FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org


IFA RECEIVES AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY


WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2013—The International Franchise Association received top honors from the Public Affairs Council for innovation in grassroots advocacy during the National Grassroots Conference in Key West, Fla. this week. The Grassroots Innovation Award recognizes IFA for its use of the “Franchising Votes” mobile app during the 2012 Public Affairs Conference. The App was launched to keep IFA members connected to the information and tools they needed to support their 2012 lobby day activities, from a congressional directory, schedule of events and talking points to video, live updates and a Twitter tool.


“We are honored to receive this award that recognizes the power of grassroots within the franchising community,” said Matt Haller, IFA vice president of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff to IFA President & CEO, Steve Caldeira. “The Franchising Votes mobile app gave IFA an additional vehicle to communicate our message to lawmakers using social media and amplified IFA’s ability to promote the economic impact of the franchising industry in every state and congressional district. The app used tweets and Facebook messages posted through the app by fly-in attendees that were seen by thousands of Twitter followers and Facebook friends across the country.”


The Public Affairs Council is the leading nonpartisan, nonpolitical association for public affairs professionals worldwide. The mobile app was developed in partnership with The Beekeeper Group, a public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C.


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About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

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