You won’t find any sibling rivalry here. Allison and Jared Kugel’s unique relationship is often rare in a business setting. But when the time came to combine creativity and business, the two were a perfect fit for their public relations company, Full Scale Media.
“I have been in PR for over a decade now. I started a nonprofit PR firm and went into business with my brother, Jared, in 2001 when he was still in high school,” said Allison, co-founder of Full Scale Media. “I was also a syndicated journalist and had done 200 newspaper interviews from 2003-2013, which worked well with public relations.”
Jared, who is strictly business minded, teamed up with his sister in November 2013 and created the successful company they run today, Full Scale Media.
“Full Scale Media is called so because PR really entails everything these days,” said Jared, who is very big on technology and social media. “In one year we have created two offices (one is local in Plainview and the other is based in Manhattan), six full time employees and continually growing revenue.”
Every Friday, Full Scale Media offers classes for their employees on social media. It is with that training that clients truly see results.
“We come up with strategies to bring people into the door. There are no two clients alike,” said Jared. Allison, a philanthropist in her own right, couldn’t agree more. That’s why she joined forces with SCO Family of Services and their program, “Project Night Night.”
“I had wanted to do something with children’s causes, after the birth of my son, who is five now. I saw an article in a magazine about care centers and when you’re a parent it just tugs at a nerve,” said Allison, who contacted the woman in the article about the organization “Project Night Night.”
Sharman Stein, director of communications with SCO, said the tote bags will be distributed to homeless families living in the organization’s New York City and Long Island shelters.
“The blankets and books help parents and children living in transitional housing to establish a warm, nurturing bedtime ritual of reading, which is especially important during a time of disruption in their lives,” said Stein, adding that SCO, based in Glen Cove, provides services to 60,000 vulnerable New York children, youth, adults and families each year.
The Kugels wanted to get Full Scale Media involved and began raising funds for the cause. They collected blankets, books and stuffed animals homeless children on Long Island, and the kindness has only spread.
“We have filled two full orders of tote bags with newborn to elementary school items to kids in shelters,” said Allison. “It is my goal to give a care package to every child on Long Island living in a homeless shelter.”
Every tote bag has brand new stuffed animals, children’s books, and a security blanket. Some have pencils, notebooks, and other tools essential for learning.
“Having children feel warm, safe and loved is of paramount importance and it really hits home,” said Allison. “Every child deserves to feel secured and loved. Having a teddy bear to go to sleep with and a bedtime story, that’s childhood and I want to restore that.”
Allison’s experience in charities goes back to her college days, where she donated to PETA and organized a trip to battered women and children shelters throughout New York City with single moms and their kids who had escaped violent situations. She also organized trips down to mission kitchens, where she would help prepare and serve food to people, and lend an ear to hear their stories.
“It’s a matter of reaching out to colleagues, friends and acquaintances and asking them to kick in money. I do all of the bookkeeping and save the receipts so whenever I make a purchase people can see where their money was spent,” said Allison, who hopes to do a bake or t-shirt sale in the future.
The development crew at SCO Family Services runs six different shelters, and Allison always makes sure to drop off the bags herself.
“I am very committed to ‘Project Night Night’ and my brother Jared is my greatest advocate and one of my best friends. We trust each other implicitly,” she said. “There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other.”
“We already are the best at what we do and I want to be able to look back and see how far we’ve grown,” said Jared, who hopes to open an office in every major media city. “With what we’ve done in over a year, anyone can do with an idea. It’s about being genuine about what you do and having aspiration.”
