Press release here. I like that the economy has shaken things up on the local nonprofit fund-raising scene, forcing local agencies to get creative. On the other hand, this sounds a bit complicated:
ASHEVILLE, NC (August 24, 2009) – Western North Carolina residents looking to join in a fun and challenging community event this fall while helping a local non-profit fulfill its mission can stop searching – at least until Saturday, October 24.
The American Red Cross — along with Arby’s, Best Buy and Clear Channel
Asheville — is sponsoring a brand new community contest, a scavenger hunt appropriately named “The Hunt for Red October”. All proceeds from the event go to the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.“We wanted to create yet another opportunity for citizens of WNC to celebrate the beautiful area where we live while having fun and doing good,” said Patrick Fitzsimmons, regional executive for the Red Cross. “If all goes according to plan, ‘Hunt for Red October’ will become an annual event that grows year-after-year into an Asheville-area bookmark.
The Contest
There are three ways to win prizes in “The Hunt for Red October”:
Win the actual scavenger hunt — A citywide scavenger hunt during which participants collect items by solving clues and complete activities around the City of Asheville. The Hunt begins as the clues are released on-line at 10:00am on Saturday, October 24th and ends at 2:30pm with an Oktoberfest Celebration at the Red Cross Chapter headquarters. The winning team will collect the most points in the least time.
Raise the most money for the Red Cross – Participants collect money from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to sponsor their HUNT participation. Checks should be made out to the American Red Cross of Asheville. Teams may also collect credit card pledges online by creating a free webpage on www.Firstgiving.com/WNCredcross.
“Spot The Big Red Cross” pre-contest – Clues as to the location of a 6’X6’, three dimensional Red Cross will be given out on 570 News Radio WWNC the week leading up to the “Hunt”. Those who find the cross first and communicate the location to WWNC will be eligible to win smaller prizes such as dinners at local restaurants.The Prizes
Participants in “The Hunt” will be vying for some tremendous prizes:
Each member of the four-person team that wins the actual scavenger hunt will receive a 40-inch flat screen television set (donated by Best Buy).
Each member of the four-person team that raises the most money for the Red Cross in the period leading up to “The Hunt” will receive a Netbook (donated by Best Buy) for browsing the internet.
Additional prizes will be awarded for the pre-contest “Spot the Big Red Cross”.The Sponsors
Fitzsimmons said volunteers and staff from the Red Cross had recruited “The ABC’s” of enthusiastic sponsors:
Arby’s is the presenting sponsor for “The Hunt”. In addition to funding some of the cost of putting on the event, Arby’s will run promotions in its restaurants and advertising in September and October, urging strong community participation.
Best Buy is donating the prizes…and what prizes they are. The flat screen televisions are valued at $699 each and the Netbooks are valued at $299 each. In addition to the prizes, over thirty Best Buy employees will serve as volunteers for the event.
Clear Channel Asheville is media sponsor for the event. The Asheville radio leader will actively promote “The Hunt” on air and on-line and personalities from News Radio 570 WWNC and other Clear Channel stations will volunteer their time and talent to building community interest.The Registration Process
On-line registration for “The Hunt for Red October” will begin on September 1, 2009 at www.redcrosswnc.org.
Additionally, registration packets will be available at the Red Cross chapter office (100 Edgewood Road in Asheville) and other locations around town.
IMPORTANT: All registration forms and on-line registration must be accompanied by payment of the $25 per person ($100 per team) either by check or credit card.
Each team member must also complete and turn in a release and waiver in order for that team’s registration to be complete and eligible to win prizes. Participants must be at least 18-years-old.
2 Comments
I want to do this – anyone want to team up?
We used to have a similar event twice a year in Dayton, Ohio, where there is little else to do. It was a great time and worth doing, without any big prizes. It was known that the ‘winning’ team had to write the clues for the next hunt, leading some of us to not try too hard. The last clue always led to a party. Good times, and a great way to raise money.
This is my second post about how things were done elsewhere. I’m going to be quiet now.