News & Photos
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville terminates Mercatus Contract
March 08, 2010For Immediate Release
Contact: Carole King, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, at 615-780-2449
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 8, 2010 – United Way of Metropolitan Nashville has terminated its contract with Mercatus Communications. This is in response to an e-mail forwarded last week to a number of prominent Nashvillians by Walt Baker, CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. Baker is co-founder of the marketing and public relations firm, Mercatus Communications.
“Mr. Baker’s forwarding of that e-mail are counter to the principles for which United Way of Metropolitan Nashville stands and we found it highly offensive. Although Mr. Baker has never worked on the United Way account, in light of his actions, United Way has terminated the Mercatus relationship,” said Jerry Geraghty, 2010 board chair for United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.
“Our relationship with Mercatus Communications has always been solely with one of its principals, Phil Martin, who has regularly been an external member of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville communications team,” continued Geraghty. “His relationship transcends United Way’s contract with Mercatus and he will continue to serve United Way as he has over the past 20 years.”
About United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. Founded in 1922, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville was originally called the Community Chest. Today, the organization — through partnerships with government, education, health and human services, donors, and business leaders — does much more than raise and distribute funds to agencies. As a catalyst for proactive, lasting and measurable community change, United Way is focused on the building blocks for a better life: education, income, health and neighborhoods.
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