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The Kitty O. Locker Undergraduate Professional Writing Contest

The Kitty O. Locker Undergraduate Professional Writing Contest recognizes outstanding work produced by Ohio State University students enrolled in Business Writing (English 3304). The contest provides authentic writing assignments that support innovative teaching and learning in professional writing classes. Students are tasked with producing a document or set of documents for a real local client. Clients might include—but are not limited to—university entities, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses.

Request for Submissions for 2013

The contest client for 2013 is MMORE: Multiple Myeloma Opportunities for Research & Education. MMORE is a Columbus-based nonprofit organization that raises money to support cancer research. The organization’s executives need help marketing their current fundraising efforts and creating new events. Specifically, MMORE needs marketing plans and marketing materials for MoveMMORE, its 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk event. It also needs ideas for new events as well as the plans and materials for marketing those events.

About MMORE

MMORE was founded in 2008 by Nancy Kaufmann and Steve Fink. Their daughter Sarah was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 22 in 2005. At that time, this blood cancer was not well understood. The average survival rate was less than four years, and few treatment options were available. Fortunately, Sarah responded well to what was then a recently approved therapy, and her cancer remains in remission. But remission is not a cure, and there is a high rate of recurrence.

Sarah’s parents created MMORE to increase awareness about multiple myeloma and to raise money to help find a cure. Since 2008, MMORE’s galas and racing events (along with fundraising events from grassroots supporters) have raised more than $862,000 for multiple myeloma research, and 90% of these funds were raised in Columbus and donated to the OSU James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. The other 10% of funds raised by MMORE have supported myeloma research at other cancer research institutions. Nancy, Steve, and Sarah want to raise even more money to defeat this disease.

To expand MMORE’s fundraising, Nancy and Steve want to increase participation in MoveMMORE. They

also want to develop new ideas for fundraising events. For either project, they need your help.

Although Nancy and Steve are dedicated to supporting multiple-myeloma research, they are not formally trained marketing and fundraising experts. They need help marketing MoveMMORE and creating

engaging new fundraisers.

Contest Deliverables

Contest applicants must submit a marketing package including the following items:

A formal cover letter that identifies the contents of the contest submission. This letter should be addressed to Nancy Kaufmann, MMORE, P.O. Box 20067, Columbus, OH 43220.

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A formal marketing proposal for either

o the MoveMMORE 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk

or

o an event created by your team.

Finished samples (or appropriate conceptual mock-ups) of any marketing materials described in the proposal.

NOTE: Do not create any live materials on behalf of MMORE. For example, if your team’s marketing plan involves flyers, do not post the flyers around campus. If your plan involves social media sites (e.g., Facebook), do not create active Facebook pages.

Instead, describe them in the plan or mock them up in some other program.

A CD or flash drive containing electronic copies of all documents.

A signed contest-verification form. This form will be provided by your instructor.

Additional requirements

The marketing proposal should identify at least three groups or organizations (or categories of groups and organizations) that are likely to support MMORE through the event. Possibilities include but are not limited to companies, student organizations, civic organizations, or specific demographic groups.

The proposal should describe the communication channels MMORE should use to reach these groups, and it should describe any materials (documents, videos, etc.) needed to carry out the plan.

The proposal must be feasible and affordable. As a nonprofit, MMORE has a limited marketing budget; the organization plans to spend less than $800.00 annually to advertise any specific event. Proposals should either show how their plans stay within that budget or explain why exceeding the budget is a good idea.

The proposal should include the following items:

o An introduction that explains the purpose and structure of the document.

o A description of the event.

o A rationale for selecting the potential supporters described in the proposal. What criteria did you use to assemble this set of groups or organizations?

o A description of and marketing plan for each demographic, organization, or class of organization. Explain why each group is a good “market” for MMORE. Explain how MMORE should communicate the benefits of the event to each target audience. Estimate the costs of implementing each plan, including any necessary in-kind donations.

o Drafts of significant correspondence needed to implement the proposal. For example, if you think MMORE should ask President Gee’s office to email a flyer to all OSU students, then you must draft the request letter that Nancy Kaufmann would send to Gee’s office. You would also draft language for Gee’s email to students.

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The sample marketing materials could include flyers, brochures, digital media products, social media campaigns, or other documents. These materials must communicate the following information:

o Information about multiple myeloma and MMORE.

o Relevant details about the event.

o An explanation of the benefits for participants.

o An explanation of how the funds raised at the event will be applied to research. MMORE will provide information about how it supports research.

o A link to the MMORE website: www.mmore.org

Any typed instance of a MMORE event must conform to MMORE’s typographic branding. The event name is written with the first word italicized, with “MMORE” not italicized but in all CAPS, and with no space between the two words. For example, MoveMMORE. If your team creates a

new event, its title must follow these typographic conventions.

You may contact Nancy Kaufmann at nancy@mmore.org to inquire about additional information or to request a meeting; however, you should first visit the MMORE Web site (mmore.org) and read the material provided by MMORE.

You must not go live with any materials for a MMORE event. For example, do not create public Facebook spaces or Twitter feeds on behalf of MMORE.

Use the form provided by your instructor to list the contact information for your group. If you win a prize, we will use this information to contact you. Your English 304 instructor must sign and date this form to certify your submission.

Procedures and Deadlines

All submissions must include a verification form signed by your instructor.

All contest submissions are due to the mailbox of Professor Jonathan Buehl (421 Denney Hall) no later than 3:00 p.m. on February 15, 2014. Entries can be hand delivered or mailed. To mail a submission, use the following address:

Dr. Jonathan Buehl 421 Denney Hall 164 W. 17

th Avenue

Department of English The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 43210

Prizes

Two (2) prizes will be awarded. First prize: $750.00. Second prize: $250.00. The GTA instructor of each winning team will also receive an honorarium in recognition of his or her students’ achievements.

The awards committee will consist of Professor Cynthia L. Selfe, Professor Jonathan Buehl, Professor Roger Cherry, and the MMORE executives.

The winners will be formally recognized at the English Department’s annual awards ceremony in May 2014.