Signature Events
Signature Marketing Programs
Two case summaries
plus photo cap of new program

Case #1

This program—designed for a leading statewide anti-hunger organization—has been recognized with a Super Bell, the highest honor in the marketing and public relations industry in New England.

Objectives:
  • Raise hunger awareness, especially among school children.
  • Raise funds for hungry children and their families around the holidays.
Solution:
  • "Santa’s Kitchen"—the nation’s first holiday ornament fundraising campaign. Project Lifespan: 1987-1998.
Program Elements:
  • Hunger awareness curriculum unit and a "holiday spoon ornament" craft workshop made available to hundreds of elementary schools: learn about hunger—its economics, geography and nutritional consequences—then decorate and contribute a "spoon ornament" as an expression of concern for hungry children and their families.
  • "Spoon ornaments" collected during a major downtown outdoor celebration event. Santa’s Kitchen aprons and other premiums for sale.
  • "Spoon ornaments" then sold throughout the state by a major retail chain at in-store kiosks staffed by employees and volunteers.
  • Funds raised from businesses contributing challenge grants to encourage school children and community groups to make "holiday spoon ornaments."
  • Media sponsors appeal both for "spoon ornaments" and cash contributions to the campaign.
Results by year seven:
  • Over 100,000 "spoon ornaments" collected annually—a new public art form is born!
  • Status as unofficial holiday campaign among state’s elementary schools.
  • Over 500 print publicity "hits" and a half-million dollars of television and radio sponsorship benefits annually.
  • $700,000 in funds raised annually.
 
 

Case # 2

This program—designed for a government-funded nonprofit which helps gain employment for disabled and disenfranchised individuals—was selected in 2003 for recognition by the New York/New Jersey Port Authority upon the post-9/11 reopening of the World Trade Center PATH train station.

Objectives:
  • Create relationships with private sector corporations that might serve as placement sites for clients.
  • Raise visibility, as well as private sector funds, for this low profile organization.
  • Create a sense of community around the organization’s core value: work.
Solution:
  • "Words About Work"—the nation’s first "advertised" workplace-based poetry contest promoting the meaning and value of work. Project Lifespan: 2000 to present/ongoing.
Program Elements:
  • Corporate Human Resources Directors, the campaign’s natural target, purchase and disseminate the contest to their workforces, and consider employing the nonprofit’s clients.
  • A selected-for-cultivation panel of judges assembled by the nonprofit evaluates entries.
  • Winning entries are chosen and advertised on bus and subway cars, transit kiosks and other billboards throughout the city.
  • An annual celebration and recognition event at a historic site reinforces and wraps up the campaign.
Annual results by year five:
  • Relationships with hundreds of companies.
  • Millions of impressions create organizational visibility and name recognition throughout the metropolitan area.
  • $300,000+ in funds raised annually.
 
 

New Program: The Big Cheese Reads

Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Steven Biondolillo, and former Boston Partners in Education CEO Frances Moseley at the launch of the Biondolillo-created signature marketing program, "The Big Cheese Reads"—the nation’s first CEO-driven literacy/mentoring program for school children. In the past four years, 95 Boston-area CEO’s have been engaged with middle school classes as Big Cheeses, and over $1.2 million has been raised!


 
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