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
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HarePublic relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More
When do you use the newspaper for publishing announcements for... Read More
Almost every day, I hear the same question, over and... Read More
?lose the confidence of your key target audiences? discourage them... Read More
Let's start out with a caution for business, non-profit and... Read More
Once considered the stepchild of the publishing industry, custom publishing... Read More
Gaining news coverage on a successful press tour requires planning,... Read More
Media kits include a combination of information whether created for... Read More
Only two media in Spanish speaking countries offer RSS: the... Read More
You worked hard to get a story on your business... Read More
How much more fundamental can you get than this? As... Read More
What else, for goodness sake, could you as a business,... Read More
It can bite you and waste your public relations budget... Read More
Today's issue of Lean Marketing Champions features tips on doing... Read More
Once upon a time, there was a young, stressed out... Read More
Andrew Bogut, the Australian basketballer is now officially in the... Read More
Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them... Read More
I address this article to businesses, associations, non-profits and public... Read More
Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or... Read More
In public relations, "junk" is more about attitude and lack... Read More
Is your business looking for new and creative ways to... Read More
For discerning business, non-profit and association managers, PR success is... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
If you get the hang of speaking to the press... Read More
As an entry level position to PR, I found myself... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Be a ResourceThe media people that are likely to want... Read More
It's not unusual for clients of service providers to insist... Read More
It is virtually impossible to succeed professionally and personally without... Read More
Done right, it delivers the key, target audience behaviors you... Read More
Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you.So when you... Read More
SORRY?WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING?Many spokespeople approach media interviews the same... Read More
Small Business Owners should send press releases out at least... Read More
If you have had any experience in public relations or... Read More
Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You... Read More
While awaiting economic recovery, business needs to attract the attention... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, what do you... Read More
Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping... Read More
Think that you aren't big enough for national media coverage?... Read More
Product/service publicity is the superhighway to business success everyone dreams.... Read More
? Don't wear all black. You'll look as though you're... Read More
As the practice of public relations in China continues to... Read More
The reason might be this simple: as a business, non-profit... Read More
Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual... Read More
Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio... Read More
Publicity seekers know that Christmas can provide a bonanza of... Read More
Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them... Read More
So you have spent hours and hours writing, shaping and... Read More
When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public... Read More
HOW TO BE RELAXED AND EFFECTIVE ON-AIRHow does one stay... Read More
Sometimes there seems to be no client news worthy of... Read More
Public Relations |