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
recurring maid service Arlington Heights ..When your public relations results pretty much depend on whether... Read More
The media live by the calendar. Your story pitch might... Read More
News releases (also called press releases) are an important part... Read More
You want to sell your products or services, and that... Read More
1. Appearing in other types of media is the best... Read More
Everyone has something that drives them up a wall. You... Read More
Taking your ad and turning it into paragraph-style prose is... Read More
Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More
The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers... Read More
News releases are not the best way to get major... Read More
Product/service publicity is the superhighway to business success everyone dreams.... Read More
About a year ago I read a feature story in... Read More
There are many ways you can get tons of free... Read More
While awaiting economic recovery, business needs to attract the attention... Read More
How do press releases or interest stories have an effect... Read More
And the best way to mind your own business is... Read More
A PR product or service launching is a perfect way... Read More
Created properly, an extremely effective marketing tool.It's a great concept,... Read More
For discerning business, non-profit and association managers, PR success is... Read More
It used to be that all you had to do... Read More
Did you Know That Even TV Remote Control Units... Read More
Recently I had a craving for... Read More
Think carefully! You're a department, division or subsidiary manager for... Read More
Hundreds of thousands of News Releases are sent out all... Read More
Years ago when my Dad owned a group of local... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public... Read More
If you're like most of my clients, you're probably interested... Read More
As the practice of public relations in China continues to... Read More
Your public relations people are busy. The buzz is all... Read More
They say that image is everything and some of us... Read More
Although, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you may... Read More
You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company... Read More
In an ideal world, your business would be overflowing withnewsworthy... Read More
Relationships are based on trust-not just romantic relationships, or doctor/patient... Read More
1. Your press release should sound like news, not an... Read More
Have you fantasized about spreading word of your business on... Read More
It could, but what if it doesn't?Will you be prepared?Will... Read More
It really is powerful when a business, non-profit or association... Read More
A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-class... Read More
If, as is often the case, you are preoccupied with... Read More
It happens to business, non-profit and association managers when their... Read More
Do you want to be quoted by the national press... Read More
Recently, I told a friend (who's a business owner) that... Read More
For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR... Read More
Yes, you can call a reporter.I've said it before, in... Read More
One of the greatest ways to promote your product or... Read More
Decide once and for all to do something about those... Read More
The toughest thing about writing a news release is getting... Read More
A term you'll hear in newsrooms, in editing meetings, in... Read More
When you are planning to call a reporter for the... Read More
Public Relations |