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
disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..Gaining news coverage on a successful press tour requires planning,... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-class... Read More
It is virtually impossible to succeed professionally and personally without... Read More
Have you ever gotten one of those letters from your... Read More
Experience tells me that too many business, non-profit and association... Read More
Is that what we are? Fanatic, over-the-top disciples of some... Read More
For a business, non-profit or association manager, they could be... Read More
It seems difficult to believe at the dawn of the... Read More
Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level... Read More
Would you like to expand the volume of your business?... Read More
You are a senior business, non-profit or association manager. So,... Read More
Prior to launching a new public relations campaign, evaluate the... Read More
Community relations is one of those marketing strategies that isn't... Read More
Public relations is a very important part of the marketing... Read More
What is the true purpose of public relations and how... Read More
To many marketers, the press release is something of a... Read More
How do you make a good relationship with a newspaper... Read More
As if making sure your company runs smoothly on an... Read More
Yup -- it's hot and sticky and you don't feel... Read More
The Internet may have opened worlds for businesses and consumers,... Read More
I got the latest issue of Internet Works in the... Read More
Media interviews are an important part of an overall public... Read More
Whether you are a business, non-profit or association manager, your... Read More
Small businesses have always known the importance of word of... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..How to write a press release is a major challenge... Read More
So many restaurants spend money on publicity and then practically... Read More
Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to... Read More
Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and... Read More
Big corporations like General Motors and Coca-Cola spend thousands of... Read More
You know that getting publicity is vital to the health... Read More
Just because a publication is small doesn't mean that getting... Read More
When developing a publicity campaign for their business many owners... Read More
What a shame! Potentially productive public relations people resting on... Read More
E-mail is becoming the preferred way to receive media releases.... Read More
Years ago when my Dad owned a group of local... Read More
Photographs are essential for getting good publicity in the print... Read More
Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More
More than half of America skips the Super Bowl, the... Read More
Can you honestly say that your business, non-profit or association's... Read More
You won't be if you accept a very simple premise.... Read More
It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the... Read More
When do you use the newspaper for publishing announcements for... Read More
HOW TO BE RELAXED AND EFFECTIVE ON-AIRHow does one stay... Read More
If you manage a department, division or subsidiary for a... Read More
You bet!Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who REALLY... Read More
How to write a press release that generates free publicity... Read More
As many of you already know, promoting and marketing your... Read More
Wherever the fundamental premise of public relations is practiced.Look at... Read More
The real public relations geniuses might be managers. You know,... Read More
Public Relations |