DMEF Raises $500,000 at Awards Dinner for Direct/Interactive Marketing Education; Tim Litle and Draftfcb Honored

October 14, 2007 — It’s a brand new day at the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) as more than 350 direct marketing professionals and academics gathered last evening at the Hyatt Regency Chicago to raise more than $500,000 for direct/interactive marketing education at the university level. Each year, the DMEF Annual Awards Dinner and Auction for Education celebrates the growth of multichannel direct marketing, honors excellence, and helps grow cutting-edge direct/interactive marketing education at the college and university level in the US.

At the gala event, which is one of the DMEF’s premier events of the year, the Foundation also honored Tim Litle, chairman and founder of Litle & Co., with its 2007 Edward N. Mayer Educational Leadership Award, and Draftfcb with its 2007 Corporate Leadership Award.

“The evening truly was electric,” DMEF President Terri L. Bartlett said. “We honored two direct marketing all-stars whose continued leadership and generosity, over many years, have helped advance direct/interactive marketing education and, in doing so, moved our entire profession forward. Not only that, our guests last evening contributed more than $500,000 to DMEF’s current and future programs — which aim to attract, educate, and place top college students — expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained, market-ready direct marketers.”

According to Bartlett, $100,000 of the funds raised last evening was given by the Litle Family Trust to pilot an innovative new program, which the Foundation plans to announce in the near future.

The DMEF’s 2007 Annual Awards Dinner and Auction for Education was held on the first day of the DMA07 Conference & Exhibition, the six-day multichannel marketing event of the year, which is being held at Chicago’s new McCormick Place West from October 13 through October 18.

2007 DMEF Edward N. Mayer Educational Leadership Award Recipient: Tim Litle

This year marked the 30thanniversary of the prestigious Mayer Award, which honors individuals who provide the highest level of personal commitment, personal and corporate financial assistance; create effective programs, concepts, teaching methods or teaching materials, instruction of college students or professors; or execute any other contribution, which effectively assists or promotes the DMEF’s objectives. Nominations are submitted by peers and reviewed by DMEF’s Board of Trustees, which selects the honoree. Past Mayer recipients include David W. Florence, Dick and Mary Cabela, Katie Muldoon, Stephen Polk, Markus Wilhelm, and David Shepard.

In announcing the 2007 award last May, DMEF Chairman of the Board of Trustees and DMRA Chief Marketing Officer Al Dyon said, “Tim Litle embodies the dedication and ideals set forth by Ed Mayer, who taught, influenced, inspired, and nurtured many direct marketers. Tim has shown extraordinary support — through his service to the DMEF as well as through his generous financial and program-related contributions — for helping advance direct marketing, on university campuses as well in the greater marketing community.”

Litle & Co, which Litle founded in 2001, is the only independent payment processing company focused exclusively on direct marketers. The company was started under the premise that there are often ways to improve a direct marketer’s or merchant’s revenues and profits through better payment management.

Earning his MBA at Harvard Business School in the ‘60s, Litle engineered his courses to concentrate on entrepreneurship because he wanted to start his own business that centered on technology, according to an interview with Inc. Magazine. Litle consistently has given back so those professionals who come after him can learn about direct marketing at the college level, rather than hunt for close curriculum approximations.

Litle serves on the DMEF Board of Trustees and is its current secretary. He secured NextMark list services to aid students and faculty as part of the Collegiate ECHO Awards program. For the 2006-2007 Leonard J. Raymond Collegiate ECHO Competition, students were prompted to “Build a direct marketing campaign from the ground up — yours could be the next Litle & Co. campaign!”

In 2005, Litle’s pioneering efforts in the development of payment processing and e-commerce systems for direct marketers earned him a spot in the DMA Hall of Fame. He is a past member of the DMA Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. He helped found the DMA’s Privacy Task Force and is past chairman of DMA’s Committee on Ethical Business Practice.

