Ad executive honored for volunteering

By: Adam Ferrell of The Post and Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 4/23/03
Page: 3B

Stewart Birbrower is being celebrated today for something he loved doing. The seasoned advertising executive and former film director volunteered his expertise, time and energy to create a media campaign for the Charleston-based child sexual abuse awareness organization, From Darkness to Light. The print, television, radio and outdoor billboard advertising not only won gold and silver Telly awards and an Addy award, but propelled the organization to its national presence. The Kiawah Island resident is honored today with an award from the Washington D.C.-based Points of Light Foundation, which advocates community service. Each day it awards an individual or organization that demonstrates the ideals of volunteerism. "I've sold a lot of Coca-Cola, Band-Aids, Kodak and Jell-O, but this is probably the most important thing I've done," said Birbrower, who helped found From Darkness to Light. "The award means a lot. I'm stunned." Birbrower alone does the work of five or six people, creating, writing, directing, editing and finishing the commercials, the organization's director of operations, Joe Elmore, said in a letter nominating him. Birbrower produced 11 commercials for the organization and continues to direct the organization's media campaign, all for free. As an award recipient, Birbrower will receive a letter signed by former President George Bush and President George W. Bush, and his award will be displayed at www.pointsoflight.org. Past award recipients from the Charleston area include: Commun-I-Care, Nov. 4, 1998; Community Juvenile Arbitration volunteer arbitrators, Oct. 16, 2002; Jerome Clemmons Jr., Nov. 2, 1999; Youth Service Charleston/Earth Force, Jan. 2, 2001; and Teenline volunteers, Feb. 23, 1998.

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