Walker Associates

November 22, 2010 – The Tishomingo County Historical and Genealogical Society won Walker + Associate’s “Walker Wish” community service award.

The Mississippi non-profit organization garnered 201 votes to get 45 free hours of service from the Memphis communications firm. The award is valued T around $6,000.

The Walker Wish campaign celebrated the firm’s 45th anniversary.
“We recognized that in this tough economy, a lot of nonprofit organizations could benefit from marketing and creative services which they may not have otherwise been able to afford on tight budgets, so we decided to implement this program as a way to give back, ” said Walker + Associates president and CEO Ceil Walker.

The award couldn’t have come at a better time, said Cindy Nelson, society founder.

“We operate on a shoestring budget provided by the county and we are set to lose half of our funding, so this award is happening at a very good time for us,” she said.

During the two-week campaign, the agency received 1,861 nominations for 79 non-profit organizations.

“While a great number of Tennessee-based charities were nominated, the fact that this small organization was able to rally more than 200 votes speaks to the unique reach and power of the Internet and social networking tools,” said the firm’s chief operating office Andy Windham.

The society was formed in 1996 and it houses archives and artifacts in the county’s former courthouse. The group has rights to several historic buildings in the county and provides educational programs. It also promotes tourism through the county’s historic locations and events.

The award will help the society design a logo and a brochure that will be placed in Mississippi rest areas.

Tishomingo County is home to about 20,000. Iuka, Tishomingo County’s seat, has less than 3,000 residents.

-By Toby Sells, The Commercial Appeal