Mudd Advertising Announces Nationwide Auto Dealers Relief Effort to Help Eastern Iowa Tornado and Flood Victims

Cedar Falls, IA (PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Automotive ad agency Mudd Advertising today announced a nationwide automotive dealers relief effort to help Eastern Iowa tornado and flood victims. The money that is being raised will go to the non-profit LSB Foundation at Lincoln Savings Bank in Waterloo, Iowa, where it will be distributed to disaster victims in communities throughout the state.

"It is an honor for us to work with some of the most generous entrepreneurs in the country, America's car dealers, during this time of need," said Jim Mudd, Sr., founder of Mudd Advertising.

Over the past several weeks, tornadoes and flooding have caused more than $5 billion in property damage, forced thousands from their homes and killed at least 22 people across the Midwest. Iowa is one of the most recently devastated regions, with 83 out of 99 counties now listed under the governor's disaster proclamation.

Mudd Advertising has over 3,000 dealer clients in 50 states. When news of the flooding and devastation made national headlines, dealerships from around the country contacted the Iowa-based agency to offer assistance.

"I was brought up with the belief that if you're successful and fortunate then it's your duty to give back when the need is there," said David Rosenberg, dealer principal of Prime Auto Group in New England. "I've been to Mudd several times over the past 10 to 12 years. I talked to Jim about the situation and it's heart rendering. I asked him what I could do to help."

John McEleney, president of McEleney Motors and vice chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), has two dealerships located in Iowa. He has seen the devastation of the flooding first-hand. "It's been a very hard blow for these communities. This was not something anyone could have prepared for."

McEleney admires Mudd Advertising's efforts to help mobilize dealers nationwide in support of the tornado and flood victims. "Dealers, as part of their nature, are very supportive of their local communities. Mudd is in a unique position because they're based in Iowa and do business with dealerships from around the country," said McEleney. "I give them credit for taking on this project. I know it will be well-received."

The LSB Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation established for the purpose of receiving charitable donations for the benefit of local communities during times of need. The foundation will be partnering with local civic leaders and social service agencies in the area to identify partial or total loss tornado and flood victims needing assistance.

"We very much appreciate all of Mudd's efforts and the incredible support we're getting from the automotive retail community," said Jim Thielen, first vice president and senior trust officer at Lincoln Savings Bank. "This kind of help can have a tremendous impact in speeding up recovery."

In addition to organizing the relief effort, Mudd has also opened it's doors to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who have set up administrative support offices on the Mudd campus.

Tornado and flood relief fund donations can be made to LSB Foundation, c/o Lincoln Savings Bank, 242 Tower Park Drive, Waterloo, Iowa 50741. Note on the memo line of the check "Auto Dealer Iowa Relief." For more information visit www.mylsb.com/tornado or call Jim Thielen, Lincoln Savings Bank at (319) 233-1900.

About Mudd Advertising (www.mudd.com):

Founded in 1981, Mudd Advertising is an exclusive, full-service marketing agency with experience working with over 3000 clients in all 50 states. Mudd Advertising delivers results through strategic planning, creative advertising and integrated marketing. As a highly distinguished company with nearly 200 employees, Mudd Advertising has risen to become one of the country's largest automobile advertising agencies, and boasts a state of the art production studio with the capabilities to provide a full range of marketing services including advertising, database management, direct marketing, production, Internet, public relations, training and consulting.

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