2007 DMEF Corporate Leadership Award Recipient: Draftfcb

In announcing that Draftfcb would receive the 2007 DMEF Corporate Leadership Award, Dyon said, “Our Corporate Leadership Award honors the unique and significant actions of a corporation that demonstrates outstanding practices with the aim of contributing to direct marketing education. Draftfcb met — and exceeded — these requirements.”

This annual accolade, Dyon added, rewards businesses that offer their own employees multiple opportunities for personal and professional improvement and are dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and continuing education. The enterprise consistently and actively supports the DMEF, and actively participates and generates activities that foster and promote excellence. Past DMEF Corporate Leadership Award recipients include The Martin Agency, ACXIOM, America Online, Kraft, Experían, Allstate Insurance Company, and R.R. Donnelley.

“In our industry, our biggest asset is our people,” said Howard Draft, chairman and CEO of Draftfcb. “That’s why it’s important for all agencies to foster the development of future employees at the college and university level. Draftfcb is a firm supporter of DMEF and its efforts to provide direct marketing education to students.”

Back in 2004 when it was known simply as “Draft,” this world-renowned direct marketing agency agreed to be DMEF’s second volunteer agency of record. Two years and a merger later, Draftfcb (www.draftfcb.com) remains a stalwart supporter of direct marketing education.

The company has handled projects like the Foundation’s planned-giving campaign, renewal series, and fundraising mailings, and is now completing a curriculum module that illustrates the creative process in direct marketing through a dynamic, multimedia presentation. Even as Interpublic united Draft and FCB to create Draftfcb, the new company remained committed to enhancing direct marketing education at colleges and universities.

Draftfcb, a “new breed” agency, is a full marketing communication agency designed to build their clients’ businesses by focusing on consumer behavior and coming up with ideas that drive that behavior in the most creative ways. It is media neutral, allowing for a multichannel, multidiscipline, best-for-business solution for its clients. Ultimately, Draftfcb strives to provide creativity that supersedes everything but accountability. The Chicago-based firm is so confident about making good on its promises that the agency trademarked the term “Return on Ideas.”

DMEF Auction for Education — ‘Direct Marketers Gone Wild!’

DMEF’s Annual Auction for Education — “Direct Marketers Gone Wild!” — launched online on Thursday, September 6 and certainly heated up last evening at its Annual Awards Dinner. The online auction will continue through Tuesday, October 16 at 5 p.m. (CT). To place a bid, just stop by the DMEF Booth at McCormick Place West or simply bid online at www.dmefauction.org.

Anyone who will have a winning bid during “Direct Marketers Gone Wild!” — the live and silent Auction for Education — will win big! Travel in style from Belgium to Switzerland with Viking River Cruises, dine for a year on Omaha Steaks, or sample delicacies from Harry & David. “Best of all,” Bartlett pointed out, “proceeds from all participants — including donors and winning bidders alike — will help provide top-notch education for aspiring direct marketing professionals. So everybody comes out a winner.”

About Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF)

Headquartered in New York City, the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) works to attract, educate, and place top college students by continuously improving the teaching of world-class direct/interactive marketing and, thereby, expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained, market-ready direct marketers. Established in 1966 by members of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) who wanted to give something back to the community, DMEF is today a separate, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is supported solely by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, companies, and regional clubs and associations. Funds raised go toward a broad range of world-class educational programs.

Since its founding, thousands of students have taken advantage of DMEF’s educational programs, entering the field with the competitive edge of being “workplace-ready.” Many have gone on to become today’s direct marketing leaders, an indication of the Foundation’s success. In addition, more than 1,800 professors have participated in DMEF programs. Thanks in significant part to the Foundation’s four decades of work, today approximately 250 colleges and universities offer courses in direct/interactive marketing, 20 of which now offer specific direct marketing degrees and certificate programs. For additional information about the DMEF, its mission, and its programs, visit www.the-dmef.org.

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