Solomon McCown &

We cannot believe that it has already been nearly a month since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon, but we are more proud than ever of how our community has come together to help the victims and their families and to support the businesses affected by this senseless tragedy.  And the PR community is no different which is why we are excited to co-host Boston PRoud - an evening to raise money for One Fund Boston.

More than 30 Boston-area PR firms have partnered to co-host the event, which will take place on May 29th at the Back Bay Social Club and Lir from 5PM to 8PM.

So far, over 400 people have registered to attend. A $20 cash donation is requested, with 100 percent of proceeds directly benefiting One Fund Boston.  The event will include a cash bar, raffle prizes donated by event co-hosts and hors d'oevres (sponsored by PR Newswire).

We would love for you to join us for a night of fun and networking in support of a great cause. Register online here. We look forward to seeing you!

On May 8, more than 150 people joined us at our SM& Presents Panel examining the issues facing the City of Boston in the post-Menino era.

With Boston voters preparing to elect only the city's fourth mayor in 45 years, the event featured a lively discussion of the key issues Mayor Thomas M. Menino's successor will inherit -- commercial and affordable housing development, a growing  gap between the rich and the poor, urban mass transit headaches, recruiting a new school superintendent and implementing a new student assignment plan, what it will take to grow Boston's middle class, and casino gambling.

Our panelists - NECN Business Editor Peter Howe, Boston Globe Columnist Joanna Weiss, Meghna Chakrabarti, co-host of Radio Boston on WBUR-FM, and Commonwealth Magazine Associate Editor Paul McMorrow - began and ended the session with a debate about "leadership style," and whether the next mayor should be a manager, a mechanic or Machiavelli.

Moderated by SM& SVP Ed Cafasso, a former Boston City Hall reporter, it was the 19^thpanel discussion presented by Solomon McCown in the past decade. Thank you to our panelists for their participation and great insights.

Click here to watch what three words attendees today have for the future of Boston.

(left to right) Ashley McCown, Solomon McCown; Peter Howe, NECN; Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magaine; Joanna Weiss, Boston Globe; Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR; Ed Cafasso, Solomon McCown; and Helene Solomon, Solomon McCown

More than 150 attendees at the May 8th panel held at Boston Properties' Atlantic Wharf

Solomon McCown CEO Helene Solomon kicking-off the early morning discussion

(left to right) Ed Cafasso, Vice President at Solomon McCown & Company moderating the media panel featuring: Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR; Peter Howe, NECN; Joanna Weiss, Boston Globe; and Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magazine.

On Thursday April 11 National Development, our client, hosted an INK BLOCKparty to mark the start of construction on its $200 million INK BLOCK project at the former Boston Herald headquarters in the South End. Mayor Menino spoke at the event who was joined by Councillor Bill Linehan, Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Ted Tye of National Development and longtime Herald columnist Joe Fitzgerald.

The event included an original INK BLOCK film; exceptional branding by our partners at Doerr Associates; local graffiti artist Cyrille Conan; original INKBLOCKtails invented by the South End's Union Bar and Grille; a sampling of the local music by saxophonist Paul Jefferson; and food by the South End's Above and Beyond Catering; to celebrate "Life South End Style."

The event was covered by broadcast and print media include the following:

Boston.com:  Ink Block breaks ground at former Boston Herald site

Boston Herald:  South End's Ink Block development kicks off

Boston Herald:  Presses rolling on Herald site revamp

Boston Business Journal:  Tearful toppling: Tawdry tabloid's HQ is toast

Boston Business Journal: Work under way to transform former Herald site (print)

South End Patch:  Former Herald Building Demolition, Ink Block Construction to Start

Boston Luxury Apartments: Think Ink. Groundbreaking Ceremony of Ink Block, former Boston Herald in the South End

Metro: Ink Block project breaking ground at former Boston Herald site

Curbed: Building Stories

Curbed: 9 Awesome Things We Learned at the Ink Block Block Party

Bisnow: Ink Block Groundbreaking

BostInno: Are You Trendy, Edgy & Stylish? Perfect! Ink Block South End is Building Your Next Apartment

Boston Globe: Work to resume on Filene's project

Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog: Ink Block work begins in South End

NECN: (from Critical Mention)

NECN: TWIB: Red Sox sellout streak, Kendall Square Ink Block project

Fox 25: (from Critical Mention)

anker & Tradesman: With Herald Building's Obit Written, Big Changes In Store

SoWa Boston: Ink Block : Setting Not Just the Trend But the Tone

Boston Herald: Thriving in new era, paper salutes past

South End Patch: Things to Know in the South End Today, April 11: Ink Block Demolition Ceremony

Boston Herald: Old Herald Building Remembered At Ink Block Ceremony

YouTube - Chris Lovett: Herald Site Demolition Paves Way for "Ink Block"

Peter Meade, Director, Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA); Randi Lathrop, Director of Business Development, Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA); Mayor Menino and Ted Tye, Managing Partner, National Development at the INK BLOCKparty.

Mayor Menino Speaking at the INK BLOCKparty

Mayor Menino signing a brick from the former Boston Herald building

State House News recently covered our client, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, and its 35^th annual legislative reception, "Our Voice: Now More Than Ever." The article discussed Governor Deval Patrick's speech, during which he urged citizens to talk to their legislators and addressed his legislative priorities for those living with developmental disabilities. The article mentions the moving stories legislators and MDDC council members shared during the event.

