We all know that many times a sponsor is involved in an event to interact with you in an attempt to get you to use their product or services, or in an effort to promote a new campaign. There is nothing wrong with this, especially when they are supporting, in most cases, a worthwhile cause. But what does a cause, a sponsor, and The Great Candy Run all have in common?
I have worked with hundreds of events, and the sponsors of those events are in truth really great. However, one thing unique about The Great Candy Run sponsors is for many, it is more than just writing a check, and it is certainly more than just trying to get you to use their product or service.
It is about the cause.
All of our main sponsors are involved with The Great Candy Run because of the cause this event supports, the Fetal Health Foundation. For those that may not be yet familiar with the Fetal Health Foundation, this is an organization (inspired by my daughters, founded by myself, my wife, and other families affected) that battled a fetal syndrome during pregnancy. Every year some 800,000 pregnancies in the United States alone will be affected by a fetal syndrome. Fetal Health is there to support those families when battling these syndromes, promote awareness, and fund research.
It is personal to our sponsors.
Many of our main sponsors’ owners or employees have been affected by a fetal syndrome, or they are on the front line providing and researching new treatments. From our collateral printer, to our coffee beverage provider, to our candy makers, to the top treatment centers for fetal syndromes, they are more our partners in helping us not only in sponsorship, but helping us to make a difference year round.
More than Funds.
Our sponsors do more than just provide funds to underwrite our event, they fundraise for us, they share their personal stories with the community (which can be difficult because sadly some are about the loss of their child), they help us in providing awareness all year long, they support the families that reach out to us as a foundation in need, and they believe in what we have created with The Great Candy Run, a true family event.
Our sponsors help us in creating a true family event.
As we blogged about previously, our event prides itself on being an event that is for all ages, brining family fun and activity together in a wondrous themed event. All our sponsors work hard with us in helping create that fun for all ages. We allow them to have fun with the event and be creative. Whether it is a taffy pull contest, making cool wooden toys, to fun games, they are why the Great Candy Run is so much more than just a themed 5K event. In future blogs we will personally introduce you to many of them.
There are now many themed events out there, but how many really focus on family fun for all? How many are produced by the charity directly? How many have sponsors that are involved for more than just getting you to use their products and services? The Great Candy Run is a sweet event, but not just because of the candy theme, but because of the memories it will be sure to leave you with and no doubt the feeling you will be making a difference to all of the future families hoping to make the same memories as you will. The Great Candy Run really is the sweetest!