Partners: Finding Compatible Groups in Your Community
When planning a community fitness event for charity, inviting partners to your planning committee can give your race more visibility. In addition, more creative minds around the table will help you to develop the event during the planning process and include important components you may have not thought of on your own.
You’ll what to start with the planning committee within your agency and begin to brainstorm groups within your community that would be of value for the success of the event. You will want those agencies who share similar interests or those who reach specific populations within your community that you may not be familiar with.
In addition, members of local government or public service agencies are a good group to invite because they can help with the implementation of the event. They often serve as a guide to ensure you are following any required regulations within your city. It is also important not to underestimate the desired involvement of city officials as well, especially when it is getting close to an election year. Many have health and wellness somewhere near the tops of their agendas and your event may be the one they choose to support. This can make the planning process easier and increase visibility and funds raised for your charity.
My race planning was done on a university campus, and then later I was able to witness and support the planning of events through local organizations associated with the university. Here are a few of the agencies we always turned to for collaboration on our fitness events. It is likely you have the same or similar agencies near your area.
Public Health Departments
Cooperative Extension Offices
Senior Centers or Agencies on Aging
Hospitals
Churches and Religious Organizations
Fitness and Recreation Centers
Schools
Parks and Recreation Departments
Mayor’s Office
Health- Focused Task Forces in your state such as Action for Healthy Kids
Food related agencies such as the Dairy Council
Local Sporting Goods or Nutrition Businesses
When you get your group together to brainstorm you will find that there is a really long list of partners who would fit well with your planning committee. Once you narrow down exactly who you want to invite you can then prepare the letters of invitation or simply make a phone call to the contact for the agency. Pitch your idea and ask them to be a part of your important effort to support a local charity while providing fitness opportunities for the community at the same time.
Photo by Wilmarie Groenewald, Free Range Stock
What do you think? Leave a comment
about this post below. You can also subscribe to our RSS
Feed to stay up to date. Joining
Charity Mile will give you your own profile, blog and chance to interact
on our forum
too.
No comments yet.