AHW Partner Uses Free Resource to Amplify Health Messaging

The Rock County Public Health Department works to improve health and wellness throughout Rock County, Wisconsin. Based in Janesville, the organization is dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles and environments through collaborative community partnerships. From maternal health initiatives to nutrition education programs, Rock County Public Health takes on the pressing health challenges facing their community with dedication and innovation.

As an AHW community partner, Rock County Public Health has access to resources that extend beyond traditional funding to help build organizational capacity and maximize their community impact. One such resource is Catchafire, an AHW-funded platform that connects community partners with skilled professional volunteers ready to donate their expertise.

AHW has invested to provide Catchafire access to AHW community partners and Wisconsin public health departments at no cost. Through this partnership, organizations can access expert support in areas like marketing, web development, operations, strategy, and much more. The platform's network of skilled volunteers helps organizations complete projects that might otherwise remain on wish lists due to resource constraints.

A Creative Challenge

With more than 400,000 people in Wisconsin having been diagnosed with diabetes, Rock County Public Health had secured AHW funding to address this critical health issue through innovative community outreach. The department identified a creative solution that would meet people where they already were.

"Our department has a grant to build awareness around diabetes. An ad in a movie theatre is a great opportunity to reach folks and have them take a 60-second risk test while they are waiting for their movie to start," explained Jane Golberg, public health strategist at Rock County Public Health Department.

The challenge was clear: They had raw video footage that needed professional editing, enhancing, and compilation into a polished final product that could be used for the movie theater ad as well as various platforms including email, web, and social media. However, like many nonprofit organizations and public health departments, Rock County Public Health faced budget constraints that made hiring a professional video editor difficult.

Leveraging Catchafire for Specialized Expertise

Through their partnership with AHW and access to Catchafire, Rock County Public Health was able to address their need head-on. They posted a video editing project request on the Catchafire platform, seeking help to edit, enhance, and compile existing raw video footage into a final deliverable.

Rob H. brought impressive credentials to the project. "I've been involved with television and video throughout my entire professional career. I have extensive experience as a video producer, videographer, and editor for many companies and nonprofits," Rob shared. His toolkit included professional-grade equipment such as a Sony high-definition video camera, audio equipment, and Adobe Premiere Pro editing software—resources that would have been costly for the health department to access independently.

The collaboration, which began in May 2025, is an example of the efficiency and effectiveness of Catchafire's matching process. Within days of posting their project, Rock County Public Health was connected with the right volunteer for their needs.

Professional Results, Community Impact

Over the course of 40 volunteered hours, Rob transformed the department's raw footage into a compelling, professionally edited video. Working with a Catchafire volunteer to complete this project saved Rock County Public Health Department $5,422, funds that could be redirected toward additional community outreach and diabetes prevention programming.

But the value extended beyond dollars saved. The department gained access to professional-level video production capabilities they wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise, while Rob found a meaningful way to apply his decades of experience to improve public health outcomes.

Building on Success

This project is just one success story in Rock County Public Health's continued use of Catchafire. To date, their Catchafire projects have generated a total savings of $18,326, resources that translate directly into expanded community health programming.

This collaboration demonstrates how skilled volunteers can help public health organizations amplify their messaging and extend limited resources to serve more community members.

A Partnership That Makes a Difference

Rock County Public Health's successful use of Catchafire illustrates the powerful impact that skilled volunteers can have on community health organizations. As an AHW community partner, their access to Catchafire has provided them with professional expertise that would otherwise be out of reach for many public health departments with limited budgets.

This partnership highlights AHW's commitment to strengthening Wisconsin's health ecosystem. In fiscal year 2024, Catchafire facilitated 2,022 volunteer hours across 136 completed projects, resulting in $438,912 in savings for AHW-supported organizations.

To learn more about how Catchafire can benefit your organization through your partnership with AHW, contact Amanda Fraser at afraser@mcw.edu or visit https://info.ahwendowment.org/catchafire.