Our agency is 7.3 miles east of Off The Street Club, in the heart of downtown Chicago. But those 7 miles cover a world of difference. While our streets are lined with coffee shops, designer boutiques and wine bars their streets are lined with gangsters and guns.

The “Hope is Tougher” campaign was designed solely to help kids living on the violent streets of West Garfield Park – one of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago. But simply reaching out to local benefactors at a local luncheon each year was losing its effectiveness. Instead, we attracted a broader audience by fighting back against national stories of Chicago violence in real-time with declarations of hope in the form of promoted posts & emotional videos.

In addition to this national effort, we strategically leveraged two local Chicago assets:

1. Chicago’s Tribune Tower which stands alongside Michigan Avenue. This is where we transplanted our OTSC bullet hole – just 7 miles from the Club - for 2,000 daily passerby’s to witness.

2. Our Local Veterans. The “Toughest Letter” activation featuring our veterans ultimately evolved into an ongoing mentorship program between the veterans and the OTSC kids.