In my travels around the country while building my business I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest community volunteers in our nation. I never missed an opportunity to meet community leaders and learn all I could about every market my company franchised in. One event in particular was a standout; the Austin's Annual Charity Event with KVET.
Part of my mission statement in my company was always to give back to the communities we serve and to be a community based company. I urge all business entrepreneurs to think like this. We are always interested in ways we can help the communities that our team serves. It is for that reason I joined 10's of thousands of others in the Austin Charity Event. When President Bush suggested that all American's put in their 2000 hours, that was not lip service, he meant it. So when we found out that KVET of Austin, Texas and the Highland Mall were putting on this event, we decided to find out which charities were their to receive the many Texans who came to volunteer their time and what our local franchisee could do to help, how we might offer our services or time to help the community.
I wanted to personally thank the Program Director at KVET, a Channel Communications Station and M. Darlene Corum the Retail Marketing Coordinator for Highland Mall in Austin for organizing an event, which every single community in the nation should put on at least twice per year. Who was there; all the local charities, which serve the community day in and day out. As many know funds are in short supply now as the economy has not fully arrived at its natural strength, there is less money to go around.
We talked with some of the most potentially devastating issues of the near future with the spread of AIDS and other serious illnesses. There on hand was a very knowledgeable group of people with Interfaith Care Alliance. We talked with Violet Leos, the Community Resource Director for the Austin Girl Scouts and volunteered our car wash fundraiser services. We made sure to point out that we did not want to replace their number one fundraiser The Delicious Girl Scouts Cookies (especially Chocolate Mints), but if they needed help in a car wash fundraiser to give us a call since I run a carwash business.
Other National Organizations with big local Austin representation were the Salvation Army, always out in force during the holidays, The United Way promoting their seasonal Angel Tree, United States Marine Corp's "Toys for Tots" program and Safe Place for domestic violence and sexual abuse victims. Our company has been active with the Safe Place groups in AZ and NV.
We were very happy to see the Austin State School, which helps mentally retarded adults in training, social services and medical care, this is so important that we do not forget them in our society. Also next to them was the Austin Children's Shelter, which provides emergency shelter and high quality care and a hope for the future for our abandoned kids in the Austin Community. Speaking of Kids, a great program called Insure-a-Kid was present helping kids who need health care insurance, and we would personally like to thank Michael Dell, Founder of Dell Computers for his extremely active role in getting this one off the ground. This is an incredible program and it is our belief this should be duplicated whoever possible, great program, good people and inspirational story of leadership and creativity in the midst of adversity, WOW.
Children's Advocacy Center was there talking about what is being done about something no one wants to talk about, child abuse cases and it's effect on kids. Very heavy subject and extremely dedicated people, a real tear jerker and they are there for the kids and were actively recruiting volunteers and promoting awareness.
Real everyday family issues were there in force also, including; Literacy Austin, teaching people to read, write and speak English; Live in the Game, providing fifth grade girls with adult female mentors; RIF-Reading Is Fundamental, motivating kids to read books; and Capitol Area Homeless Alliance, a day shelter for the homeless and yes the Bush's have volunteered to work in the food lines before and the people there made it clear Austin is serious about find the necessary means to help those people on the street transition into both employment and housing. Also on scene was Lone Star Equine Rescue, which helps improve the lives of equines throughout Texas and neighboring states.
We would like to tell every one how great it was to see Americans sign up to volunteer and do their part, to put in their 2000 hours. And we too felt proud volunteering our team to car wash fundraisers to help the kids groups. We are all in this together; we should never forget that. I urge every American and every small business model to seek out ways you can give back to your city or town and promote an ownership type community. You will be leading by example and doing what's right for the betterment of mankind and the future of your community. Volunteer and even if your town does not have such an awesome event, seek out ways to help. Maybe you can organize all the non-profit service clubs in your town and get others to volunteer too. Think on it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf you leave a star player sitting on the bench,... Read More
What you are about to read is a step by... Read More
In the 'Age of Scepticism' gaining media coverage is one... Read More
Business people often spend time and money trying to find... Read More
Receiving free advertising is the dream of most business people.... Read More
When you pay good money for public relations services, you... Read More
Especially good advice for business, non-profit and association managers whose... Read More
Media placement is an art. Practicing it often requires as... Read More
Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More
Powerful is a strong word. But it fits here. As... Read More
If you don't have a grip on public relations, how... Read More
You won't be if you accept a very simple premise.... Read More
Last month, we told you about "pay for play," a... Read More
When you are planning to call a reporter for the... Read More
Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams,"... Read More
A wise friend of mine has often said, "There is... Read More
From time to time, people ask me how public relations... Read More
Sure, as tactics usually presented to business, non-profit and association... Read More
The world has woken up to ethical issues in corporate... Read More
Obviously, it hurts when a promising business project you backed... Read More
Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level... Read More
It's hard to imagine a reporter working today who doesn't... Read More
If you're like most publicity seekers, you probably think oneproject... Read More
NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the... Read More
Be a ResourceThe media people that are likely to want... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Managers in the non-profit, association and business worlds need to... Read More
As small businesses we have an opportunity and an obligation... Read More
You know, where you do something positive about the behaviors... Read More
Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR... Read More
What's a Capability Statement?As the name suggests, it tells potential... Read More
Always ask, "Is now a good time?"Deadlines in journalism are... Read More
School BusesWhen approaching a school bus: Slow down; If the... Read More
You never want to inundate a reporter with information, but... Read More
It's a phrase I hear over and over again from... Read More
Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More
I'm what we in the business (the "business" being journalism)... Read More
Managers ? the business, non-profit and association sort ? really... Read More
Are you working as hard as you can in your... Read More
As if making sure your company runs smoothly on an... Read More
The VIP databases are fun to create and can be... Read More
I am often asked by clients to target USA Today... Read More
I often begin my media training sessions by asking members... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, what do you... Read More
What else, for goodness sake, could you as a business,... Read More
I believe this about public relations.People act on their own... Read More
Smaller companies don't always have the budget - or inclination... Read More
Obviously, it hurts when a promising business project you backed... Read More
At the core of any successful public relations campaign is... Read More
Etymology is the study of the origins of words.As languages... Read More
Are you launching a new product or website? Announcing a... Read More
Public Relations |