Small Ideas Create BIG Impacts!

The size of a promotional product is not the key to success- it's the impact.

According Robin Pittman, MS, MCHES Family Life Senior Director over 8,600 children and adults participate in family life programs each year in the Poe Center.

Executive Director Ann Rollins introduced me to Julie Henry, Director of Marketing & Communications for AmeriHealth Caritas of North Carolina, at a Poe event. From there, our conversation led to a collaboration that created results.

Introduced as creative and strategic partner, our company was tasked with creating a product that would serve as a visual reminder of the education topics covered in the teaching theater. The product needed to be low-cost, due to the large volume of students that visit the center. It was also important the product have the flexibility to travel with students through their day. It was also important to capture the partnership between Poe and AmeriHealth with this educational product medium.

• We suggested a unique shape for a key tag, an ameba; then designed the tag.

• Our key tag design provided a low-cost, large impact reminder of the information covered in the presentation.

• The product would travel with recipient, providing long term engagement.

• The tags were USA Made!

• The clip allowed students to decide where to attach the product. The tags easily attached to a bag or zipper as a wearable reminder.

• Students were given the clips after attending programs in the Poe Center education theater and on the road at pop up events around the state in partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas NC.

• Because an ameba can alter its shape, it represented the state of flux associated with puberty. Teens navigate the changes in their own body and mind as they mature.

• Educational programming helps shape their understanding around the impact of their current choices on their future health.

• We also designed a mobile backdrop for pop up events around the state. The design work incorporated holistic health education into the graphics.

• Each backdrop was dual sided for more flexibility at various locations and for messaging at events.

• Attendees were encouraged to take selfie photos for social sharing, increasing visibility and reinforcing the educational messaging each time images were shared.

Julie stated, " Our health plan was considering ways to reinforce our existing relationship with the Poe Center that could serve as a reminder of what students are learning.  We worked with Promotional Partners, considering options that would appeal to a fairly wide age range – from 4 ^th graders through high schoolers – and settled on a zipper tag because it is small enough to tag onto a backpack or lanyard easily, and with the unique shape, might even be a fidget toy.  Giving students something they are likely to keep in a visible place, rather than stuffed in a drawer, allows more opportunities not only for brand visibility, but for recall of their visit to Poe. "

 Robin shared as a summary to this project, "AmeriHealth Caritas has been a dedicated supporter of the Poe Center’s Family Life programs since 2023.

Family Life programs are among the most attended programs at the Poe Center. Schools and organizations across the state rely on our programs to provide age-appropriate medically-accurate sexual-health education. Programs take a holistic approach to healthy adolescent development focusing on topics, such as puberty, healthy relationships, communication, decision-making, values, and reproductive and sexual health. Parent-child workshops on adolescent development are among the most well attended. Over 8,600 children and adults participate in Family Life programs each year.

As the primary sponsor of Family Life programs at the Poe Center, AmeriHealth Caritas has provided funding to help promote Family Life programs and its educational messages.

We needed a promotional item that was popular with pre-teens and teens, but could also promote the health messages of our programs. The zippy clip key chains were a great option. Focus group feedback from youth told us that key chains were a hit item. The fun shape with imagery of healthy nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellness behaviors helped reinforce key lessons.

Every child who participates in a Poe Center program receives one. Health educators also distribute them at health fairs and events. And they are a popular item to be picked up from our information kiosk. Kids love hanging them off their backpacks.

We are well satisfied with the youth’s reaction to the key chains. They are a small subtle way to send a BIG message."

Through repetitive engagement, reach & recall the message resonated with the recipients; creating change.

The success and popularity of the ameba clips, translated into an order for a brain shape zippy clips and stickers for the education program Train Your Brain. Play Neural Fortification; is a twist on the popularity of Fortnite Video Game with teens.

This case study is an example of how a promotional product WORKS!

We are excited to update this blog post originally posted October 25, 2025 to insert a special announcement. We've added to our Pyramid Collection, earning a Silver Pyramid Award from PPAI.

This case study demonstrates the marketing & graphic design value

we provide our partners.

This collaboration captures our visionary assurance, united purpose.