In small corners and community kitchens, tucked away in seating areas and vacant hallways, Discovery employees are meeting in preparation for the fifth annual Discovery Impact: Creating Change marathon that kicks off here in Silver Spring tomorrow, November 6th. The event is a pro bono initiative where employees from a diverse range of departments – from production to marketing to events – team up to bring their creative forces together for the benefit of nonprofit organizations in the local Maryland, DC and Virginia communities.

The two-day event is a marathon indeed, with the first day stretching to last a full 12 hours. The final campaigns and collateral employee teams develop during this time spans a wide range – from pamphlets and brochures, to websites and logos, to press kits and other promotional materials. While employees work to develop these deliverables, representatives from all organizations who applied to be a part of Creating Change are invited to participate in the Creating Change Conference, a companion to the marathon where business leaders across several departments at Discovery host sessions to help the organizations better position themselves in their respective competitive landscapes. On the second day, employee teams present their work to their respective nonprofits, who are then able to leave and implement what was developed within their organizations.

The following organizations will be participating in this year’s Creating Change: