When it comes time for companies to choose the recipient of
their philanthropic efforts, they often pick a nonprofit organization
at random. For Breehl, Traynor & Zehe, the Cleveland-based business decided to give back to a cause that had special meaning.
For the past seven years, the brand development and marketing
communications firm has been actively involved in the Ohio
Chapter of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF.)
This organization promotes research and education for the diagnosis, treatment and cure of mitochondrial disorders, and it also
provides support to affected individuals and their families.
Mitochondrial diseases are hereditary disorders that affect the
cell’s ability to produce life-sustaining energy.
The firm’s executive team — which includes Rosemary Breehl,
president; Tom Traynor, executive vice president and chief brand
officer; and Darcy Zehe, vice president — chose this organization
as its cause because Zehe’s 8-year-old son was diagnosed with the
disorder in 2000.
As a company, BTZ has donated thousands of pro bono hours in
support of UMDF events, providing consultative marketing communications services and creating collateral, signage, advertising
and promotional products.
Zehe also serves on the board of the Ohio Chapter of the UMDF
and was co-chair of the 2007 Run Wild for a Cure Race committee.
Her BTZ co-workers also contributed to the race by donating
money, running, cheering on participants and selling merchandise
at the fund-raising tables. The race took place May 12 in the
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and raised more than $194,000 for the
fight against mitochondrial disease.
In addition to BTZ’s contributions and community service work
with the UMDF, the firm has worked with the Salvation Army for
several years to adopt a Greater Cleveland family during the
Christmas season. Every year, the company has purchased about
$750 in gifts for the families.
Last year, BTZ adopted a family that Zehe knew through her son’s
school. One of the family’s two children was battling brain cancer
and the single mother was struggling to pay the medical bills. The
BTZ team purchased toys and clothes for both children and some
stress-relieving gifts to help pamper their mother.
HOW TO REACH: Breehl, Traynor & Zehe, (216) 861-1500 or www.btzbrand.com