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| Path: Main Street : Resources & Library : Research Articles : Feature Article |
Give it to 'em straight from the heartMay 1, 1996; Canadian FundRaiser
When was the last time you had to pay to discover the identity of your secret admirer? In a new twist on a old fundraiser, a London Ontario-based company is selling balloon greetings that do just that, by asking recipients to pay a loonie to discover their love.
Straight from the Heart has been directed at hospital foundations and gift shops as a way of generating revenue and building employee and volunteer morale. People buy a mylar balloon and choose one of 14 greetings before sending it to someone in the hospital. The recipient then has to pay a dollar to the foundation to find out who sent the balloon. Naturally, secret admirers can remain secret if they wish.
The program has usually been run around Valentine's Day, and marketing has focussed on hospital audiences, but hospitals in the United States have also used it as a summer project, and have expanded it to the community. In Davenport, Iowa, a local hospital made the program a community effort and drew in its corporate partners for a campaign that ran over two weeks and generated $15,000.
Michael Clawson, a supplier who distributes the balloon package, explains that the idea is not limited to hospitals or their internal publics: "it's a great idea for any group that wants to put a smile on someone's face and a bit of money in the bank."
On a smaller scale, organizers in the community of Dunnville, Ontario used the program to boost morale at the local hospital. They only sold about 200 balloons, but were enthusiastic about the morale and comments generated by program participants.
Balloons cost approximately $1.50 each and come with a variety of promotional material such as posters and tent cards for the program. Organizers set the sale price of balloons as well as the cost of discovering who sent each balloon.
You can do it yourself, but for more information on Straight from the Heart and how they do it in London, Ontario, call Michael Clawson, 1-800-828 3187, fax (519) 433-7540.
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