Strategy Session with the Ohio Credit Union League

Last week I was asked to host a strategy session for the Ohio Credit Union League Steering Committee for their Marching Miles event.

Marching Miles is a state-wide Ohio credit union event that raises money for Children's Miracle Network for the six Children's Hospitals throughout Ohio. In the past Marching Miles has been a multi-day, multi-mile relay of sorts, leading up to the annual convention.

Over the last four years the event cumulatively has raised nearly a half a million dollars. Not bad for a young event. So why was I hired to help out? Well . . . .

The event has plateaued over the last couple years, attendance is low and logistics throughout the credit union community is slightly confusing.

So, last week a spent a couple hours with the Steering Committee performing a SWOT analysis to develop a solid strategy and direction as the event moves forward. As we were discussing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats it was quickly uncovered that a big part of the problem was brand confusion. Was Marching Miles just an event or the actual umbrella for all things Children's Miracle Network Fundraising?

I'm happy to report that after two hours with the group I was able to help them come to some decisions, focus, as well as the beginning of creating a new strategy to grow the fundraising capabilities for the Ohio Credit Union League and it's chapters across the state.

For 2011, we look to bigger and better changes which should transfer to more support for Children's Miracle Network and the local Children's Hospitals throughout Ohio!

Turning Empty Houses Into Homes

Today I'm getting a new bedroom set but more importantly, I helped furnish a bedroom for one of the 10,000-12,000 central Ohio families who struggle each year to furnish their own homes.

Last week I called the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and arranged for them to pick up my old solid oak furniture which included two end tables, a chest of drawers and a hutch with a mirror. It was so easy. All I did was fill out the on-line form, confirmed the pick-up when the Furniture Bank called me and a few days later they came out and picked up my furniture for FREE.

If all financially capable households would donate one or two items once every eight years, the Furniture Bank would triple the amount of furniture collected each year -- allowing them to serve all 10,000 - 12,000 families in need.

Do you have some furniture you want to get rid of? Consider the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio. You'll be glad you did!

Parting Ways To Better Help Nonprofit Organizations

As of today I parted ways with Shoestring Creative Group. Being an affiliate office for six months I thought I was offering local nonprofits the best marketing and PR option available. However, I quickly realized that I am better able to serve Ohio nonprofits locally.

I am very happy to announce that once again I am able to offer my discounted nonprofit services directly to nonprofit organizations without a middle man!

If you are a nonprofit organization looking for marketing, PR or social media assistance I'm happy to help. Contact me at michele@columbusimpressions.com.

Thrilled With The Data!

For just shy of a year I have been writing a feature column every other Friday on Columbus Underground called Philanthropy Friday. Last spring I went to Walker Evans with this idea because I thought Columbus needed to know more about the many great nonprofit organizations that we have in metro area.

Over the last 10 months I have highlighted 20 different organizations in central Ohio creating awareness for their missions and announcing their calls to action.

When you do something like this you never know how it will be received. The nonprofits I have featured very much appreciate the article, but except for a few comments on an occasional article I was not sure what the public thought (or if they were even reading them). That is until this week when Walker sent me some data. I was thrilled when I saw how many people are reading the articles!

Thank you central Ohio for reading the articles. I hope you are finding out about some great local causes that you might not otherwise have known about. I have only begun to scratch the service. Columbus has countless organizations that I would love to write about. So, if you are a nonprofit or know of a nonprofit who could you some extra awareness let me know about it.

You can email me at michele@columbusimpressions.com or send me a direct message on Twitter @cbusimpressions or @inkindconnect.

Salesian Missions Hit Hard in Port-au-Prince, Frantically Working to Provide Aid as Humanitarian Workers Become Victims and Among Missing

The Haiti earthquake personally touched Shoestring Creative Group and their client Salesian Missions.

In the wake of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Salesian Missions is working around the clock to pull together emergency response teams and fundraising efforts to assist in the relief efforts. Among those in need of assistance are Salesians and missionary workers, and at least 200 students are believed to be buried in the rubble of the renowned “National School of Arts and Trades” operated by Salesian Missions.

An emergency response team is headed to Haiti from Dominican Republic via helicopter. Salesian Missions has initially approved $80,000 from its U.S. office for a disaster relief fund for Haiti.

More funds are sought from the public and corporations.

Funds are needed for:

- emergency relief kits for the survivors ($40 will provide a relief kit)

- bottled water

- food

- tents

- clothing

- medical items

- satellite telephone to re-establish communication

Salesian Missions not only operated schools for thousands of students in Port-au-Prince, but services of all kinds for 25,000 of Haiti’s poorest children. Specializing in sheltering, educating and feeding street children, the humanitarian aid organization has its work cut out for it as all children in Port-au-Prince are now street children.

