Relay the Way:
The world’s longest opening day throw
CHALLENGE
Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy, a program that provides fields and equipment to inner-city kids, was failing in each city because of a lack of funding and awareness. Its last hope was in Kansas City.
IDEA
To rally support, we tapped into the most anticipated moment of the year for baseball fans—the Opening Day first pitch. And gave fans a chance to actually take part in it. Thousands lined the streets to relay the first pitch ball more than 15 kilometers from downtown to the stadium. Simultaneously, fans sent messages of support directly to the world’s first Wi-Fi-enabled baseball. Public and social media campaigning swept regional news outlets and garnered national attention.
RESULTS
114+ million earned media impressions
3 front page stories in region’s largest newspaper
44 television stories
2.76 million unique broadcast viewers
1 hour 46 minutes of TV news coverage
National coverage via The Associated Press, Time, USA Today and ESPN
8,400+ social mentions from 35 different countries
3,500+ individual donations
$6.5 million goal reached
Jeff Schroer, Senior Art Director - Creative Lead
Ryan Simpson, Senior Copywriter - Creative Lead
Full Credits:
VML
Tony Snethen, Executive Creative Director
Ian Davidson, Managing Director, Brand Planning
Derek Clark, Group Creative Director
Glen Scott, Group Creative Director
Jaclyn Co, Senior Art Director
Zac Greason, Senior Art Director
Chadwick Andrews, Senior Account Manager
^ not Marv
Well, hey there!
Here’s a quick history of me: I’ve worked on major brands that span the gamut from travel to CPG products and everything in between. My roles have ranged from being a digital AOR for a major airline, running the social account for the world’s biggest sports drink (while also contributing to their major campaigns), being a full AOR partner for a beloved regional gas station, and helping a big box sporting goods store elbow out its competition while becoming more relevant online.
I’ve been lucky enough to conceptualize in a wide range of spaces and am continually amazed and inspired by an industry that is always reinventing itself.
When I’m not doing the work thing:
Here’s a quick history of me: I’ve worked on major brands that span the gamut from travel to CPG products and everything in between. My roles have ranged from being a digital AOR for a major airline, running the social account for the world’s biggest sports drink (while also contributing to their major campaigns), being a full AOR partner for a beloved regional gas station, and helping a big box sporting goods store elbow out its competition while becoming more relevant online.
I’ve been lucky enough to conceptualize in a wide range of spaces and am continually amazed and inspired by an industry that is always reinventing itself.
When I’m not doing the work thing:
- Love being a wanna-be weekend warrior - building things like decks and pergolas and hoping they don’t fall down (so far so good)
- Dad of 2 boys which is my world (in the best way possible)
- Roommate of a french bulldog named Marv who tests my patience daily
- I can make banana bread from memory if the need should ever arise
- Built an app for fun that ended up being #1 in the Apple App store, beating out WhatsApp and Facebook (er, in the Neatherlands)
Recognition
Gatorade Super Bowl Dunk
Cannes
Gold Lion // Cyber // Co-Creation and User Generated Content
Silver Lion // Cyber // Innovative Use of Social or Community
Bronze Lions x2 // Digital Craft // Rich Media and Augmented Reality
Bronze Lion // Entertainment // Social Brand Experience
Shortlist
Promo x 3
Cyber x 2
Media x 2
Mobile
Entertainment
Clio
Bronze // Social Media
Clio Sports
Grand Clio // Social Media
Gold // Direct
Gold // Partnership, Sponsorships & Endorsements
One Show
Bronze Pencil // Online Films & Video / User Generated Content
Finalist
Social Media Page by a Brand / Social Media Page by a Brand
Use of Technology / Augmented Reality
IAB MIxx
Silver // Virtual and Augmented Reality
Bronze // Social - Real-Time Engagement
Project Isaac Award
Social Media Invention
National Addy's
Silver // Social Media, Single Execution
AAFKC
Gold // Online/Interactive: Social Media
Gold // Elements of Advertising: Digital Creative Technology
Effie
Bronze // Carpe Diem – Products
Lürzer's Archive
Cannes
Gold Lion // Cyber // Co-Creation and User Generated Content
Silver Lion // Cyber // Innovative Use of Social or Community
Bronze Lions x2 // Digital Craft // Rich Media and Augmented Reality
Bronze Lion // Entertainment // Social Brand Experience
Shortlist
Promo x 3
Cyber x 2
Media x 2
Mobile
Entertainment
Clio
Bronze // Social Media
Clio Sports
Grand Clio // Social Media
Gold // Direct
Gold // Partnership, Sponsorships & Endorsements
One Show
Bronze Pencil // Online Films & Video / User Generated Content
Finalist
Social Media Page by a Brand / Social Media Page by a Brand
Use of Technology / Augmented Reality
IAB MIxx
Silver // Virtual and Augmented Reality
Bronze // Social - Real-Time Engagement
Project Isaac Award
Social Media Invention
National Addy's
Silver // Social Media, Single Execution
AAFKC
Gold // Online/Interactive: Social Media
Gold // Elements of Advertising: Digital Creative Technology
Effie
Bronze // Carpe Diem – Products
Lürzer's Archive
Relay the Way
Clio Sports
Gold // Direct
IAB Mixx
Shortlist - Live Experience Integration
National Addy's
Gold // Integrated Media Public Service Campaign
AAFKC
Gold // Out-of-Home & Ambient Media: Public Service
Gold // Cross Platform: Public Service Campaigns
Clio Sports
Gold // Direct
IAB Mixx
Shortlist - Live Experience Integration
National Addy's
Gold // Integrated Media Public Service Campaign
AAFKC
Gold // Out-of-Home & Ambient Media: Public Service
Gold // Cross Platform: Public Service Campaigns
Fuel Force
Clio Sports
Bronze // Product/Service
The Debut
Cannes
Shortlist // Real Time Response
Clio Sports
Bronze // Product/Service
The Debut
Cannes
Shortlist // Real Time Response
Contact me, would love to chat -> jwschroer@gmail.com