Sweets for Sweethearts Campaign


Campaign Details:

Who: Virginia's credit unions

What: On February 14, 2008 — Valentine’s Day — credit unions across Virginia are being asked to participate in the League Community Involvement Committee’s “Sweets 4 Sweethearts” Campaign to raise funds for our local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Contributions will also aid Miracle Day Inc. and the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run in reaching their 2008 fundraising goal of $1 million for Children's Miracle Network.

When: Feb. 14 event (We're asking credit unions to use this date because of the Valentine's Day tie-in and the fact our publicity efforts will focus on this specific date.)

Where: At your credit union!

How: Participation is easy ... Simply encourage staff to bring their favorite dessert to the credit union on Valentine’s Day.

Ask members visiting your lobby to make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network for a chance to sample all the goodies! Be sure to advertise the fact that members unable to visit you on February 14 can still support the cause by making donations online at http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/donate.php

There are all sorts of ways to encourage employee participation and make this a fun-filled event.

  • Employees who bring a dessert could be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to your area's most-romantic restaurant.
  • Set a goal, offer a reward. Motivate staff by promising a pizza party, employee breakfast, dress-down day/week if you meet your fundraising goal for the day.
  • Create competition among branches. Offer a prize or perk to the entire staff of your top-selling branch.
  • There are other ways to participate as well. Last year, one of our participants raffled off a gift basket and raised almost $500.

Why: Kids in your community need your help. Every year, the nation's Children Miracle Network-affiliated hospitals, including those serving the Commonwealth, serve more than 17 million children who come seeking treatment, cures and hope. Children's Miracle Network will be there to provide $2.5 billion in charitable care. The nation's 170 CMN hospitals treat:

  • 98% of all children needing heart or lung transplants
  • 88% of all children with cancer
  • 76% of all children with cystic fibrosis
  • 90% of all children with sickle cell anemia
  • 72% of all children with pediatric AIDS

Conducting the Campaign

  • You set the amount of the donation.
  • Photograph a dignitary or CMN family at your event. Send that with a news release to local media (and please forward a copy to your League - pr@vacul.org).
  • Sell by counting back change. Have tellers hold the last dollar (or whatever your donation amount is) and ask every member, “Would you like this dollar (or whatever your donation amount might be) to help hospitalized kids?”
  • Use your on-hold message to advertise the “Sweets 4 Sweethearts” campaign, and remind members that cannot visit your lobby on Feb. 14 that they can still support the cause through a donation at Credit Union Miracle Day's Web site
    (www.miracleday.org)
  • Ask your SEGs to get involved by helping you promote the campaign.
  • Invite media to cover your event.

Wrapping Up Your Campaign

  • Please send proceeds from your event to your League. Cut a single check/share draft (made payable to the Virginia Credit Union League) for the total donation amount.

    Mail your check/share draft no later than Feb. 29 to:
    Virginia Credit Union League
    Attn: Sweets for Sweethearts
    PO Box 11469
    Lynchburg, VA 24506

  • We’ll then forward the contribution to Miracle Day Inc./Cherry Blossom Run, noting the Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospital that needs to be credited with your donation. This ensures your contribution benefits local kids. It also helps Miracle Day Inc./Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run in reaching its $1 million fundraising goal for the 2008 race! EVERYBODY WINS with this campaign, especially the kids in your community.

What We're Asking of You

  • First and foremost, we want you to participate in the campaign!!!
  • If you plan to participate, let us know. We'll provide promotional materials for your credit union. E-mail pr@vacul.org or mamyx@vacul.org
  • We ask that you run the campaign on Feb. 14, since our promotional campaign will focus on that date specifically.

Resources

We have a number of standard-sized web banners and teller station flyers you can use to encourage members to make a secure online donation to Children's Miracle Network via the Miracle Day Inc. Web site. [More here]