Silverback7 Charitable Donation Successfully Brands National Education Initiative

Honoring Veteran's Day and Military Families Nationwide in Support of The Armed Forces Foundation's "Operation Caring Classroom".

Woodbridge, VA –November 2009-- Silverback7, Inc. (SB7) a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) has always been a proud supporter of our military servicemen and women; so when offered the opportunity to support military families by The Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) a national 501(c)3 non-profit, SB7 was very excited by the prospect. Amidst planning for their fourth annual “Operation Caring Classroom” (OCC), a national education initiative that promotes military family appreciation and awareness, AFF recognized OCC’s growing popularity and enlisted the marketing expertise of SB7 to help brand the program.

"AFF often collaborates with patriotic businesses across many industries, but it is always special when we can work with a service disabled veteran owned business, such as Silverback7.  Their creative efforts, energetic participation and charitable service helped make this AFF campaign to recognize Military Families a great success," quoted Patricia Driscoll, President and Executive Director of The Armed Forces Foundation.

Silverback7 was tasked with finding a creative, efficient branding strategy that would strengthen OCC’s recognition and appeal among the growing number of children, teachers, schools, government dignitaries and military officials involved in the program. With Veteran’s Day Week right around the corner SB7 worked diligently to meet the pressing deadline; gladly donating their services in-kind and charging only what was necessary to cover costs.

In addition, AFF planned to initiate the “Operation Caring Classroom Gold Star School Award” to highlight the schools that went above and beyond to promote Veteran’s Day awareness and military family appreciation. In order to recognize their efforts, AFF planned to distribute OCC T-Shirts and achievement banners to the deserving elementary schools. SB7 focused its efforts on creating a logo that could be featured on such items. They worked on a design that would appeal to the target audiences, while simultaneously conveying the branding strategy and AFF’s underlying program message, “Families Serve Too.”

Brian E.W. McNulty, SB7's Sr. Multimedia Developer and experienced cartoonist, was commissioned to design the branding. "Silverback7 is very involved with children in our community and when presented with the idea of creating a "military brand" that kids could identify with, I jumped at the chance. I wanted the children to not only wear the t-shirts on this important day, but throughout the year to remind them of our history, the military, its duties and those brave soldiers who are currently serving for us overseas and abroad," said Mr. McNulty.

The illustration features a stylized American Flag slanted across the background and three elementary-aged children saluting. Each are wearing oversized uniforms, reflecting different branches of the military.

Senator Michael Bennet was one of the many dignitaries that participated in OCC this year. He presented the coveted award banner to Mountainside Elementary, a 2009 Gold Star School Recipient, on behalf of AFF during the school’s Nov. 13th Veteran’s Day Appreciation assembly. The significance of the banner award and all that it represented was not lost on Senator Bennet.

“I hope this flag … and this banner serve as a reminder of what you have done to honor our military. Many of you have moms, dads and other relatives and friends who serve our country and who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan right now… Your bravery and courage is important too. Finding ways to remember and honor our veterans every day takes special commitment, and I commend each of you for serving as a model for other kids and other schools across the state…,” he said according to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group.