Benefits on the Fringe
Where do you go when your resumé which spans 27 years, reads something like this: national volleyball player; international, college and professional volleyball coach; men’s tennis coach; sports marketing director for Special Olympic International; advertising specialty products sale and marketing expert?

If you’re like Ruth Nelson, CEO of brvc marketing services, you find a way to use the multitude of skills you’ve acquired to start your own marketing firm. And that’s exactly what this vivacious, energetic women has done with brvc marketing services.

With all of her experience and worldwide travels, what does she say is the best promotional product she’s ever worked with? Prepaid phonecards. “I don‘t sell anything I don’t believe in,” she says. “But in all of my years of trying to raise money for women’s sports — something no one wants to give money to support — and in all of my years of trying to get people to support Special Olympics, I have never found a product that was better suited to that purpose than prepaid phonecards. They provide something of value in return for the donation, and it’s something of value that everyone can use. If you don’t have a use for it, someone you know will have a use for it. I truly believe in the product.”

That belief has served her well. Nelson understands the importance of combining he marketing and nonprofit fundraising experience, as well as her experience working with celebrities and athletes from around the world, together with prepaid phonecards. She now represents Team Landry, and she was instrumental in helping Team Landry score the exclusive worldwide telecommunications rights to the NIKE World Masters Games.

“I think the NIKE World Masters Games will make the biggest statement ever about the importance of prepaid phonecards for nonprofit and fundraising purposes,” she says. “The nonprofits are just starting to realize that they need to use this product, and I’m here saying, ‘Yes! You do need to use this product. It’s a great thing, and it will make your job a lot easier!’”


Culver, Denise. Intele-CardNews, vol.4, no. 4 (February 1998): 34-37.