Ashley K. Owen Event Portfolio
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Transcript of Ashley K. Owen Event Portfolio
Van Andel Institute is an independent biomedical research and science education organization committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations.
To learn more, visit www.vai.org.
Purple Community is Van Andel Institute’s (VAI) grassroots community awareness and fundraising program that connects individuals, schools, teams and businesses, that want to join the fight against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, to the resources needed for action.
To learn more, visit www.purplecommunity.org.
PURPLE COMMUNITY EVENT COORDINATORVan Andel Institute
SPECIAL EVENTSPurple Community Griffins GamePurple Community 5K Run/WalkPurple Community Whitecaps GameManagement of 200+ Third Party Events Annually
My responsibilities as Event Coordinator for Purple Community at Van Andel Institute include budget management, oversight of committees, sponsorships, marketing and promotion, and overall strategic planning for the Purple Community Program.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTSWhile serving as Event Coordinator, I have taken on management of the entire Purple Community Program, which requires overseeing a $400,000 revenue and expense budget, restructuring and recruiting members for a Leadership Cabinet, managing key Signature Events, supporting over 200 third party events annually, developing a new website and marketing collateral, and managing a team of 3 staff members.
Additionally, I was able to reduce the cost per dollar raised through this program from $2.35 to $1.35 in six months, with an end goal of less than $1.00 by the end of the fiscal year.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families, and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause.
To learn more, visit www.gildasclubgr.org.
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the nation’s marquee events for both participants and artists. This major 10- day Midwest festival is based in Grand Rapids and includes events throughout West Michigan. Created by Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and launched in March 2011 to celebrate laughter for the health of it, the festival features stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases, and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Over 50,000 people participate in LaughFest each year.
To learn more, visit www.laughfestgr.org.
EVENT & CORPORATE RELATIONS MANAGER Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids & Gilda’s LaughFest
LAUGHFEST PROJECTS
Festival Sponsorships
GVSU Hospitality Program Partnership
GRAM Partnership
Gilmore Collection Partnership
Website, Eblast & Social Media Content
SPECIAL EVENTS
SIGNATURE EVENT
LAUGHFEST EVENTS
• LaughFest Launch Event
• Community Kick Off
• Sponsor Kick Off
• Funderwear 5K Race
• Donor Brunch
• Club Red – Best of Midwest
• Sponsor Wrap Up
• Headliners Club
GILDA’S TEAM
• River Bank Run
• Other Races/Events
GILDA’S CLUB OPENWORLD’S LARGEST DOG WASHWEST SIDE WALK FOR GILDA’SGILDA’S NIGHT OF GRATITUDECLUB RED’S KRINGLE CRAWL DONOR CULTIVATION EVENTSTHIRD PARTY/COMMUNITY EVENTS
GCGR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Development Budget Tracking
Club Red - Junior Board
Spring Mailing &Year End Appeal
Holiday Card
Impact Report
Monthly Giving Program
Advancement Campaign - Support
Business Community Leadership Council
Website, Eblast & Social Media Content
Red Door Society - Support
Gnosis – Data & Process - Support
SIGNATURE EVENTThe Signature Event during LaughFest has quickly become one of the must-attend community events in Grand Rapids.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS• 2013 Event featured Wayne Brady and 1,440 attendees.• 2014 Event featured Jay Leno and 2,040 attendees.• 2015 Event featured Jim Breuer, Kathleen Madigan, Sinbad, Justin
Willman and Michael Kosta and 1,140 attendees.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTThe first two years of this event (2011, 2012), there was not an “ask” element during the evening, or any type of opportunity for attendees to make a donation. I implemented a process for making an ask in 2013, and over the course of three years, this portion of the evening
has generated over $264,000 in revenue.
2013: $49,359.30 2014: $82,904.28
(includes a $10K gift from Jay Leno)
2015: $132,656.85
LAUGHFEST EVENTSThere are a variety of key events that take place during LaughFest that the Event & Corporate Relations Manager is responsible for.