Safe on-line donations can be made At Salesian Missions website.

I'm with Coco Helps Haiti

The NBC late night mess has people picking teams - Team Coco (Conan) or Team Leno. I have to say, for me it's a no brainer, Team Coco all the way! There are a couple ways to show support for Conan and one even helps the earthquake victims in Haiti.

1. Join Team Coco's Facebook page.
2. Purchase an official "I'M WITH COCO" t-shirt by Mike Mitchell for $18.00. $1.00 from the purchase of each shirt goes to PlantingPeace.org.

Planting Peace, one of Haiti's largest relief organizations, is a progressive nonprofit organization founded by Aaron Jackson and John Dieubon in 2004 for the purpose of spreading peace in a hurting world. Even though the organization operates on a global level, they emphasize the power of one; the ability that each person possesses to make a difference in the world.

Planting Piece is raising funds for the Haitian earthquake victims. With the funds Planting Peace will be purchasing and passing our food and water to the many effected by this earthquake. They will also be seeking alternative shelters for those in need.

If you'd like to make a donation without purchasing a t-shirt, you can do so here.

Compared to the mess from the earthquake, the Late Night mess is no mess at all! How quickly it is all put into perspective. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Haiti and everyone connected to Haiti in some way.

No matter the tragedy, life does go on. It's nice to know that a silly Late Night mess can turn into a positive and help those who really need it! I'll be purchasing my Team Coco t-shirt today! Hope you will do the same.

The Power of Peanut Butter

Did you know that every Wednesday in January is Pack a Peanut Butter Sandwich Day for kids? That's right, all this month Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Feeding America is encouraging kids to help fight child hunger and one of the ways to do so is to pack a peanut butter sandwich on Wednesday (using Peter Pan Peanut Butter of course) and donate your lunch money to Feeding America through the Peanut Butter website. Although, finding the donation link is not easy since it is buried deep into the cartoon slide show. Here is a direct link to the giving page.

The campaign made an imPRession on me because while it is a cause-marketing campaign for adults it is directed to children from the cartoon that let's you personalize it by adding your child's name to the messaging. Some other ways kids are encourage to help fight child hunger are (all with parents help):

• Share food - by donating to a local food bank
• Share time - by volunteering at a local food bank
• Tell friends that hungry kids need their help
• Spread the word - Join a social media group like Facebook or Twitter

Peanut Butter and Feeding America are smart in planting the philanthropy seed early. What's the philanthropy seed? By getting your message to the kids now, and by letting them make a difference now they become personally connected to the cause now which will take root and carry over into their adult lives. It's a great way to grow life-long supporters.

New Features on In-Kind Connection

It's for the greater good!

This holiday season I've been busy improving In-Kind Connection. Almost two years ago I founded In-Kind Connection, a complimentary service sponsored by columbus imPRessions connecting non-profits in need of in-kind items to businesses and donors who can help.

In order to provide a better service, I recently updated the layout of the site and today I added a new and improved feature. Now, with the help of Google forms, nonprofits with needs or business with haves can directly submit their request on an on-line form. I'm hoping this addition to the site will make submitting requests easier.

Have a nonprofit need or business have? Try out the new form and I'll get your request on the site and then broadcasted to various social media channels to help spread the word.

Happy New Year!

Pink Glove Dance - LOVE This Video!

What an incredibly simple, fun, yet brilliant way to make an impact and create awareness.

I'm really enjoying this dancing video craze that seems to be sweeping the nation, especially when it helps a cause like breast cancer. Enjoy!

Email Announcement from Shoestring Creative

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columbus imPRessions Partners With Shoestring Creative Group To Better Serve the Non-Profit Community

columbus imPRessions is joining efforts with Shoestring Creative Group and is proud to be offering comprehensive marketing and public relations expertise to central Ohio and Midwest nonprofit organizations.

Having similar visions for the non-profit industry, Michele Savoldi could not be happier with the partnership. "Merging our skills and expertise, this partnership will be able to provide services in a knowledgeable, timely and efficient manner to successfully fulfill everyone of our client’s needs."

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Non-profit organizations can contact Michele Savoldi, Senior Project Director for Shoestring Creative Group at 888.835.6236 or email micheles@shoestringgroup.com.

Currently under construction Michele will soon have a Shoestring Creative web page at www.shoestringgroup.com/michelesavoldi

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Shoestring Creative Group is an award-winning, full-service marketing communications agency that exclusively serves nonprofits. As national leaders in nonprofit communications, our group is committed to providing creative, affordable solutions specifically created to meet the needs and challenges of nonprofits. We are one of only a few firms in the country that specializes in serving this unique niche.

columbus imPRessions will continue to serve small businesses providing quality marketing, public relations and social media services.

