Advocate begins accepting applications

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Advocate, a partnership between New Mexico-based advertising and media companies designed to support not-for-profit organizations and charities based in Albuquerque, has announced that it is officially accepting applications from nonprofits to receive $1 million worth of advertising, marketing and media services donated by the partnering businesses. Advocate will select one not-for-profit organization per year and focus its efforts on a yearlong unified campaign.

"We are encouraged by the overwhelming responses we have received from not-for-profit organizations and charities since Advocate was announced three weeks ago,” said Del Esparza, president of Esparza Advertising and organizer of Advocate. “We will begin accepting applications today and look forward to selecting a nonprofit that we can help positively impact society and our community. This is the first time that New Mexico’s leading advertising and media businesses have joined together to accomplish a common goal for charity.”

All Albuquerque-based charities and not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to visit the Advocate web site at www.WeAdvocate.org and submit an application. All applications and additional documentation must be received by Advocate on Friday, February 12. Once submitted, the applications will be reviewed by the Advocate partnership. Several applicants may be asked to attend exploratory meetings to further discuss their applications. The 2010 Advocate recipient will be announced in March.

Advocate estimates providing the selected charity or not-for-profit organization with more than $1 million worth of marketing and media-related services including advertising, public relations, print and broadcast advertisements, creative and production services, on-line interactive and mobile strategies, public service announcements, and more.

Advocate is a partnership between New Mexico-based advertising and media companies including Esparza Advertising; Citadel Broadcasting Company that operates seven radio stations in Central New Mexico including News Talk 770 KKOB-AM, News Talk 1050 KTBL-AM, Sports Radio 610 KNML-AM, Country 92.3 KRST-FM, Hot AC 93.3 KKOB-FM, Adult Hits 103.3 (Ed) KDRF-FM, and Soft Adult Contemporary 99.5 KMGA-(Magic) FM; Entravision Communications Corporation that operates KLUZ-TV, KTFQ-TV, KRZY-AM and KRZY-FM; Clear Channel Outdoor; LIN Media Corporation that operates KRQE-TV, KASA-TV, KBIM-TV and KREZ-TV; New Mexico Business Weekly owned by American City Business Journals; and James Korenchen Public Relations.