SPECIAL EVENTSLAUGHFEST LAUNCH EVENT
COMMUNITY KICK OFF
SPONSOR KICK OFF
FUNDERWEAR 5K RACE
DONOR BRUNCH
CLUB RED – BEST OF MIDWEST
HEADLINERS CLUB
SPONSOR WRAP UP
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
The LaughFest Launch Event takes place in November each year and welcomes over 300 community partners and sponsors as we announce the talent line up for the festival.
The Community Kick Off is a community-wide free event held the first night of the festival where a World Record attempt has taken place each year and draws a crowd of 1500-2000 attendees.
The Sponsor Kick Off event takes place the first night of the festival at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and features guest speaker Michael Radner, brother of the late Gilda Radner, and over 500 sponsors and festival partners.
The Funderwear 5K Race launched during LaughFest 2014 and saw an 18.42% increase in participation in 2015, from 266 participants to 315.
The Donor Brunch, better known as the “Thank You Very Brunch” event is a cultivation event for major donors held during the festival and features a clean comedian with over 150 donors in attendance each year.
The Club Red Best of the Midwest Show is our Junior Board event within LaughFest, bringing together 150 young professionals for a night of laughs and networking.
Headliners Club is a unique feature for sponsors during the festival. Prior to and following the shows they attend, they are able to network and mingle in an exclusive space with the artists and festival talent, and receive additional hospitality treatment, including complimentary food, beverages and trolley rides to shows throughout the city.
The Sponsor Wrap Up Event is held approximately one month after the close of the festival, and is an opportunity for the leadership team to share economic impact, stats and facts about the overall festival with our sponsors and key stakeholders.
GILDA’S CLUB GRAND RAPIDS EVENTSThere are many events take place throughout the year that the Event & Corporate Relations Manager is responsible for.
SPECIAL EVENTSGILDA’S TEAM• River Bank Run• Other Races/EventsGILDA’S CLUB OPENWORLD’S LARGEST DOG WASHWEST SIDE WALK FOR GILDA’SGILDA’S NIGHT OF GRATITUDECLUB RED’S KRINGLE CRAWL DONOR CULTIVATION EVENTSTHIRD PARTY/COMMUNITY EVENTS
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Gilda’s Team is a year-round fundraising opportunity for individuals and corporate partners to raise funds through athletic events (runs, walks, cycling events). Participants receive team shirts and personalized website links to share with friends and family along with supportive email communications and training support as desired.
Gilda’s Club Open was launched in June 2014 with a net of $20,000 and 100 participants. The 2015 event sold out with 157 golfers and net $29,000.
The World’s Largest Dog Wash takes place in the summer each year, and we partner with Fifth Third Ballpark and Townsquare Media on event logistics. This afternoon of furry fun features dog washing stations for over 300 dogs and family friendly activities and saw a revenue increase of 60% between 2013 and 2014.
The Inaugural West Side Walk for Gilda’s took place in October 2015 and featured a free 1.5 mile walk for 364 participants around the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids neighborhood, generating over $36,000 in net proceeds through sponsorships and pledge walkers.
Gilda’s Night of Gratitude is a new event launched in October 2014 as an opportunity for Gilda’s Club to recognize our long-time supporters and donors and reconnect with our partners prior to the launch of LaughFest. This first-time event welcomed over 150 donors and generated $14,000 in new revenue.
Club Red’s Kringle Crawl started in December 2014 through our young professional board and a partnership with BarFly Venutres. This networking pub crawl event and holiday gathering of local emerging leaders generated over $2,800 with 75 participants.
Donor Cultivation Events take place throughout the year in various forms and have primarily included donor lunches or dinners at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, featuring updates from our leadership team and tours of our facility.
Third Party or Community Events and Fundraisers are a key component of the development budget for Gilda’s Club. These events conducted by our partners in the community generate over $100,000 in revenue annually, and my position oversees all partnerships and ensures each partner has the resources they need to be successful. These events include everything from motorcycle rides to 5K races to company softball tournaments.
