| NEWS 10.15.09 2:25 PM |
PRINT | SEND TO A FRIEND |
|
| Yelp to Use Scavenger Hunts, Photo Booths to Connect Volunteers With Local Charities |
|
Tonight Yelp.com will host its first "Yelp.Community: Causes for a Party" event. Set to occupy the downtown location of Pazzo's restaurant, the gathering will let potential volunteers browse booths devoted to 35 area charities, and "is something Yelp has never done before," said Colleen Curtis, the Web site's head of Midwest marketing and community management. "With this event, we were looking to do something that will let us really get involved with the nonprofit sector of the community, especially now that the economy's taken a downturn and our readers are looking to volunteer for causes and do other things that won't cost them any money."
At the after-work event, which Curtis expects will draw about 700 guests, reps from each charity will be on hand to recruit volunteers. "Each nonprofit's challenge," said Curtis, "was to set up a really dymanic booth that would get guests' attention." One organization, GiveForward.Org—a Web site that connects philantropists with causes—will distribute scavenger-hunt maps. "People stop by Give Forward's booth to get the map, then they have to bop around to all the other charities and find clues at the various booths," Curtis explained. "It will encourage guests to really check out all the nonprofits on site." Other booths will offer T-shirt giveaways, presentations on flat-screen TVs, and slide shows.
Curtis said she and her team used Facebook, Twitter and—naturally—Yelp.com to help spread the word about the event, but that promotion was largely handled by the participating charities. "We set each nonprofit up with an invite," she said, and allowed them to invite their own lists. Curtis said that letting the nonprofits handle promotion lead to R.S.V.P.s from a more targeted audience. "People will mostly be coming to connect with the nonprofit of their dreams," she said. "I think that very few guests will be there just to party for the night." Still, "We did want this to be a fun party and not just a boring networking event," so the event will offer elements such as an interactive photo booth and a hosted bar.
Curtis said Yelp hopes to introduce the event in other markets in the coming months. "We’re currently in 30 markets, so we’d love to bring this program to [each city] in hopes of bringing together communities and supporting local nonprofits," she said. "Yelp’s all about connecting people with great local businesses, and certainly nonprofits are included in that mission."
—Jenny Berg
RELATED TOPICS
Yelp, Twitter, Facebook, Give Forward
MORE NEWS STORIES Poll Results: Readers Say It's Time for Desirée Rogers to Move On New Poll: What Do You Think of Social Secretary Desirée Rogers's Resignation? Oscar Preview: 10 Nominees Mean Super-Size Menu for New York Academy Members Poll Results: Readers on the Fence Over Virtual Meetings and Events Olympic Sponsors Stage Large Experiential Marketing Campaigns in Vancouver
MORE STORIES ABOUT TWITTER Seen at Sundance: Brands Stake Claim at Pop-Up Venues 6 Predictions for 2010 From BizBash's Editor in Chief 57 Predictions for 2010: Event Pros on Budgets, Social Media, Catering, Decor Trends, and More MORE STORIES ABOUT FACEBOOK Poll Results: Readers Prefer Facebook Poll Results: Planners Find Facebook a Useful Distraction
| More Suppliers/Venues to Consider |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|
Hawthorne Race Course
Established 101 years ago, Hawthorne is rich in Chicago's sports history and unmatched in its level of guest service. From intimate business meetings to whirlwind wedding receptions, Hawthorne's amenities are customizable, luxurious, and accommodate any event for an unforgettable experience. More >> EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
Autograph Store Charity Fundraising
Autograph Store Charity Fundraising is a charity fund-raising company serving at the pleasure of more than 1,200 charities and nonprofits worldwide to help them raise money via charity auctions. Autograph Store Charity Fundraising's mission is focused on helping charities and nonprofits exceed their fund-raising goals at their charity auctions, galas, dinners, and benefits with zero risk to the organization through a myriad of authentic, hand-signed entertainment and music collectibles. More >> EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
Redline Event Services Inc.
Redline is a Chicago-based production-management and technical-services company. Owned and operated by experienced industry professionals with a specific knowledge of the Chicago event market, Redline delivers a valuable service. More >> EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|