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VA Tobacco Settlement Foundation Awards Barber Martin Agency with $4.2M Account |  |
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For Immediate Release July 15, 2009 (Richmond, VA) - Barber Martin Agency, the second largest advertising agency in Richmond, Virginia, was recently awarded a new marketing contract from the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF). The $4.2 million contract will fund anti-smoking advertising and marketing efforts aimed at Virginia youth. Barber Martin, the five-year incumbent on the account, beat a national roster of other agencies to retain the business and to further reduce smoking rates among Virginia teens and tweens. Since 2001, smoking rates among Virginia high school students have dropped from 28.6% to 15.5%, or 4.5% below the national average, “a huge accomplishment in a tobacco-growing state,” states Danny Saggese, Director of Marketing for VTSF, “and one we would not have attained without Barber Martin’s help.” “It’s been our privilege to help reduce teen smoking rates so dramatically within Virginia,” states Robyn Deyo, President of Barber Martin. “There are very few opportunities in this business to create work that actually saves lives, and this is one of them. We are thrilled to be able to continue doing so on behalf of VTSF and the kids of Virginia.” In addition to lowering tobacco usage among the state’s youth, Barber Martin will also work with the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), a new initiative aimed at childhood obesity prevention in Virginia. The VFHY will include a new branch known as Virginia Youth Obesity Prevention, while continuing the tobacco-prevention efforts under the VTSF name. Founded in 1988, Barber Martin lists Wendy’s Restaurants, Southern States, and Cato Fashions as other significant clients. ### |