Creating a fundraising event isn’t easy. From developing the event itself to signing sponsors, then generating that all-important buzz, the job involves a tremendous amount of strategy, cooperation and coordinated efforts. But when the organization is as worthy as the Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America, everyone is inspired to do their best. Here’s how we launched Orlando’s Corporate Dodgeball Tournament, which benefits Central Florida Council youth programs, by using the Four “A” Metrics: Awareness, Affinity, Action and Analytics.

To make a full disclosure, in addition to being President of Technetium Creative, I also serve as Vice President of Marketing for the Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America. This means I’m especially proud of the hard work of everyone involved to achieve such success for this inaugural event, which was held on August 16 at the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex.

Credit for the idea of dodgeball as the event goes to Chuck Brasfeild, Central Florida Council Director of Field Services. Chuck had recently played the schoolyard game as part of a corporate team-building exercise, and figured that people would feel a nostalgic affinity with it – or at least would be eager to avenge humiliating school days defeats or reassert their superior skills.

Building awareness of the event was accomplished on several fronts. As a corporate sponsor, the Technetium Creative team designed and developed a micro-site (www.dodgeball.cfcbsa.org) on the Central Florida Council’s Web site. The micro-site provided information on sponsorship levels and tournament rules, as well as online registration, a send-a-friend-a-challenge feature and a video viewer for those who couldn’t attend to watch a live stream video feed of the event. The site also included a tournament poster that could be printed out for distribution or display in a window.

As for distribution and display, street teams lead by Jay Rosario of Celebrity Nissan, Chuck Brasfeild and Chris Crowley, Central Florida Council Senior District Executive, spread tournament awareness all over town. Handing out posters and information cards at various locations (including fellow sponsor Gold’s Gym, where there were sure to be plenty of physically fit patrons ready to participate), they were tireless promoters who never missed an opportunity to encourage businesses and individuals to form teams and support the cause.

The awareness and affinity resulted in action, with title sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of Florida, and other leading business signing on to get involved at many levels. (Read to the end of this post for the full list of sponsors.) More than 64 corporate teams registered, and attendance exceeded 800. The live stream video feed attracted more than 4,000 viewers. Many attendees stayed for the entire event, which ran from 3 to 9:15 p.m.

Winner of the traveling Golden Baller trophy and a $1,000 check was University of Central Florida’s SkeetSquad, undefeated heading into the final match. Technetium Creative’s team came up one game short of the final four, losing out to AVP (the team of Avalon Park Group, another fine sponsor).

As for analytics, the sponsorship, team and spectator participation speaks for itself. The Central Florida Council’s youth programs will benefit from the funds raised, which in turn will benefit the entire community. And it looks like next year’s tournament will be even better!

Again, a grateful “Thank You” to our sponsors:
BlueCross BlueShield of Florida; Celebrity Nissan; AM1080 Orlando’s ESPN Radio; Avalon Park; Fasttrack Scouting; General Dynamics; Gold’s Gym; Heery Design; Jack Jennings & Sons; RBM.TV; Rosario Automotive Group; Sports Authority; Sweetwater Video Services, LLC; Windermere Pediatrics