Winston’s Wish will benefit from the next two years’ worth of fundraising activity by the Birmingham Publicity Association (BPA).

The BPA has raised tens of thousands of pounds throughout its almost 90 year history for charitable causes, and chooses a new charity every two years to generate awareness and funding. They have recently chosen Winston’s Wish, for a reason close to the group’s heart: On Sunday 18th October 2020, a great friend and colleague of the BPA, Jo Harrington, died. Jo was a supporter and member of the BPA for over a decade, and was known throughout the Midlands for being a hardworking, passionate, talented, fun and outgoing woman working in the media industry.

Mark McDonagh, chair of the BPA said:

“We were all devastated to lose Jo in 2020 and we made sure, at our last event just before Christmas we all raised a glass for her and shared memories about our friend.”

With the blessing of Jo’s family, The BPA named the charity fund that gets donated each year as the ‘Jo Harrington Fund’.

Mark added “This will mean that we will all be able to remember Jo in our own way, and know that her contribution to helping people will go even further. She was such a generous and selfless person, that this was entirely fitting.”

Remembering Jo Harrington

Fergus Crow, CEO at Winston’s Wish said:

“We are honoured that the BPA has chosen to support Winston’s Wish for the next two years in Jo’s memory. We know that 41,000 children in the UK are bereaved of a parent before the age of 18, so having the support of the Association to raise not just funds, but awareness of the support available for children, young people and those who care for them across the West Midlands, is a huge opportunity for us.”

The Birmingham Publicity Association aims to unite those working in the media, marketing and creative industries across the West Midlands and is a great way to network and have fun at the same time.

The BPA has existed since the 1930s, supporting the media and creative industries in the region, while raising money for key charities that its members wish to support. Its members include global organisations and sole traders alike, graduate trainees to CEOs and MDs, as well as media owners and agencies, advertising and marketing agencies, digital agencies, PR agencies and freelancers.

To become a member of the Birmingham Publicity Association and to find out more about their events, click here.

Council members Paige and Laura with Louisa and Paul from Winston’s Wish, at the 2021 Christmas Lunch