales and marketing; and Pat Grandy, marketing communications manager.

The presentation took place in front of Blaisdell Hall since it represents the partnership between Pitt-Bradford and the Blaisdell Family, the family of Zippo Manufacturing Co. founder George G. Blaisdell.

In 1995 the members of the Blaisdell family pledged a $1 million challenge gift toward the construction of what was known then as the “communications, arts and technology building.” The fundraiser surpassed the challenge goal, and the family gave another $500,000 to match additional gifts. The end result was a total of $3.4 million. While this represented the largest gift from the Blaisdell family to Pitt-Bradford, it was also part of a continuing and long record of philanthropic support to the university. In appreciation for this generosity and support, Pitt-Bradford named the building Blaisdell Hall.

Last year, the gallery in the building hosted a Zippo art exhibit.

Blattner Brunner, an independent advertising agency, has offices in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. In addition to Zippo, its clients include Cub Cadet and GlaxoSmithKline.