I Live Here, I Give Here's Amplify Austin Formally Opposes Amplify Federal Credit Union's Federal Trademark Application to Preserve 'Amplify' Brand

AUSTIN, Texas, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 2, 2016, I Live Here, I Give Here (ILHIGH) formally opposed Amplify Federal Credit Union's (AFCU) federal trademark application which would prohibit others' use of the word amplify in the charitable fundraising and philanthropic sector. ILHIGH also filed a trademark application with the State of Texas to protect its "Amplify Austin" brand and intends to re-file a federal trademark application.

The filing was necessary for ILHIGH to ensure that it can continue to use the term amplify for its highly successful annual giving day and other fundraising efforts.

"In 2015, after using the word amplify in the charitable and philanthropic sector without objection for more than four years, we submitted a federal trademark application for use of the term amplify for that purpose, but Amplify Federal Credit Union filed a formal objection," Celeste Flores, executive director of I Live Here, I Give Here, said. "We withdrew our application to pursue discussions with them, but to our dismay, Amplify Federal Credit Union filed a new federal application to trademark its use of the word amplify in the philanthropic space. ILHIGH had no choice but to formally oppose Amplify Federal Credit Union's attempt to prohibit us from using our brand."

ILHIGH's Amplify Austin fundraising event has raised more than $24.7 million through 160,000 individual donations for hundreds of local causes over the past four years. In addition to raising much-needed funding, this program has connected nonprofits with a pipeline of new donors. In 2016, 40 percent of the donations made during Amplify Austin were first-time donations.

"We have invested years—and considerable resources—into building the 'Amplify' brand in the charitable and philanthropic sector for the good of the community, and more than 600 nonprofits depend on the success of this fundraising campaign," Flores said. "It is our duty to be good stewards of the brand and to protect our rights to the name in this sector as well as to preserve the investment of many in this community."

"We are disappointed we have to go through this process and that a local business could affect the years of work and millions of dollars invested in this effort to make our community a better place to live and work," Flores said.

ILHIGH is wholly committed to protecting the community's investment in Amplify Austin. As such, costs to support this effort were underwritten by an ILHIGH board member who wishes to remain anonymous. Other contributor dollars will not be used.

I Live Here, I Give Here's Amplify Austin
Amplify Austin is our city's annual community-wide day of online giving. The 24-hour period provides an easy and fun way for our entire community to give together while helping local nonprofits. Over the past four years, Amplify Austin has raised almost $25 million for hundreds of local organizations. In 2016, 40 percent of the 61,625 Amplify Austin Day donations were first-time gifts to nonprofit organizations. Amplify Austin is produced by I Live Here, I Give Here, whose mission is to cultivate the power of giving back. Programs such as Amplify Austin, See Jane Give, Give Back Jack and Austin Involved are designed to encourage participants to find the issue they care most about and take action to become part of the solution. For more information, visit AmplifyATX.org.

I Live Here, I Give Here
I Live Here I Give Here's mission is to cultivate the power of giving back. We strive to meet our community's needs by ensuring that the culture of giving back is embraced and celebrated throughout our region. We accomplish this through a unique set of products and services designed to meet every Central Texan exactly where they are with a special focus on new and emerging donors. We do so through integrated and effective tools with proven impact, like AmplifyATX.org and Amplify Austin Day.
For more information, visit ILiveHereIGiveHere.org.

Media Contacts:
Erin Ochoa, Kat Harris or Katherine Arnold
Elizabeth Christian Public Relations
512.472.9599

SOURCE I Live Here, I Give Here

Related Links

http://AmplifyATX.org