PRSA Houston August Luncheon Features Houston Dynamo Jackie Martin, Former President of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast.

HOUSTON -- The Public Relations Society of America, Houston Chapter, presents Houston dynamo Jackie Martin, principal of J S Martin Associates, LP, and former president of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. At the August 3rd luncheon, Martin will talk about the challenges of running Houston's largest charitable giving organization.

In her role as president, Martin worked to help Houston get through some of its toughest times ever including tropical storm Allison and the loss of millions in corporate giving. Under Martin's leadership, the volunteer-driven 80-plus year-old United Way evolved to meet the changing needs of the community through a dual mission: increasing financial resources by conducting cost-effective, donor-oriented fundraising; and, adding value to United Way contributions through hundreds of funded programs and other activities that benefit the community.

In six and half years under Martin's leadership, United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast:

--Collaborated with media, corporations, community leaders and faith-based organizations to benefit victims of Tropical Storm Allison through a market-wide telethon. The telethon generated 7,700 calls to raise over $3.1 million to fund 14 programs to rebuild homes for over 1,000 people. The United Way also convened the Allison Recovery Initiative to provide long-term guidance and support through faith and community based groups;

--Increased donor contributions. The annual community campaign jumped from $64 million to just under $78.5 million in three years;

--Increased funding streams from traditional funding to six different funding sources that reach more programs and people; and

--Facilitated volunteers in the process of conducting a capital campaign to raise funds to build the United Way Center for Philanthropy, Leadership and Volunteerism and Jesse H. Jones Community Resource Center. The CRC is Houston's first and only space dedicated to community leadership, organizational development and volunteer service.

Martin has devoted over 30 years to serving the community, professionally and personally, in human services. Prior to taking the helm of United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, Martin served as executive director of the Houston area San Jacinto Girl Scout Council, the largest in the U.S. serving nearly 50,000 Girl Scouts in 21 Southeast Texas counties. She is a former vice president of Marketing and Community Services with Neighborhood Centers Inc. (NCI), a United Way agency; a manager of Community Initiatives with the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast; and a manager of aging services and coordinator, Health and Human Services with Houston-Galveston Area Council.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 3, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Courtyard on St. James, 1885 St. James Place (Between Westheimer and San Felipe)

TO REGISTER: For more information or to register, call 281-870-1717 or visit http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cev/?171

Sponsorships are still available. Contact Paula Ruth, APR, at 281-870-1717 or [e-mail].

In September, PRSA Houston forgoes its luncheon format in favor of PR Day 2005, a full-day professional development seminar for communications professionals. Scheduled for September 14 at the Hyatt Regency downtown, the seminar features James Arnold, APR, Fellow PRSA, discussing integrated communications and leadership and management of the PR function in his presentation, "You Bet Your Company." Breakout sessions include discussions on branding, crisis communications, campaigns on a budget, and the Fundamentals of PR panel discussion. Sessions, speakers, registration and sponsorship information is available online at http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cms/?1.

Special thanks to PR Day 2005 sponsors:

Printing Sponsor: CenterPoint Energy

Lanyard Sponsor: Business Wire

Conference Notebook Sponsor: Aquent

Premier Breakfast Sponsor: FMC Technologies

Additional Sponsors: A&E Graphics, Bacon's, Burrelles Luce, Business Wire, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc, MediaLink, Piland Design, PrimeZone, PR Newswire, RoadShow Media, Schipul - The Web Marketing Company, The Hauser Company, US Newswire, and VMS.