South Carolina Volunteer Has Knack For Attracting Publicity

As one of the newest members of the AMBUCS family, Anne Guthrie – the founder and president of The Little Red Dog Friends Chapter - is still trying to familiarize herself with the organization’s calendar of events.  Ironically, she wasn’t even aware that this past February was AMBUCS Visibility Month – a time when AMBUCS chapters all over the country attempt to focus on ways for attracting exposure to our organization’s mission.

That may come as shock considering the magnificent job Guthrie she was done this year in garnering regional media coverage. Since she first launched her chapter in Beaufort, SC last June, Guthrie has been the talk of the town and a favorite of the local media. Already she has being featured in primetime on a local TV station, graced the cover of a local women’s magazine named Pink and appeared several times in the Beaufort daily newspaper.

Recently she was again made headlines when she was presented with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s seventh annual Civitas Award for an outstanding nonprofit. The award honors organizations who exemplify the “success of business and the spirit of the community”.

“This was a wonderful surprise” said Guthrie. “We really didn’t think we had a chance to win this award. We still can’t believe it. We now have a little more confidence to perform our mission.”

Guthrie, whose chapter name and logo was inspired by her tiny pet daschund, is not quite sure why she has been so successful with getting exposure for her cause, but she very much appreciative.

“I honestly get a little embarrassed by all the attention we’ve been receiving, but I keep reminding myself that it is helping us get the word out and hopefully attracting more support,” she said. “We just try to raise money and donate as many trykes as we can. I guess some people think our efforts are very newsworthy.”