Are you ready for a challenge? 

Since 2013, students from across the University of South Carolina have come together with one mission to — conquer CreateAthon. With only 24 hours on the clock, students work in teams to create the best integrated communication campaigns for their nonprofit clients.

This Fall will be special because CreateAthon@USC is teaming up with Trio Solutions Inc., a Charleston, full-service marketing communications agency founded in 2001. Trio has built its reputation on delivering bold, creative campaigns that not only exceed client expectations but also give back to the community. Their philosophy, “work hard, enjoy life, and make a difference,” drives everything they do, from crafting meaningful brand stories for local businesses to executing global marketing initiatives. We’re thrilled to partner with a team whose passion for creativity and community impact aligns so closely with our own mission.

Soon, we’ll turn the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications into a creative hub for 24+ nonstop hours. You and your agency team members will be tasked with crafting high-impact campaigns for nonprofit partners, alongside USC alumni industry pros and Trio Solutions staff. This is your chance to showcase your creativity, collaborate with experts and mentors, and make a real difference in the community. Are you up for the challenge?

What exactly is CreateAthon?  

It’s an all-volunteer, pro bono effort that benefits everyone involved: Advancing the causes of deserving nonprofits, ramping up student skills and bringing professional mentors and students together in an experience that is intense, challenging, rewarding — and fun.  Read more about how we do all this.

The elements that make this event successful are the real-world environment, collaboration between creative students and mentors — and fierce competition.   

Something magical happens in this 24-hour marathon — an energy that fuels and produces some excellent communication products for the clients. 

Once the 24 hours are up, students must drop their pencils, close their computers and pitch their campaigns directly to the nonprofits. These organizations leave the event with tangible communication and marketing materials to further their efforts. 

Volunteers are exhausted from working 24 hours with no sleep but leave with a portfolio booster and the feeling of knowing they are part of a select group who have conquered CreateAthon.  

Our success is contagious

For the first five years, our students and volunteer mentors have given every ounce of their talent for 24+ hours, creating pro bono work for Carolina nonprofits with a value of more than $1.1 million. Today CreateAthon@USC has helped more than 73 nonprofit organizations, involved 825 students who produced creative communication for these organization with a value of $2.3 million.

That’s a lot of good. Just ask any of the nonprofits we helped, and see highlights of the creative work from past years.

CreateAthon@USC begins before the event

Of course, 24 hours isn’t enough time to create an entire campaign from start to finish. There is a lot of activity months before the event getting everything.

There is even a group of students led by Haylee Mercado of Sports and Entertainment Management create an events plan to provide nutrition, entertainment, security and organization to keep the volunteers going and the creative juices flowing through the marathon.