Project Contact:
Elaine Cousins elainec@umich.edu
Volunteer Organization Name:
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Guild of Bloomington-Normal
Orchestra Name:
Illinois Symphony Orchestra
City:
Bloomington
State/Province:
Illinois
Meeting group size of the orchestra:
Number of active members in the volunteer organization?
101-200
Name of the project:
Symphony Celebrities
Project Description:
What do you do when you need to raise money for the orchestra in a city that already has a great many gala events for worthy causes? You make it a unique event and you find a way to guarantee ticket sales in advance.
Symphony Celebrities, the premier fund raiser for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, does just that. It is a unique, fun-filled evening of fund raising, gourmet dining, auctions, and networking organized jointly by the Symphony Guild and the Board of Advisors. What makes the event so special are the fund raising activities organized by each table, the socializing during the evening, and the way guests are invited to attend. To ensure that there would be enough tickets sold to make it financially worthwhile, table sponsors (called Symphony Celebrities) were recruited to host a table of their friends and associates. This eliminated the concern that not enough individual tickets would be sold to make the event successful. In addition, table sponsors were asked to come up with a fund-raising idea and table theme. Some celebrities also chose to dress up in costume to complement their theme. Just a few of the innovative tables included: hosts dressed as Adam and Eve who raffled off an Apple iPod for their fund raiser; a Ratatouille table where the guests all dressed in chef’s garb and offered a cheese tasting to raise money; a gypsy fortune teller complete with crystal ball; a table of characters from the Wizard of Oz with a tornado machine that whirled dollar bills for participants to try and capture. The event is truly unique and a lot of fun. Guests enjoy going from table to table, socializing with one another, and engaging in the fund raising activities while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres before dinner.
1. What were the goals or desired outcomes of this project? Raise money for the orchestra
2. How was the need for this project determined? Review of the orchestra’s budget
3. How was the success of this project measured? Amount of money raised and growth in attendance
4. What new information/ideas were gained as a result of this project? New bonds were forged between the Board of Advisors and the Guild.
5. What obstacles or difficulties had to be overcome in completing this project? Skeptics of the concept wondered if it would work. An informational brochure was developed to describe the event and the role of a sponsor.
6. Was this a new twist to an old idea or former project? If so, what was the difference? There are many gala events in Bloomington for other organizations. All include a silent and live auction and a dinner. The unique twist on this event was the themed table concept with individual table fund raising activities in which all guests participate, the costumes, and the table decorations.
7. Do you think you will repeat this project? If not, why? This event is being repeated for the 4th time this fall because of its success and popularity.
Role and number of volunteers involved:
Number of volunteers to plan event:
2 Co-Chairs
2 Auction coordinators plus additional volunteers
to solicit auction items
2 Table sponsor coordinators
2 graphic design and print material/marketing volunteers
1 hotel logistics/menu coordinator
1 decoration designer
1 treasurer to track expenses and income
2. Onsite volunteers
4 ballroom decorators
2 check-in registration volunteers
2 or more activity ticket sales volunteers
2 1 auction display set up volunteers
2 auction monitors to end bidding on silent auction
2 live auction spotters to assist auctioneer
1 auctioneer
1 emcee
2-3 auction cashiers
Planning Start Date:
N/A
Project Dates:
N/A
Gross revenue from all sources:
$54,585.00
Total expenses for this project:
$13,310.00
Net Revenue (Expense):
$41,275.00
The total value of all in-kind contributions of donated products and services.
Printing $600 (approx.)
Donated auction items (brought in $25,200)
Site developed by Surf This! Web Design