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ipsh! Contributes Mobile Marketing Expertise And Technology To “Making Change For Katrina” Campaign


WEBWIRE

Firm leverages mobile text technology to promote national fundraising effort benefiting Habitat for Humanity

SAN FRANCISCO – Aug. 29, 2006 – As part of the national “Making Change for Katrina” campaign to help raise awareness and funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina, ipsh!, a global mobile marketing agency, created the mobile text component that will allow users to receive text messages about Katrina-related events.

“Making Change for Katrina” (www.makingchangeforkatrina.org) is the first-of-its-kind national campaign to collect spare change, via Coinstar machines, to benefit victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The funds raised through the campaign will go directly to Habitat for Humanity to help build simple and decent housing in the hurricane-affected states.

As part of its contribution to the campaign, ipsh! created the platform that allows users to sign-up and receive targeted and time sensitive alerts about Katrina events and news in their area, directly to their mobile phones. Users just visit: www.makingchangeforkatrina.org/StayConnected and provide their first name, zip code and cell phone number. Additionally, ipsh! developed the viral mobile marketing component that enables visitors to spread the word about “Making Change for Katrina” by signing-up their friends to also receive text messages, directly from the web page.

“Although Katrina was a year ago, there is still a need for funds in the region for housing and other relief,” said Nihal Mehta, CEO of ipsh! “We recognized that Making Change for Katrina is an easy way for people in the U.S. to contribute and make a big difference without having to give a lot. By creating a mobile component to the campaign, people will have even more access to fundraising events and other activities where they can get involved and make donations. We are excited being involved in such a great program.”

According to Coinstar Inc, there is more than $10.5 billion of uncirculated spare change in American homes. Together, just a small portion of these coins can help build thousands of homes for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

ipsh! is working with Cone, Inc. the nation’s leading cause branding agency, which developed and is spearheading Making Change for Katrina campaign.

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About Making Change for Katrina
Making Change for Katrina (www.makingchangeforkatrina.org) is a pro bono campaign that was created by Carol Cone, Chairman of Cone, Inc., the nation’s leading cause branding agency. Making Change for Katrina is a campaign to collect spare change to benefit the victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. The recipient of this campaign is Habitat for Humanity, which has been a partner throughout the development process. Coinstar Inc., with more than 12,000 Coinstar® Centers in grocery stores throughout the U.S., will serve as the primary collection partner.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for one million people. www.habitat.org.

About ipsh!

ipsh! is an award-winning, full-service, global mobile marketing agency. With over 550 successful campaigns since the company’s inception in June 2001, ipsh! executes mobile marketing solutions using technologies, such as 1-way and 2-way SMS, alerts, promotions, ringtones, logos, pictures, wallpaper, screensavers and games. Additionally, the company leverages real-time voting/polling, chat, interactive TV, text to screen, IVR (interactive voice response), premium SMS, MMS, mobile video, bluecasting, and location-based services. ipsh! is a wholly owned subsidiary of Omnicom Group Inc. For more information, visit http://www.ipsh.com.

Omnicom Group Inc (NYSE: OMC – News: http://www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About Cone:
Cone, Inc. (www.coneinc.com) is a brand strategy and communications agency, which connects corporations, nonprofits and social issues. Cone is part of Omnicom, a global network of many of the world’s top advertising and communications agencies.



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