CreateAthon 19: We got a little Cocky!

Photo courtesy of the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications.

This CreateAthon looked a little different. In October 2025, Team TRIO hit the road to support not only our incredible nonprofit recipients but also young marketers and creatives at one of our favorite South Carolina universities (HINT: a few of our team members bleed garnet and black).

We spent two full days on the campus of the University of South Carolina (USC), partnering with its College of Information and Communications for a CreateAthon experience unlike any other.

What happened next was truly remarkable.

• 120 students
• 10 nonprofits
• Six fluffy bunnies
• Countless cups of coffee
• One group that pumped out the music all night long (might have been Jessica’s group)
• A few sleepy heads around 3 a.m.
• One life-changing partnership for all involved

The weekend was fueled by collaboration, creativity and community impact, with TRIO acting as mentors, coaches and cheerleaders as student teams worked around the clock to develop real marketing solutions for deserving missions. 

This is one for the history books, folks!

Wholespire/Food Is Medicine SC (Jessica)

Some say food is medicine, and this team took that message to heart.

Working with Wholespire and its statewide Food Is Medicine SC initiative, Jessica’s student group focused on a powerful idea: “Nutrition is Non-Negotiable.”

This advocacy-driven campaign highlighted the importance of medically tailored meals and promoted the need for insurance coverage of prescription nutrition for individuals managing chronic conditions.

Deliverables included:

• A bold, public-health PSA campaign
• Messaging that simplified a complex issue
• Creative materials supporting awareness and advocacy efforts

And the best part? Jessica’s group won “Best of Show!” It was a well-deserved recognition for a team that approached the challenge with passion and creativity.

Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center (Sai)

Our digital marketing specialist, Sai, led his team as they worked with the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center, a nonprofit serving children ages 0–18 who have experienced abuse, trauma or neglect. Their mission: provide hope, healing and justice through counseling, advocacy and forensic services.

Sai guided students through trauma-informed design decisions, helping them prioritize sensitivity, clarity and accessibility.

Deliverables included:

• Digital creative assets
• Flyers and informational materials
• Brochures designed to educate families and partners
• Messaging that strikes the balance between warmth and professionalism

The final product empowered Dickerson CAC with materials that communicate safety, support and trust to the families they serve.

Central SC Habitat for Humanity (Dev)

With Central SC Habitat for Humanity, our digital marketing specialist, Dev, led a student team supporting two major initiatives:

1. Promoting the nonprofit’s upcoming MLK Day event
2. Celebrating the organization’s 40th anniversary

To meet these needs, Dev guided young creatives in crafting a campaign rooted in impact, legacy and dreams fulfilled. Dev helped them refine messaging and translate it into visually compelling tools.

Deliverables included:

• A full social media toolkit (carousels, stories, captions)
• An event flyer for MLK Day
• The campaign theme “Celebrating 40 Years of Dreams”
• A university-focused Dream Builders Campaign, complete with branded mockups

As a piece of a greater whole, the work will help amplify Habitat’s message of hope and homeownership for years to come.

University of South Carolina CreateAthon Team (Mackenzie)

While other TRIO mentors guided nonprofit-focused groups, our agency assistant, Mackenzie, had a unique assignment: helping USC bring CreateAthon itself to life.

Working directly with the USC CreateAthon team, she supported students as they developed the full suite of event communications, content, and digital assets needed to elevate CreateAthon across campus this year and next.

Her group took on both real-time storytelling and future-forward planning, creating cohesive content that captured the energy of the event while establishing templates USC can use long after the last brainstorming session wrapped.

Deliverables included:

• CreateAthon social media posts
• A Stories takeover documenting the event in real time
• Graphics and infographics designed for campus-wide distribution in 2026
• Future ad templates and campaign assets for next year’s CreateAthon promotion

The result? A polished, student-driven content system that helps USC share its CreateAthon journey across departments, platforms and future cohorts.

And with another CreateAthon in the books, it’s safe to say this will be a lifelong favorite. We’re already looking forward to how next year’s can top it!

Want to join the 24-hour fun?

If you’re a nonprofit looking for professional marketing support — at no cost — CreateAthon might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Learn more about CAT and how to apply for next year’s CreateAthon at trio-solutions.com/CreateAthon.