Pennsylvania College of Art & Design announces a record ten non-profit beneficiaries of the 2017 Designathon, the largest endeavor in Designathon’s 9 year history. The selected non-profits are:

• Bright Side Opportunities Center, 515B Hershey Avenue Lancaster, PA, is an outgrowth of the Bright Side Baptist Church and its mission to serve the community around it, addressed concerns about the safety and well-being of families in neighborhoods.
• Occupational Development Corporation, 640 Martha Avenue, Lancaster, PA , is a non-profit vocational training workshop for adults with developmental disabilities.
• Men of Iron, 1976 Auction Road Manheim, Pa. 17545, partners with churches in a men’s ministry assisting men become leaders in their families, churches and communities.
• Beat the Streets Lancaster, 525 Fairview Ave, Lancaster, PA 17601, helps at-risk kids through discipline, structure while developing wrestling skills.
• Mental Health America of Lancaster County, 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster, promotes optimal mental health through awareness, advocacy and education and creating a just, humane and healthy society in which all people are accorded respect, dignity and the opportunity to achieve full potential.
• Grace United Church of Christ, 1947 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, is a inclusive Christian congregation that welcomes all – gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight and transgender – persons into the ministry of the church.
• Caring Hearts Pet Therapy, throughout south central PA, uses the positive interaction of registered therapy pets with adults & children, along with guidance from experienced volunteer pet handlers.
• Ambassadors for Hope advocates for children with a parent in prison, and provides ongoing support to the Lancaster County Courts’ Family Service Advocate through networking and community education.
• CAP(Community Action Partnership), 601 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA , provides services to economically disadvantaged individuals and families across Lancaster County, PA for nearly 50 years, believes that poverty is unacceptable and could and should be eradicated.
• Leadership Lancaster, 100 S. Queen St. P.O. Box 1558 Lancaster, PA, identifies existing and emerging leaders to prepare them for roles in shaping the future and to entrust them to guide the county in the years ahead.

During the Designathon, 24 Pennsylvania College of Art & Design students and 9 faculty members and PCA&D’s Dean of Student Affairs Jessica Edonick, and countless gallons of coffee will, over a 24-hour period starting at 6 p.m. Friday February 24, create professional-quality design materials to benefit local non-profits during PCA&D’s 9th annual Designathon, scheduled for February 24 & 25, 2017. The students will be working alongside 11 PCA&D alumni.

The 24-hour Designathon is an annual event held by the college’s American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Chapter (AIGA) that provides professional-quality design services at no charge to area non-profits and to the community-at-large. Students at PCA&D who participate in the Designathon gain real-world experience in creating projects for clients under a tight, 24-hour deadline. They learn that non-profits have very real marketing needs in order to be successful, and strong graphic design on well-organized collateral pieces are vital components in successful communications and marketing plans. More importantly, students experience the value of giving back to the community.

The T-shirt for this year’s event, traditionally designed by a PCA&D student, was designed by Austin Lord, Illustration, Class of 2018, of Mechanicsburg, PA.