Mom blogger Rhiannon Menn saw a void in her community when COVID-19 hit. Families in her neighborhood were struggling to keep food on the table. In May 2020, using her homemade family recipe, Menn started making and delivering lasagnas to anyone who wanted one. In an instant, the "Lasagna Love" movement took hold.
Now active in all 50 states in America, Canada, and Australia, and powered by 45,000+ volunteers, the Lasagna Love movement connects neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. Volunteers, donning aprons and swinging lasagna noodles, bring to life homemade and individual versions of one of America's most treasured comfort foods. In doing so, the newly minted non-profit has impacted the lives of more than 1.5 MILLION humans by offering support when needed, and by giving those that want to help, a meaningful and direct path to doing so.
Image Professors founder Wendy Agudelo created, from scratch, Lasagna Love's entire communications platform and ensured that the good work of its volunteers was profiled on the TODAY Show, GMA, NBC Nightly News, the Kelly Clarkson Show and hundreds of newspapers, magazines and blogs around the world. Wendy also has served as Lasagna Love's PR director since the movement's inception.
Travel and enthusiasts and entrepreneurs Susan Zhao and Boris Mordkovich set out to re-create the simple pleasures they discovered during their six-month overlanding adventure which took them from Boston, MA to Argentina. Sleeping beneath star-filled skies in their rooftop tent allowed them to discover the joy of being in nature. They dreamed of mirroring this experience in the region where they now reside (New England), which became the catalyst for the creation and development of Lumen Nature Retreat.
Nestled privately in the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Lumen Nature Retreat is an upscale camping (glamping) experience for those seeking to reconnect with nature and one another.
The co-founders of Lumen Nature Retreat leveraged earned media strategies to build greater awareness of their tiny cabin and tented retreat during the cooler, winter season -- a time when similar properties are often closed for the year. The beauty and expanse of Lumen Nature Retreat made it the perfect home to host NH Chronicle the week of February 8-12, 2024.
Three-year-old female-founded and led Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) embodies the highest level of professional, trauma-informed legal expertise associated with social justice. Led by attorneys with deep experience in sexual assault, civil rights, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases, the firm has represented athletes abused by Olympic coach Larry Nassar, teenagers tormented by hostile, uncertified schools parading as therapy-based programs for troubled teens, and has tackled some of the biggest industries including tobacco and pharmaceutical. JLC is also poised to tackle legislative reform, spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitations and enact new laws to protect the innocent and to provide proper financial and judicial remedies to survivors of physical and sexual assault and trafficking.
As JLC team bandwidth has been riveted on case victories and growth, they needed extra hands to highlight their impressive work and deep involvement in their industry and communities. Image Professors was brought on board to share their stories, manage their digital footprint, and assist with media outreach and engagement.
An idea born from the founder's need for a fashionable, dressy and comfortable pair of shoes she could wear from morning to night launched a company and a mission to redefine sneaker culture for women. Cocktail Sneakers, an inventory staple in high-end resorts and boutiques, required a pivot to digital due to COVID-19. The Image Professors team not only assisted in the pivot, but created campaigns to increase brand awareness, enhance the buyer's journey and stimulate organic, online growth.
The Wings for Autism program was created by the Charles River Center upon learning of the struggles faced by one local family whose first trip to Walt Disney World was foiled due to Autism-related road bumps. Through collaboration with Boston’s Logan Airport, the Transportation Safety Agency (TSA) and various airlines, a “travel test run” was developed so that individuals with special needs could experience air travel from parking lot and ticket booth to security and airplane boarding. Our team assisted in clearly defining the origins of the program and its purpose and to articulate and highlight the program and its benefits to a nationwide audience.
Image Professors was integral in raising the profile of the Wings for Autism program, which broadened awareness and helped in expanding the program to other airports around the country.