On February 2, the Boston Chamber of Commerce hosted John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, and Raj Sisodia, co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism Institute, and professor of Marketing at Bentley University. The two spoke about the secrets behind a successful business and the negative notions associated with big business today which they addressed in their new book, Conscious Capitalism.

When capitalism began 200 years ago, more than 85% of our country was living off less than $1 per day. Despite a vast change in personal wealth, only 19% of individuals living in the United States today approve of big business, said Mackey and Sisodia. They attribute this to the common adjectives associated with big business: greed, power, exploitation and selfishness.

Their book, Conscious Capitalism was written in an attempt to make the case for big business. Mackey and Sisodia argue the most successful businesses and their leaders embody characteristics opposite from greed and selfishness. These businesses (referred to as "conscious businesses") do exist, and include Whole Food, which has been on Fortune Magazines' Best Companies to Work List for since its inception in 1998.

In addition, these businesses are prosperous as a result of their:

• Positive Company Culture, which is established by a given company's leaders, and involves every one of a company's stakeholders: customers, employees, suppliers, and the community members in which it works. For example, every five years Whole Foods organizes a "Future Search" to bring together the company's stakeholders to discuss the future of the company. Through the "Future Search," Whole Foods founded "Whole Journeys," food related and community service trips/activities.

• Servant Leaders. These leaders are motivated by a higher purpose, not money or power. These leaders are down-to-earth and serve as mentors to inspire and motivate their colleagues.

• Higher Purpose, or the goal or a vision of a company. Companies with higher purpose understand the need for social responsibility, practice environmental integrity and have a well-established company culture. Mackey pointed out that 80% of diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, directly correlate with obesity related causes, and currently 69 % percent of US individuals are overweight and 36% are obese.  In response, Whole Foods is committed to educating society about health, lifestyle and diet options.

• Win-Win Situations: Mackey explained there does not have to be trade-offs in business. If you have not determined a win-win situation for all involved you must "get back to the drawing board." If a solution is not win-win, you have not found the solution yet.

Thanks to The Boston Chamber of Commerce for organizing an impressively motivational event. To learn more about the event, check out the conversation on Twitter #gbccef

By Lauren Michaels, Assistant Account Executive at Solomon McCown & Company

On October 19, we celebrated the new home of our client, The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP), which recently moved to a state-of-the-art facility at One Wells Avenue in Newton. The day of events included a ribbon cutting, tours, a panel discussion, and a reception. MSPP was joined by nearly 200 friends and supporters including Newton Health & Human Services Commissioner Dr. Dori Zaleznick; Secretary of Veteran's Services Coleman Nee; State Representative Ruth Balser; students, faculty, alumni and founders in celebrating how far the school has come since its founding more than 30 years ago. MSPP also was awarded with a citation from Governor Patrick for its dedication to preparing students to meet the evolving mental health needs of our society.

After lunch MSPP hosted a panel discussion on the role of Behavioral Health in the new Medical Home featuring the Director of Behavioral Health for MassHealth Chris Counihan, Dr. Alexander Blount from the University of Massachusetts and Dr. Stan Berman from MSPP.

Check out this video featuring founders and trustees to learn more about where MSPP came from and where it is going.

Tonight is the night! Our client, Massachusetts Health Council (MHC) will host its Annual Awards Gala at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel on October 17th. In this video, MHC Executive Director Susan Servais and  Celebrity Chef Mary Dumont explain the purpose behind the event and the importance of healthy eating.

Over the past few days, our client Hostelling International has been featured in several different media outlets for the grand opening of its new Boston hostel. It all started with a successful ribbon cutting ceremony that included speeches from Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley as well as dragon dancing. The coverage included:

- WBZ radio's Doug Cope was there to discuss the building's green aspects and affordability with Hostelling International New England Executive Director Deborah Ruhe.

- Boston.com's Jeremy Fox from Your Town Downtown wrote an article expressing excitement over the hostel's environmental efficiency as well as it's promotion of cultural community.

- The Boston Herald touted the opening and a shot a video of the hostel.

- NECN's New England Business also put together a segment on the hostel.

- Additional coverage of the hostel can be read on CityBizList Boston and Northeast Real Estate Business Online.

Last week, The Boston Globe previewed the hostel with an article and slideshow highlighting the its unique features including its energy efficiency and affordable pricing.

On June 16, our client, Hostelling International, was featured in the Boston Globe's Business section regarding the official opening of its newest Boston hostel. The article discussed the affordability of the hostel in a competitive market, as well as its environmental efficiency as it strives to achieved LEED Gold certification. The hostel will officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 22 with an expectation to bring in more than 46,000 guests annually and generate more than $16 million of direct spending by tourists at Boston restaurants, entertainment venues and sightseeing spots across the city.

To learn more about the hostel, click here.

The hostel was also featured in Boston Globe Magazine for the hostel's open house on June 22.

Our client, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), Boston's Jewish Federation, held its annual Pomegranate Society & Friends Event on March 31st to honor Boston's premiere female philanthropists.  Actress Mayim Bialik, who's best known for her roles on "The Big Bang Theory" and "Blossom," was the featured speaker.  Did you know she is a mother, accomplished actress, and has her Ph.D. in neuroscience? Read more about it on Boston.com.