Thousand Oaks-based graphic design firm McNulty & Company was one of 12 national winners awarded a grant from Sappi Fine Paper North America for its winning entry in the Sappi 2005 “Ideas That Matter” competition.

The competition finances the best creative communication proposals submitted by graphic design firms, advertising agencies or college design students, who volunteer their time, energy and talent to partner with nonprofit organizations that are in need of public education print campaigns. McNulty & Company submitted a print campaign for the Autism Research Institute to promote its program of research into causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of autism.

More than 130 entries were submitted nationally and judged for innovative use of design, practicality and potential effectiveness of the campaign, and the credentials of the nonprofit organization.

Sappi is a leading producer of coated fine paper that is used in publications such as annual reports, catalogues, brochures and magazines. For more information, please call Dan McNulty at (805) 382-1852, ext. 27.