After several years operating the program at no charge to families, the Wings for Autism program, created in Boston, was acquired by the ARC of the United States, which currently runs all programming except for Boston, Mass. The Charles River Center (CRC) continues to run the Boston program twice a year. Additionally, in 2014, the Charles River Center collaborated with ASD Vacations to organize a special trip to Walt Disney World called "Magic for Autism." Participating families boarded a flight to Florida complete with airport, on-aircraft and Walt Disney World support including special rates, respite care and sensory-friendly programming from start to finish.
The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) is the statewide support organization for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Once a parent-volunteer run organization, the MDSC has since undergone a significant metamorphosis, now controlling and organizing numerous events, fundraisers, and conferences each year. Our involvement came after the birth of my daughter, born with Down syndrome, at which time the MDSC needed communications and PR support to gain media traction and to advance public perception about Down syndrome to shift mindsets away from historic stereotypes, while building greater attendance at events such as the Annual Buddy Walk and Family Picnic.
Through refined positioning, aggressive and consistent media outreach, submitted articles and profiles about MDSC families, the MDSC was catapulted from a once parent-volunteer run organization to one that today employs more than 15 full-time staff members and a Board of Directors. The organization hosts three major fundraisers per year in addition to numerous Educator and Family conferences. The MDSC’s Parent’s First Call program too has been recognized nationally and mirrored by similar organizations across the country.
NH Chronicle: How two travel and overlanding adventurers brought their passion for the outdoors and Nordic experiences to the Northeast.
KMOV-4: Lasagna Love set a goal in 2023 to deliver 10,000 lasagnas, enlist 1,000 new volunteers and raise $100,000 on National Lasagna Day. The organization made 2023 its third, consecutive record-breaking year.
WMTW-7: Nonprofit community impact movement strives to spread kindness and feed families. Lasagna Love has fed 1.5 million people since inception.
ABC7 / San Francisco: Making and delivering meals to make a difference in the Bay Area.
WOIO - Friday, July 29th (2022) is National Lasagna Day! This year, Lasagna Love is teaming up with Carrabba's Italian Grill, RAGU', Pastene, Galbani Cheese, and Johnsonville, to deliver 10,000 meals to families in need. Jen Picciano, a 'lasagna chef' and reporter from Cleveland's WOIO, reports.
Thrillist: Returning to the office or starting a hybrid work plan? "Elevated cozy"... here we come! (Cocktail Sneakers)
Associated Press: Lasagna Love — a grassroots nonprofit supported by 33,000 volunteer "chefs" across all 50 states in America -- are sharing free lasagnas. The group launched during the pandemic to help families counter hunger, and pay for housing costs and other expenses.
The Boston Pilot: When Abigail "Abby" Agudelo received her diploma from St. Augustine School, it was a milestone not only for her but also for the whole community, as she became the first student with Down syndrome to graduate from the K-8 school.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA: Spreading Lasagna Love: Mom’s Facebook post leads to nationwide movement.
Forbes: Made by women for women, Cocktail Sneakers is a fitting gift for your favorite mover and shaker.
GREAT DAY LIVE: Take your outfit from drab to fab with a few key accessories. For example, do you have Cocktail Sneakers? Yes, they are a thing now – and a must-have! (view)
TODAY Show: Lasagna Love Founder Rhiannon Menn and “Lasagna Mamas” from across the country were featured on NBC’s TODAY Show - September 28, 2020.
"Image Professors has moved the dial in ways our brand only dreamed of and was unable to produce until we started working together. Image Professors' has added an enormous boost to everything Cocktail Sneakers!"
"Image Professors has transformed our organization through critical and timely links to the media resulting in a continual public awareness that succinctly and eloquently shares our message of inclusion of people with Down syndrome"
“Extraordinary results under pressure and a pleasure to work with. I would work with Image Professors in a second and would recommend without hesitation.”
"We selected Image Professors for a number of reasons. First, they were highly recommended by a trusted source. We were also very impressed by their previous experience. Our choice was made, however, after our initial conversation with them. They were excellent listeners and immediately understood our product and target demographic. They presented a clear and logical plan on how they would represent our product and it was an easy choice. We would definitely hire Image Professors again. They have been both effective and a pleasure to work with."