GLAD WORKS, the print, web and multi-media ad agency, today announced a unique, pro-bono partnership with the Fire Department of New York. GLAD WORKS is the only design firm in America to be selected to work on Web projects for the Fire Zone and the New York City Fire Museum, two FDNY-sponsored Web sites.

The professional web team of the FDNY has maintained focus on the ongoing development of the official Department site, which to date has had over 182 million hits since September 11, 2001. Tom Dowling, Chief Webmaster for FDNY Technology Development & Systems said, “we are extremely grateful to GLAD WORKS for their consideration, design expertise and dedication.”

In the aftermath of last year’s terrorist strike at the World Trade Center, the design team at GLAD WORKS searched for some way to offer help to ‘America’s bravest.’ “Like most people,” said Callum Grieve, GLAD WORKS’ Marketing Director, “we felt both a sense of helplessness and, at the same time, a great deal of admiration for the firefighters who had sacrificed so much. This was our rather humble way of contributing.”

GLAD WORKS’ design expertise will offer the New York City Fire Museum’s Web site an updated look, interactive timeline and enhanced gift shop. The redesigned site, launching appropriately on September 11th, offers the Museum an elegant and proud online presence. Joann Kay, Museum Director, said, “The New York City Fire Museum is deeply appreciative of the wonderful work GLAD WORKS has so generously contributed to us. Through their innovative design, our website will be able to better communicate the history of the NYC Fire Department as well as the bravery demonstrated by those who wear the FDNY uniform.”

The Fire Zone is the latest and most advanced program from the FDNY’s Fire Safety Education Fund. Visitors to the brick and mortar Fire Zone, located in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center, are immersed in a unique experience where they become part of the firefighting team and realize they can play a major role in preventing fires and making their families safer. GLAD WORKS is crafting an online version of the Fire Zone - due to launch in November- that will offer Web site visitors a similar sort of educational experience.

GLAD WORKS has pledged to continue their volunteer effort, offering pro-bono Web design expertise to the FDNY on an ongoing basis. Both Fire Zone and the New York City Fire Museum sites, along with many other Web, print and logo design projects, are on display on GLAD WORKS’ online portfolio.

About Fire Zone
The FDNY Fire Zone, a program of the New York City Fire Department's Fire Safety Education Fund, is a multi-media educational facility whose purpose is to raise public awareness about fire safety and provide an opportunity for an interactive learning experience. The goal is to educate and empower the public by exposing them to the power of fire and means for prevention, thereby reducing the number of home fires. The Fire Zone is located at 50 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Its virtual counterpart is located at http://www.fdnyfirezone.org.

For more information please call Trip Weiler, Director Of Operations at +1.212.698.4520.

About the New York City Fire Museum
The New York City Fire Museum houses one of the nation's most important collections of fire related art and artifacts from the late 18th century to the present. Among its holdings are painted leather buckets, helmets, parade hats and belts, lanterns and tools, pre Civil War hand pumped fire engines, horse drawn vehicles and early motorized apparatus. The New York City Fire Museum is located in a renovated 1904 firehouse at 278 Spring Street in the SoHo district of Manhattan. For more information please call Joann Kay, Museum Director, at +1.212.691.1303.

About GLAD WORKS
Founded in 1995, GLAD WORKS is a full-service ad agency. From design to delivery, GLAD WORKS provides clients with opportunities to increase their return on investment, enhance productivity, and maximize the value of their relationships with customers, employees, and partners. In short: we believe whole-heartedly in the possibilities. GLAD WORKS is headquartered in Rhode Island. GLAD WORKS’ clients include BROOKS Pharmacy, FDNY Fire Zone, Kaiser Permanente, Rite-Aid, Fidelity, L’Oreal, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Hearth and Stone, American Heart Association, U. S. Lighthouse Society, The New York City Fire Museum, Citizens-Union Savings Bank, the National Park Service, Hasbro, The Rhode Island Blood Center, The Arts & Business Council of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Department Of Education, The Volunteer Center of Rhode Island, The Massachusetts Audubon Society, Providence College, Rhode Island Technical Assistance Project, Rhode Island College, Johnson & Wales, Festival Ballet Providence, NCAA, VMA, Leach & Garner, Rhode Island Foster Parents Association, Public Relations Society of America, The Rhode Island Procurement Technical Assistance Center Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Preserve Rhode Island, The Arts Exchange, Coast to Coast Promotional Products, St. Edward Food & Wellness Center, Thermal Graphic Industries, Opera Providence, Easy Rider Tours, Talk Works, Creative Resources, Clinical Science Laboratory, Icehouse, re.Source, CDR Pictures, Zap! The River Coalition, ArtLinks, Green River Silver Co., Allmerica Financial, Bentley Crystal, Crimzonrose, T. J. Russell, Buddingh Tree Consultancy, Eta Designs, and the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

The ‘GLAD’ in GLAD WORKS was derived from its original founder’s name, Gina Lisa Angelo DiSpirito. “As a child, I would sign paintings, ceramics or sculpture with my initials. My Mom pointed out that there was ‘Graphic Layout And Design’ within GLAD as well. The rest – as they say – is history.”

Press Contacts
Callum Grieve
Marketing Director
GLAD WORKS
+1.401.724.4523
callum@gladworks.com