Giving back has long been part of the fabric of Smith Publicity. As we’ve grown and evolved over the years, so have the ways we’ve given to our community – both near and far.
The Smith Publicity Scholarship
For nine years, Smith Publicity has supported students passionate about the written word through the Smith Publicity Scholarship. It is awarded annually to one U.S. based high school senior or college/university student.
Scholarship submissions open in March and close in June, and each applicant must submit an essay using that year’s essay prompt, often focused on the power of the written word. In 2022, Smith Publicity increased the amount of the scholarship to $2,500.
Read more about the 2023 recipient here.
Monthly “Employee-Chosen” Company Donations
Each month, two different team members at Smith Publicity select a charity of their choice to receive a $125 donation from the company ($250 total per month). Launched in August 2021, so far donations have benefitted organizations including The Humane Society of the United States, National Women’s Law Center, Flying Fur Animal Rescue, Ruby’s Rainbow, Homeboy Industries, and The Nature Conservancy. Smith Publicity’s goal is to financially support organizations and causes meaningful to the individuals on their team.
Community Volunteering and Involvement
Smith Publicity holds volunteer days where together the team works on site at various organization in support of their mission. Examples include the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) in Philadelphia and the Food Bank of South Jersey.
Team members regularly participate in food, clothing, and toy drives for local families in need.
Support for Underserved Voices
Smith Publicity is committed to donating to organizations and causes that support underserved voices, special causes, and nonprofit groups. We currently make financial donations to the Center for Black Literature, whose mission is to “expand, broaden, and enrich the public’s knowledge and aesthetic appreciation of Black literature by people of the African Diaspora.”
Book Donations
Smith Publicity’s office is filled with books! After our book publicity engagements, we sometimes have left over review copies of books. With permission from our clients, we arrange to donate these books to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), whose mission is to serve the needs of all veterans. For over a decade, this initiative has amounted to thousands upon thousands of books donated to a worthy cause.
Pro-Bono Work
When a book and author project is deemed the right fit — often with a charitable component or meaningful cause — Smith Publicity will take on pro-bono projects.
Coming Soon: Mentorship
Smith Publicity is currently in the process of selecting a mentorship program in the book marketing segment of the public relations/publishing industries. In this role, one of our senior staff members will commit to a certain number of hours of formal conversation, guidance, and collaboration with a mentee he or she is paired with.