Principal, Susan Green, of Alain L. Locke P.S. 208, and I had the privilege of being the recipients of PENCIL’S 2008-2009 Emerging Partnership Award last night. My company, Karasma Media, Public Relations & Publicity, responded to a need to create a new identity for the school.

We garnered a wide variety of media coverage, developed a new school logo and social marketing platform. The platform includes a blog http://alainllocke.org; that has helped to increase communication between teachers, parents and students, as well as businesses, elected officials and other members of the local community.

PENCIL, the nonprofit organization that develops innovative solutions to the challenges confronting public schools by creating partnerships between business leaders and principals, held its 2008-2009 Year-end Partnership Celebration last night. Sponsored by long-time supporter JPMorgan Chase, the event marked the accomplishments of more than 450 PENCIL Partnerships during the school year, and honored several standout partners with three inaugural awards for “Emerging,” “Innovative,” and “Veteran” PENCIL Partnerships.

I had the support and creative energy and generosity my friends and business colleagues: Paul Leibowitz of Leibowitz Communications, who designed the school’s logo and blog; Sperling Greene Partners, Tursack, Inc. and Karen Arthur of KA Communications, behind me.

NEHAL BELTANGANDY (logo designer) and PAUL LEIBOWITZ

“Through my PENCIL Partnership at the Alain L. Locke School, I have seen that—when provided with the right opportunities—children will take steps to proactively develop their future,” Smith said. “I am proud to be playing a role through PENCIL in creating new possibilities for young people that often help them defy their circumstances.”

The 2008-2009 Innovative Partnership of the Year Award was given to Principal Christopher Ogno of PS 247, The New York City College Partnership Elementary School in Brooklyn and Partner Ivy Cohen, President of Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications.

The 2008-09 Veteran Partnership Award was given to Principal Rima Ritholtz of PS 176X in the Bronx and Justin Israel of Channel 13 WNET/21 WLIW. With a student body of more than 570 autistic pre-K to 12th graders, PS 176X in the Bronx called upon the veteran experience of PENCIL Partners Rima Ritholtz, Principal of PS176X and business partner Justin Israel, Senior Patron Advisor at Channel 13 WNET/21, to develop programs that would offer critical support to the students’ parents.

Congratulations to my fellow PENCIL Partners on a wonderful year of truly making a difference for the children New York City!