In November of 2005, just prior to the Christmas shopping season, the Pro-Life Action League and the
American Family Association announced a boycott of the popular doll line American Girl®, citing outrage
at American Girl’s® charitable support of Girls, Inc., which they accuse of supporting abortion and
promoting lesbianism. The two special interest groups staged the boycott after failed attempts during the
month preceding it to influence American Girl® to cut the “I CAN” promotion. The groups felt that the
company would respond to the challenge of the campaign because they claimed to be representative of the
primary consumer segments of the American Girl® dolls, with which they historically held shared family
values. The boycott lasted through the Christmas season, and the “I CAN” promotion ended the day after
Christmas, as scheduled. 6 pp. Case #06-15 (2006)

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the American Red Cross collects so many donations for
victims that it creates a special fund called the Liberty Fund to handle more than $564 million.
When the public discovers significant portions of the fund will not be used for the families of
those who died in the bombing, Congress intervenes and begins investigating Red Cross’
activities. The charity is also under fire for not cooperating with other charities in the distribution
of monies or using proper screening to determine genuine requests for relief. In the midst of the
largest scandal ever for the Red Cross, its CEO and president Dr. Bernadine Healy resigns and
the Board of the Red Cross, specifically Chairman David McLaughlin, must find a way to rebuild
trust in the Red Cross and ensure the public that the funds collected are distributed properly. (A)
Case, 14 pp. (B) Case, 3 pp. Case #02-08. (2002)

Global Genes, a leading patient advocacy organization supporting the global rare disease community, must plan for the launch and marketing of RAREX, a new patient driven data collection and global data repository initiative. This rare disease moonshot is the first of it’s kind. Its success is contingent upon the collaboration of various stakeholder groups and will require strategic communicative efforts to properly deliver the proposal. 13 pp. Case #19-05 (2019)

For over 100 years, J&J and the ARC had had a working agreement that gave J&J the right to use
the Red Cross symbol for commercial and for-profit products, while the ARC was allowed to use
the symbol in any way it wanted so long as it promoted its humanitarian and non-profit mission
given to the ARC by Congress. This all changed in 2004 when the ARC began licensing the
symbol out to manufactures to produce for-profit goods to be sold in big box retailers and other
stores. After attempts at mediation failed, J&J was left with no choice but to sue. The case will
promote discussion of how companies and organizations should react to lawsuits and what
communication channels need to be addressed by these groups under such circumstances. 7 pp.
Case #08-04. (2008)

Kickstarter, a brand leader in the crowdfunding market, is facing certain challenges as it negotiates the uncertain waters of competition. To date, Kickstarter has experienced stellar growth, despite offering no formal protection to its community of project backers. The key issue is whether this policy is sustainable going forward. 14 pp. (Case #13-06)

A class-action lawsuit, in addition to high-profile suicides of former players, cause many to believe that the National Football League is not moving fast enough to ensure player safety. As football’s governing body, the NFL must find a way to mitigate future safety issues while safeguarding the future of the sport. 22 pp. Case #14-09 (2014)

On March 25, 2003, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) revealed an undercover investigation of alleged abuses in Procter & Gamble subsidiary The Iams Company’s independent research facilities. Iams, a company of self-described animal lovers, responded quickly to evolve testing procedures to better conditions for study animals. Intense media coverage of PETA’s aggressive protests, however, has generated many questions about whether Iams is concerned about profits to the detriment of its customers’ pets. 8 pp. Case #05-04. (2005)

Fears regarding the introduction of genetically modified foods into the commercial food market
have grown steadily since the mid-1990s. In the autumn of 2000, Taco Bell Corporation found
itself caught between Friends of the Earth, a not-for-profit environmental advocacy group, and
Kraft Foods Corporation, a business partner that manufactured and marketed grocery store
products under the Taco Bell brand name. When environmental advocates claimed that
genetically modified corn had somehow found its way into Taco Bell corn tortillas manufactured
by Kraft, both companies were faced with important accusations about food safety and threats to
brand image. (A) Case, 10 pp. (B) Case, 5 pp. Case #03-07. (2003)

This case focuses on the issues surrounding a tiger attack that occurred at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day 2007. A tiger managed to escape its enclosure and attack zoo visitors, killing one and injuring two others, before it was shot and killed by police officers. Management must decide how to address the public after the crisis. Beyond this, they must ensure that they meet proper safety requirements and have effective controls in place to handle crises. Also, they must deal with the injured persons. (A) Case, 6 pp. (B) Case, 3 pp. Case #09-03. (2009)

On Thanksgiving Weekend 2009, professional golfer Tiger Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade outside his Florida home. The incident led to the accusation and subsequent admission that Woods had been carrying on extramarital affairs for years. As a result, Woods’s reputation was severely damaged and now stands in direct contrast to the values of the Tiger Woods Foundation, a charitable organization that he founded. The Foundation must now manage to carry out its mission while its founder and namesake remains out of the public sphere. 10 pp. Case #10-07 (2010)

Since 2005, the nation’s top-ranked high school basketball prospects (and future NBA players) have been forced to delay their NBA draft declarations by one year. The “One-and-Done” rule has faced harsh scrutiny for a number of reasons, and recent corruption in the college basketball world has only intensified the issue. This case explores the history of the rule, how it has affected young athletes, and whether it is the best solution for athletes and institutions of higher learning. 8 pp. Case #19-13. (2019)

In February 2021, Storm Uri devastated an unprepared Texas which resulted in mass power outages across the state. Texans faced low temperatures, food shortages, water shortages, and power outages during the storm and high electricity bills after. When electricity demand exceeded supply, electricity prices per kilowatt-hour soared, leaving many Texans with monthly electricity bills in the thousands. ERCOT is responsible for ensuring the reliability of electric service for 90 percent of the state, despite not owning the Texas grid or setting prices, and has been highly criticized for its decision making during the event by Texas politicians, residents, and the media. 15 pp. Case # 21-02 (2021)