Make My Non-Profit Run Better winner announced

Press release submitted by RK Dixon

Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre selected as recipient of RK Dixon's 2010 "Make My Non-Profit Run Better" contest

CPC Pregnancy Resources receive $10,000 and Rivermont Collegiate receive $5,000 in office technology makeovers

Davenport, Iowa. (September 21, 2010) – After more than 13,670 total online votes were counted, the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre was proclaimed the winner of RK Dixon's 2010 Make My Non-Profit Run Better contest. Officials from RK Dixon, a leading provider of copiers, printers, IT solutions, managed print services and pure drinking water systems, this morning announced on KWQC-TV6 that the Putnam received the most votes. CPC Pregnancy Resources and Rivermont Collegiate were selected as 2nd and 3rd place winners, respectively.

The makeover was designed to improve the efficiency of a Quad City non-profit group by enhancing its technological capabilities and making it easier to focus on its mission. The makeover may include, but is not limited to: a black and white copier, a color copier, a printer, multifunction systems, IT services and water purification units, all of which will help the organizations run more efficiently.

With a 170,000-item collection, permanent and changing exhibits, 264-seat 3-D IMAX Theater, and inventive educational programming, the Putnam provides stimulating lifelong learning opportunities that inform, engage, and entertain everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. In 2009, the organization served approximately 179,000 people, both on-site and through outreach, including more than 40,000 school visitors from 20 counties in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

"We are very grateful to all those who voted for the Putnam and to RK Dixon for their generosity," said Kim Findlay, president and CEO of the Putnam. "The Putnam Museum has existed in the Quad Cities for 143 years, operating completely based on private donations and earned revenue. The resources we have to improve technology go into our public areas – as they should. However, our technology to run behind-the-scenes work is very outdated and without funds to support upgrades, our daily operations and communications are not as efficient as they can be. This makeover will allow us to devote even more time to creating and delivering great learning experiences to people rather than staff running around the building looking for an available piece of equipment that works."

CPC Pregnancy Resources was the first runner-up and will receive a $10,000 office technology makeover. The organization serves women, men and families in unplanned pregnancies by providing seminars, pregnancy tests, first trimester ultrasounds, parenting classes, adoption preparation, diapers, maternity clothes, and other baby items.

The second runner-up, Rivermont Collegiate, will receive a $5,000 office technology makeover. Rivermont Collegiate, established in 1884, is a non-denominational, non-profit college preparatory day school for preschool through grade twelve.

Representatives from RK Dixon will visit all three winners to assess their current office technology situation and tailor the makeover to fulfill their specific needs.

"This contest has been such a rewarding way for RK Dixon to give back to the Quad Cities area," said Bryan Dixon, president and CEO of RK Dixon. "The response was incredible. There were more than 36,810 total online votes during the two voting phases. The real highlight of the contest for us will come when the three organizations will begin to see improvement in their day-to-day business and they are better able to serve the very people that cast those votes."

When the contest began on July 26, 58 non-profit organizations from Scott and Rock Island counties were in the running for the grand prize. Organizations encouraged supporters to vote for them online at the RK Dixon website, www.rkdixon.com. Using the online voting system, the list was narrowed to five finalists. The remaining five organizations were each profiled on KWQC-TV6. Voting continued to narrow the top five finalists to three.

"When we started this contest we wanted to help give exposure to the many wonderful non-profits in our community," said Jeff Dixon, president of Information Technology. "Our intent was to give these great organizations some exposure for the work they do in our community. Through our partnership with KWQC-TV we were able to do just that."

The Make My Non-Profit Run Better contest was sponsored by RK Dixon and media partner KWQC. For more information, visit www.rkdixon.com or please contact Sue Hill, VP of Marketing for RK Dixon at 877.RK.DIXON (877.753.4966)