Service Profile
	Client:		AMERIGROUP, a national managed care health organization
	Task:		To provide public relation, media and event planning services for the AMERIGROUP 2004 DC Youth Cotillion
	Date:		April - May 2004
	Location:		Washington, DC
	Challenge - After a five-year hiatas, the DC Youth Cotillion made a successful comeback through a partnership of AMERIGROUP and DC Parks and Recreation. With less than two weeks before the presentation of twenty young teens to the Washington DC Community who have worked more than sixteen weeks to become debutantes, the WHARTON GROUP was challenged to make the event and its participants known to the community through an aggressive media campaign. The campaign was to compete with other significant local activities and the national news stories such as the 50th Anniversary commemoration of Brown vs. the Board of Education taking place in Washington DC on the same weekend.
	Overview of Services - Devised and implemented a strategic media plan; pitched the event to local media outlets including reporters, editors, editorial boards, etc.; arranged photographic and press opp at Cotillion community service projects at Hospital for Sick Children; participated in planning meetings with Cotillion staff; wrote press releases and media advisories; produced press packets; coordinated on-site media management; made contacts with celebrities as hosts.
	Results - The WHARTON Team worked to meet the challenge of gaining a share of the media attention by utilizing its years of experience and media connection to breakthrough the news maze. Articles of the event appeared in 5 local newspapers and interviews were aired on several radio stations.