Movember 2009

It's Movember! The month-long event where men are changing the face of of men's health and are encouraged to grow a mo (moustache) for charity.

At the beginning of November Mo Bros (men) register with a clean shaven face. All month long they go unshaven, growing facial hair, raising awareness and money for men's health and the fight against prostate and testicular cancer. Read more . . .

Trick or Treat For UNICEF This Weekend

Make Halloween Count

For almost 60 years, children across the country have been ringing doorbells on Halloween collecting money for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund). Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s signature campaign that raises money to help UNICEF provide nutrition, immunization, sanitation, access to clean water and proper education for children in over 150 countries. Since its inception, children have collected over $144 million to help change lives! Read more.

Update Your Database

Yesterday in the mail I received three identical non-profit direct mail pieces. All were to the correct address, but each one had a different variation on my last name. The pieces were pretty large and extra postage was required.

It is important for non-profits to regularly update your database. Not only will it save you money but it will make you money. It's more than just a wrong name, it's good donor stewardship. Nothing says we don't know who our donor is like spelling their name wrong three times.

When you value your data, you value your donor.

Just my two cents. :)

One Hope Wine, The Vino That Gives Back

You might have seen me mention before that I enjoy wine, especially red wine. I also enjoy giving back to the greater good and have assisted many non-profit organizations. When you mix the two - wine and non-profit you get ONEHOPE Wines.

I recently started following ONEHOPE Wines on Twitter and am so glad I did. Such an awesome concept. ONEHOPE has many causes. ONEHOPE Wines help make a difference in the world by raising awareness and money for worthy causes. Fifty percent of the profits are donated to the following charities:

• 2006 Zinfandel supports the troops through the Snowball Express
• 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon supports Autism through ACT! Today
• 2006 Sauvignon Blanc supports the planet through American Forrest
• 2006 Merlot supports AIDS through AIDS/Lifecycle
• 2006 Chardonnay supports breast cancer through Susan G. Kohman

Breast cancer awareness month is October. ONEHOPE Chardonnay is the perfect pairing to fight breast cancer. Apparently, Chardonnay is overwhelming the favorite wine among women. So, why not turn that love of Chardonnay into a powerful force for generating hope in the fight against breast cancer?

Boxed Water

Looking at one of my favorite website - the Dieline - I came across the 40 Favorite Beverage Package Designs. If you view the post you will see that bottle design is clearly a work of art.

A little more than half way down the post I saw a package design that caught my attention - Boxed Water. The design is simple, but on purpose. It's basically water in a milk carton. It's nostalgic, yet modern, sustainable and environmental.

In fact, Boxed Water is better for the environment with 85% of the box being made from trees (a renewable resource). As an added bonus, the company plans to donate part of the proceed to water relief foundations and reforestation foundations.

Being a young company, currently they are only in Western Michigan but are always looking to add more distributors. Very cool concept, very cool company. Made such an imPRessions I wanted to help generate some awareness. I hope to see this in my grocery store some day soon.

Busy Writing

I've been busy writing for many on-line sites. My non-profit experience has again led me in another direction.

Below are the links to all the site I've been writing for:

• Columbus Underground - Philanthropy Friday - A feature article on a Columbus area non-profit organization every other Friday.

• Columbus Examiner - Nonprofit Business writer. Write about all things non-profit

• Greatest City of All - Write about and list various non-profit events in the Columbus area.

• In-Kind Connection - website and Facebook page. Bring awareness of non-profit needs to social media groups.

• And of course, columbus imPRessions

Feel free to subscribe to my RSS feeds or become a Facebook fan!

Columbus Examiner

This week I was hired as the Columbus Nonprofit Business freelance writer for the Columbus Examiner. By week's end I will be writing and placing various articles relating to the non-profit industry.

Visit my Examiner page and add me to your favorite Examiner pages. Soon my page will be filled with tons of information!

Macy's to Team Up With Feeding America This Fall

This fall Macy's has big plans and will tap their celebrity brand partners for assistance with a cause-marketing campaign for Feeding America.

Come Together connects the eating at home trend with helping hunger relief.

Instead of dining out, Come Together asks consumers to host dinner parties asking guests to make a donation to Feeding America instead giving a host gift.

Macy’s will match all contributions with a goal of donating 10 million meals.

To create awareness Macy's will use TV spots (starting mid-September), print, in-store and social media. Macy’s will also host the "World’s Largest Dinner Party" at every U.S. stores, all 650, on September 15th.

Sounds like a fun and delicious campaign!