2025 Program Will Provide $3.8 Million in Free Ad Campaigns to Small
Businesses Nationwide; More than $50
Million Invested Over Five Years
NEW
YORK, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum
Reach, the advertising sales business of Charter Communications,
Inc., today announced the fifth anniversary of its nationwide small
business initiative Pay It Forward. With this year's program,
Spectrum Reach will invest more than $3.8
million in free TV advertising for 255 eligible small
businesses, part of more than $50
million invested over the past five years. Small business
owners interested in participating in this year's program can apply
at www.spectrumreachpayitforward.com.
"Helping small businesses connect with their customers is at the
heart of what we do," said Michael
Guth, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Spectrum Reach.
"As we launch the fifth year of Pay It Forward, we are as dedicated
as ever to providing even more local entrepreneurs with the
resources and support they need to succeed. By investing in their
growth, we are not only helping small businesses flourish but also
making the communities they support stronger."
Each local entrepreneur selected to participate in Pay It
Forward will receive a free advertising campaign worth up to
$15,000, including live and streaming
TV, a custom-produced 30-second commercial, expert marketing
consultation services and mentoring and educational resources.
Additionally, Pay It Forward participants will be invited to take
advantage of Spectrum Reach-sponsored marketing events held
throughout the country. These include events with local chambers of
commerce, webinars and networking opportunities with other
entrepreneurs and with various partners.
Pay It Forward by the Numbers
Since launching
Pay It Forward in 2021, Spectrum Reach has invested over
$50 million in advertising and
resources to help more than 2,250 small businesses across 40
markets. The program has helped boost exposure and revenue for a
wide variety of small businesses, from coffee shops, childcare
facilities and bakeries to law firms, neighborhood
pharmacies and barbecue joints. More than half of the
businesses that participated in Pay It Forward as first-time TV
advertisers have continued to use television advertising, based on
the success of their initial free campaign.
"Our Pay It Forward grant played a key role in helping us get
more senior and disabled adults out of the house and back to living
life," said Patricia McCreary,
Founder and CEO of Margaret's Place Adult Recreation and Wellness
Center, an adult day care and recreation facility in Kansas City, MO. "Not only did our free
commercial help increase our revenue, but we saw a 35% increase in
adult participants for our program, helping spread the word about
Margaret's Place and all the love we have to offer our
community."
Michelle Cadore, owner of DA SPOT
NYC, a boutique and creative hub that provides space for designers
and small businesses, said her Pay It Forward ad campaign had a
tangible impact on boosting DA SPOT NYC's brand recognition in
Brooklyn, NY, where her business
is located.
"Through Pay It Forward, Spectrum Reach gave us an incredible
platform to expand our audience with a heavily concentrated
seven-week TV advertising campaign during the holiday season – our
most crucial time of year," Cadore said. "The commercial aired
across major networks, significantly increasing our visibility and
credibility. As a result, we saw a 91% increase in sales from
December 2023 to December 2024, making it our strongest December
in five years. Customers walked in excited, saying they discovered
us through the ad."
Pay It Forward Partners Expand Program's Success
One
of Spectrum Reach's partners contributing to Pay It Forward's
success nationally is Vera Jean Media, a social media company
focused on empowering brands to amplify their digital presence with
creative, strategic storytelling. Last year, Vera Jean Media helped
Pay It Forward participants expand their social media presence.
"Vera Jean Media is proud to partner with Spectrum Reach's Pay
It Forward program, an initiative that has provided invaluable
support to small businesses looking to scale," said Jourdan Guyton, founder, and CEO of Vera Jean
Media. "Throughout our partnership, we've seen firsthand how access
to strategic marketing and business resources can be a game-changer
for entrepreneurs. This year, we're excited to expand our impact by
helping even more businesses share their stories, reach new
audiences, and increase their revenue as they take the next step in
their growth journey."
Another partner is World Wide Technology, a St. Louis-based global technology solutions
provider whose ongoing sponsorship of Pay It Forward helped provide
grants for up to 16 St. Louis-area small businesses to participate
in the program in 2024. The company has continued its sponsorship
for 2025 and will host events, training and networking
opportunities for small businesses at its St. Louis campus.
"Our collaboration with Spectrum Reach highlights our
investments in the communities we serve and brings to life our core
values," said Javon Coleman, Diverse
Services Leader at WWT. "The Pay it Forward initiative directly
aligns with our organization's commitment to supporting these
communities."
How to Apply for Pay It Forward
To apply for the 2025
Pay It Forward program, businesses must be legally registered to
operate within a designated market area served by Spectrum Reach.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
More information is available at 2025 Pay It Forward.
About Spectrum Reach
Spectrum Reach®, the
advertising sales business of Charter Communications, Inc.
(NASDAQ:CHTR), provides custom advertising solutions for local,
regional and national clients. Operating in 36 states and 91
markets, Spectrum Reach creates scalable advertising and marketing
services driven by aggregated and de-identified data insights and
award-winning creative services. Spectrum Reach helps businesses of
all sizes reach anyone, anywhere, on any screen. Additional
information about Spectrum Reach can be found at
spectrumreach.com.
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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.