All about help and just about everywhere. Catholic Charities is in your neighborhood. With more than 150 programs at more than 160 locations across Cook and Lake counties, we help people of all races and religions move toward empowerment and self-sufficiency. Last year we touched the lives of more than 1 million parents, children, seniors and individuals, helping them through hard times.
To learn more, visit www.catholiccharities.net.
Only 8 cents of every dollar donated goes toward our administrative expenses; the rest goes directly to help clients. While Catholic Charities raises funds separately from the Archdiocese of Chicago, we serve as the social service arm of the church. When clients seek help from Catholic Charities– whether for emergency assistance or for another type of help–they enter into a network with services that range from counseling to job training to immunization linkage.
SENIOR EVENT COORDINATORCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
SPECIAL EVENTSSPIRIT OF SAINT NICHOLAS BALLD’VINE AFFAIRFIRST LOOK FOR CHARITYBLOSSOMS OF HOPE BRUNCHPATRICK J. RYAN GOLF OUTINGGALA OF THE ARTSTEAM CATHOLIC CHARITIES - CHICAGO MARATHON
My responsibilities as Event Coordinator and later Senior Event Coordinator for events at Catholic Charities included budget management, oversight of committees, sponsorships, marketing and promotion, auction and raffle item procurement, and overall strategic planning for each event.
To learn more about each event, visit www.catholiccharities.net/Events.aspx.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTSWhile serving as Senior Event Coordinator, I successfully led the Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball committee in netting $1Million for the first time in the event’s 23 year history.
Additionally, I was awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter, June 2012, out of the approximately 3,000 employees at Catholic Charities.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES EVENTSI oversaw a variety of key fundraising events that took place throughout the year.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
The Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball is held at the Hilton and features more than 1,300 guests, a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and wine, live entertainment, dancing and late night “sweets and treats” and generates approximately $800K to $1Million net revenue annually. For the first time in the event’s 23 year history, the ball net $1Million in 2012.
The d’Vine Affair is Chicago’s premier wine tasting event at Union League Club and features 90 vintners from around the world and over 250 different types of wine available for tasting and to purchase. Over two years, net event revenue increase 18%.
First Look for Charity is an evening of live entertainment, fine food, and fabulous cars at the Exclusive Preview Night of the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place. Each year, the Catholic Charities suite features a silent auction, live entertainment, and over 390 attendees.
The bLOSSoms of Hope Brunch is held in the spring at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace and welcomes over 800 attendees each year. Guests enjoy a large silent auction, pick-a-prize, raffle and more. The event net revenue increased by 18.87%over two years.
The Patrick J. Ryan Golf Outing was launched in August 2011 at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club and generated $90,000 net revenue and 209 golfers in it’s first year, and $114,000 net revenue and 246 golfers in it’s second year.
SPECIAL EVENTSSPIRIT OF SAINT NICHOLAS BALLD’VINE AFFAIRFIRST LOOK FOR CHARITYBLOSSOMS OF HOPE BRUNCHPATRICK J. RYAN GOLF OUTINGGALA OF THE ARTSTEAM CATHOLIC CHARITIES - CHICAGO MARATHON
The Gala of the Arts is held in September each year in the ballroom of Navy Pier. Over 400 guests enjoy an exquisite art sale, grand raffle, and liveentertainment by groups including Under the Streetlamp: The Chicago Production of Jersey Boys and Chicago favorite American English: A Beatles Tribute Band. Over three years of overseeing this event, net revenue increased 30.08%.
Team Catholic Charities was established in partnership with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2011 and in two years, generated over $150,000 in net revenue and 128 participating runners.
THANK YOUI appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing this document. I look forward to having the opportunity to share in more detail the depth and breadth of my experience in event coordination, development, marketing and volunteer management.
ASHLEY K. [email protected] • 616-890-2626
