Children’s Therapy Clinic is “The Place of Little Miracles” in the Kanawha Valley. Providing therapy to children with special needs who lack sufficient insurance coverage or income, the non-profit is making a difference in the lives of 70 to 80 West Virginia families each year, and hopes to see that number grow.
Company Story
CTC’s website was, as board member Jim Strawn (Marketing Director, Highland Hospital) described it, “stale, stagnant, and an electronic brochure.” Board president Ashley Pack (Attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl), agreed. “We had a fairly basic and somewhat dated website and frankly, from the board’s perspective, didn’t have the resources, the know-how, or the money to create a new website or the ability to maintain it.”
The board was elated that Children’s Therapy Clinic was the recipient of the 2015 Frank Brown Community Partnership. The annual award from Bricks Without Straw provides website services (either initial design and development or redevelopment of an existing site) to a qualifying West Virginia non-profit.
Access to Experience
Receiving the partnership was huge for CTC, not just in cost, but in access to Jamie’s experience and enthusiasm. As Pack stated, “Having someone with his expertise to guide us through the project--and again, we don’t know much about that world--it was crucial for us. Jamie was always very helpful and would give us ideas about things to do, things to improve on, and ideas about what other people are doing.“
Valicia Leary, CTC Executive Director, who worked closely with Jamie, agreed. “Jamie is very knowledgeable and he’s easy to work with. We would send him information and he would take care of any changes; it’s been a very easy process.” Many of the site updates will simplify her job as she helps families. “The basic layout and all the information is set up nicely and easy to navigate. Prospective clients can now download our application and apply (and do referrals) with the information from the website.” Jamie also linked the group’s social media accounts to the new website, making communication easy and instant.
Leary also loves the inclusion of photos of the children participating in needed therapy, one of Jamie’s suggestions. “People can see what we do, the children that we are helping.”
“I really can’t say enough about his ability to both understand the non-profit world and then to actually understand the Children’s Therapy Clinic. He understood our mission; he felt passionate about our mission, and you could see that in his work product.”
Technology and Marketing
Strawn, who is webmaster of content for Highland’s site, met Jamie for the first time at the unveiling of CTC’s new site and was immediately impressed with Jamie’s work. “I pulled it (the site) right up on my phone, right in the board meeting, and the format (and you have to format the phone, iPad, the desktop. . .you have to format all those things) and it just looked beautiful on my phone. I’m excited for Children’s Therapy Clinic. It’s going to mean more information gets out there, and it’s going to add more credibility to the clinic.”
As he interacted with Jamie about the site’s features and potential, Strawn was “confident” that Jamie really understood the marketing aspect of website design, along with development. “He heard me loud and clear about blogging and (the need) to constantly get messages out there. “
Strawn also appreciated Jamie’s demeanor. “He was level- headed, easy to understand, and not condescending. He tried to not get too deep over people’s heads. When a couple of us who knew how to do some things asked more specific questions, he had good answers and spoke to us instead of above us.
Respect for Non-Profits
Pack is confident that Jamie really gets the non-profit world. “I really can’t say enough about his ability to both understand the non-profit world and then to actually understand the Children’s Therapy Clinic. He understood our mission; he felt passionate about our mission, and you could see that in his work product.”
She also “absolutely” believes Summers-Brown treated them just as he would have treated a paying client. “Jamie was happy to attend our board meetings, and those were held after hours. He came and spoke to our board members, demonstrated the website, answered questions, took suggestions and ideas that the board had and was very instrumental in working with the board to create a website that everyone envisioned.”
Speaking for the board, Pack expressed, “We are so appreciative to have Bricks Without Straw and Jamie create and develop a website for us. Receiving this help, and again, specifically Jamie, is really a game changer for us.”
