Stockholm; 4 May 2012; Coast Communications was one of 45 members of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) that gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, last week to celebrate the Network’s 20th anniversary and build a house for an impoverished family.
Partnering with the Niall Mellon Township Trust, PRGN members from around the world met on April 18 to complete and present “The PRGN House” to a needy family. The build occurred the day before the opening of the Network’s semi-annual business meeting. The Network’s 45 member agencies pledged more than $7,000 and volunteered their “handyman services” for a day in order to present a township family with a new home.
“When we considered how to mark our 20 anniversary, our members were unanimous in wanting to create something of lasting value,” said Karl Rickhamre, president of Coast Communications. “What better way to give back than to donate our time and talent in the city in which we have chosen to celebrate our anniversary.”
The day after Network members opened their three-day business meeting in Cape Town. The Network was addressed by Premier Helen Zille, leader of the opposition party; Chris Bishop, editor of Forbes Africa; and Tim Hughes, managing director of ReadDillon International.
PRGN was formed in 1992 when Edelman Public Relations decided to disband its affiliate network. The mission of the Network is to serve as a resource to one another, openly sharing knowledge and contacts, in order to promote best practices and to provide global support for clients.
About PRGN
Founded in 1992, PRGN has 45 member firms around the globe. The invitation-only network is made up of independently owned and operated public relations firms in 80 markets. Collectively, PRGN has revenues of more than $110 million (USD) and employs more than 900. (www.twitter.com/PRGN). The April meeting was hosted by HWB Communications in Cape Town.
About the Niall Mellon Township Trust
The Trust was founded in 2002 by Niall J. Mellon, an Irish entrepreneur and philanthropist, to provide homes to impoverished communities in South Africa’s townships. The Trust has built more than 20,000 houses, providing homes for more than 100,000 South Africans.
For more information
Karl G. Rickhamre:
+46 8 402 98 80
+ 46 8 402 98 85
+ 46 709 549 109
kg.rickhamre@coast.se
Photos available at Mynewsdesk
More than 1,000 clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in more than 80 markets around the world. Coast Communications, founded in 2001 and voted Best Agency in Sweden 2008, is the Scandinavian representative of PRGN, with its own offices in Stockholm and Copenhagen and affiliate partner in Oslo. With revenues of more than Euro 100 million PRGN is among the world’s top five public relations networks.
