R2C Group Launches Innovative Giving Program "heART for Oregon"

PORTLAND, Ore. – October 1, 2010 – R2C Group today announced a new community giving program designed to support and encourage creativity in the local art community, while also raising funds for area charities.

R2C Group developed this unique program to build community in Portland by raising funds for local non-profit organizations, providing a forum for up-and-coming local artists to show artwork, and present a venue for the community to view and purchase art offered at a lower price point.

At the center of the “heART for Oregon” program is the R2C Gallery – a new art gallery location that will allow emerging local artists to reach new audiences located at 818 NW Flanders Street.

The employees of R2C Group have banded together to give back to the local area and foster our creative community,” said Michelle Cardinal, CEO and founder of Cmedia, an R2C Group company. “Because our gallery’s location is strategically located in Portland’s Pearl District amongst many beautiful galleries frequented on First Thursdays, it was the perfect location to launch this unique program.

The gallery will be open to the public four times per year as a part of four different First Thursday events throughout 2010 and 2011. R2C Group welcomes the public to celebrate the grand opening of this new art gallery.

R2C Gallery Opening Night
5:30-9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 7, 2010
At the corner of Park and NW Flanders
818 NW Flanders St., Portland, 97209

How it works: local not-for-profit organizations
Each year, R2C Group will choose a local organization to benefit from art sales at the R2C Gallery for a one-year period. All gallery proceeds from art sales generated at the gallery will be donated to the chosen not-for-profit organization throughout the year.

Starting in October, R2C Group will begin its year-long support of the first nominated organization – The Freshwater Trust. The Freshwater Trust works to improve freshwater health throughout Oregon, forwarding cooperative, action-oriented solutions to protect and restore our freshwater ecosystems. Every year The Freshwater Trust plants thousands of trees, restores dozens of river miles, keeps billions of gallons of water flowing in Oregon streams and facilitates tens of thousands of students in learning about our freshwater resources.

“I’m passionate about this organization’s science-based approach to freshwater restoration projects in Oregon,” said Tim O’Leary, an eight-year veteran of The Freshwater Trust board of directors and CEO of R2C Group. “By making The Freshwater Trust part of our new corporate philanthropy program, R2C Group can provide even more support to the group.”

How it works: local artists
Each quarter, R2C Group will choose a new local artist to be shown in the R2C Gallery. In October, the gallery will feature Nina Vallion, a Portland-based artist who specializes in oil and watercolor paintings and pen and ink drawings. As this show will be Nina’s public debut, it is the first time she will have a public venue to show her art to the world. While Nina has always considered herself an artist, she has not always been able to devote herself to painting and drawing. For most of Nina’s life, she has “paid the bills” as an attorney, a graphic artist, a fashion designer and a technical drafter of electrical, mechanical, structural and architectural drawings – and on top of all that, Nina has also raised four children. When the new gallery opens, Nina Vallion gets one step closer to achieving her dream.

Call for nominations
R2C Groups seeks nominations for both emerging artists interested in showing their work at the R2C Gallery, as well as not-for-profit organizations interested in becoming an annual beneficiary.   To nominate a local artist or non-profit organization for the “heart for Oregon” program, contact Elena Ardantz at gallery@r2cgroup.com for more information and guidelines for nominations.

About R2C Group
R2C Group, Inc., the largest independently owned, direct response advertising agency in the country, specializes in brand-building accountable advertising. Headquartered in Portland, Ore., with offices strategically located across the country, R2C Group combines the talent of its creative division, Respond2, and the expertise of its media buying divisions, Cmedia and MMSI (Marketing & Media Services).  Pioneers in branded DRTV production, dovetailed with efficient, high performance media planning, R2C Group’s clients include Adobe, bareMinerals, Humana Healthcare, NordicTrack, Rosetta Stone, Shark, TiVo and many others.  More information is available at www.r2cgroup.com.