Artisan Announces Top Three Finalists in $20,000 Creative Competition that Matches a Nonprofit Organization with a Top Creative Team

Creative staffing firm debuts “The Match that Gives Back” to celebrate 20th Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 29, 2008 – Chicago, Ill. - Artisan, a national creative staffing services agency based in Chicago, today announced the top three nonprofit and design team finalists in its creative competition called, “The Match that Gives Back.”

A nonprofit organization from Chicago or New York City will win $20,000 in creative services in celebration of the firm’s 20th anniversary on November 6 in Chicago.

“This unique creative competition further enhances the artistic communities where we operate and demonstrates how Artisan matches talent with success,” says Artisan founder, Bejan Douraghy. “We want a nonprofit organization that is focused on arts, design, education and children to have access to the same kind of creative talent that we match with Fortune 500 companies and top agencies,” says Douraghy.

Designers, academia, community and business leaders plan to attend the event where winners of the 20-year, match-in-the-making are to be announced.

“The Match that Gives Back” independent panel of judges includes creative leaders from:

Alberto Culver American Institute of Graphic Arts Chicago American Marketing Association AON The Art Institute of Chicago Artisan Talent COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO Harpo Productions, Inc. Hewitt Associates Idesign llc

Liska + Associates Martha Stewart Living McGarry Bowen Motorola Parsons New School of Design River East Art Center Taproot Foundation United Airlines United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Warner Elektra Atlantic Wirestone

The panel of judges selected three nonprofit finalists from the top 10 applicants:

Art Start (NYC) Free Arts NYC Snow City Arts (Chicago)

One of the above organizations will be matched with a creative design team finalist from Chicago (below) and announced at the invitation only, 20th anniversary celebration on November 6.

Lyle Carbajal, Art Director Dean Fabian, 1618 Creative David Weik, Vik

“The Match that Gives Back” benefit is sponsored by ABS Graphics, Creativity Magazine, the River East Art Center, and Southern Wine & Spirits. Fine artist Pete Nawara will be painting a live work of the evening, while guests sip a signature cocktail developed by Southern Wine & Spirit’s master mixologist and author, Bridget Albert. For more details, see: www.artisantalent/match-that-gives-back/.

About Artisan

Artisan was founded in 1988 as a creative haven for Chicago’s top talent. Artisan’s ability to appreciate the demands of businesses while advocating for its A-List talent attracts a strong base of loyal clients and creative talent. By 1993, the company tripled in size and was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest-growing private companies. The company extended its enterprise to New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Today, Artisan serves 2,000 companies along with thousands of creative professionals. For more information on Artisan and the “Match that Gives Back,” see www.artisantalent.com or contact: Kellee Johnson, of The Ballast Group at 312-751-3959 or kjohnson@ballastgroup.com.