4. !
I. Situation Statement
! !
History
!
Established
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was started in 1998 when Egleston Children’s Health
Care System and Scottish Rite Medical Center came together to form Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a not-for-profit hospital system that specializes in
pediatric healthcare, research and education. Its three hospitals, Children’s Healthcare
of Atlanta at Egleston, Hughes Spalding and Scottish Rite, together, manage more than
850,000 patient visits a year. Children’s also operates close to 25 health care facilities in
the metro Atlanta area. Children’s at Egleston, known for its pediatric services in
cardiology, oncology, neonatal, orthopedics, rehabilitation, organ transplant and general
surgery, is Georgia’s first Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.
Core Values
The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta purpose is to make kids better today and healthier
tomorrow. The system places high emphasis on the following values: care about people;
passionate about kids and dedicated to better.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is “dedicated to all better.” Whether treating a toddler in
an emergency or supporting a teen through chemotherapy treatments, the system is
dedicated to the care of each patient. It’s through teamwork at every level of Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta and with the families that it is able to achieve excellence in
pediatric care.
5. !
Product/Service
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta specializes in treating children with all types of
illnesses. The company believes that children are not just small adults. The child
belongs in a children’s hospital where he or she can get a specialized diagnosis,
treatment, equipment and support. Pediatric doctors, nurses and specialists who
understand these differences should care for children.
!
Current Standing:
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta provides world-class care to its patients in more than 30
pediatric specialties. Children’s Healthcare is a model for other pediatric hospitals. It has
the crucial components of quality care and it is committed to keeping patients feel
secure by providing the same standard of care in each facility by ensuring that there is
effective communication among patients, parents and caregivers.
Physicians at Children’s Healthcare
Patients from birth to age 21 receive care from more than 1,700 physicians within the
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta network. Patients and families will see care
coordination, convenient scheduling, locations with several specialties and the
elimination of duplication of personal information.
What sets Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta apart from competitors:
Patients get well faster when their families surround them. That’s why Children’s
provides facilities, activities and support that focus on developmental, spiritual and
emotional needs of children and their families. It treats the whole child—and the whole
family—by tending to their mental, developmental, spiritual and emotional needs.
6. Executive Staffing
Donna W. Hyland: President and CEO
Rex Adams: COO
Ruth Fowler: CFO
Patrick Frias, M.D.: Chief Physician Officer
Ron Frieson: Chief Public Policy Officer
Eugene A. Hayes III: President, Foundation
Linda Matzigkeit: Chief Administrative Officer
Daniel Salinas, M.D.: Chief Medical Officer
Community Affairs
Children’s has a long tradition of community involvement. From employee volunteer
efforts to investing in community outreach, the system’s commitment to the communities
it serves goes beyond its role as Georgia’s leading pediatric health care provider. It
strives to reach outside its walls to improve health care outcomes for children in the
surrounding neighborhoods. Community outreach liaisons develop partnerships with key
community stakeholders and support the Children’s Outpatient Network with community
outreach activities. The system works to develop community engagement plans that
create recognition and acceptance for Children’s Healthcare as the area’s premier
pediatric healthcare provider.
Community affairs includes developing relationships with local governments, corporate
employers, school systems, donors, volunteers and patient families for the purpose of
linking Children’s services and programs to the communities they serve. Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta believes in empowering volunteers to create fundraisers that
support the mission and goals of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
7. Competition
Although Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the largest pediatric hospital network in
Georgia, its main competition is Emory Healthcare, Inc., Piedmont Hospital, Inc. and
Grady Health System.
PR/Communication Activities
Personnel
Patty Turlington Gregory: Manager
Chrissie Gallentine: Public Relations Coordinator
Heather Kirksey: Public Relations Coordinator
Carrie Edwards: Public Relations Coordinator
Robin Appelbaum: Public Relations Manager for Wellness
Laura McGee: Public Relations Coordinator
Hear their story
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta creates an influential blog that features miracle stories,
children who are being cured, inspirational stories and encouraging ways to get involved
through volunteer opportunities.
Be inspired: www.dedicatedtoallbetter.org
Community Outreach Events:
Camp Breathe Easy:
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta plans and provides education at Camp Breathe Easy, a
weeklong residential camp for children aged 7-13 with asthma.
8. Dance Marathons:
This event is truly “for the kids” and takes place at universities across the nation in order to
fundraise for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. University students will stand for 24 hours to
honor countless children who spend days, weeks and even years in the hospital.
Mini Marathons:
These are four-hour versions of dance marathons. The marathons consist of music, dancing,
games, competitions, free food and, most importantly, stories from actual Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta families. These are great opportunities for students in high schools to
come together toward a common cause of raising money for the kids.
Project S.A.V.E:
Project S.A.V.E was created to educate school systems and doctors about pediatric sudden
cardiac arrest. it goes into schools and educate teachers, parents and students about the
warning signs and precautions they should take in case a child falls into cardiac arrest.
Miracle Marathon:
Miracle Marathon is a 27.2-day virtual fundraising campaign in which participants run, walk,
dance or achieve forward motion for one mile per day at his or her leisure to benefit Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta. The final 1.2 miles will be completed as a group, no matter where the
individual is in the world; all participants will start their last 1.2 miles at the same time, from his
or her home in order to provide unity within one body for one cause.
9. Target Audiences:
Primary Target Audience:
The primary target audience is the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Public Relations and
Communications staff because it is the company who carries out the functions of getting its
mission, values and support out to the community.
Secondary Target Audience:
The secondary audience is the local community surrounding Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
This is the secondary target audience because members of the community are going to be the
fundraisers and supporters of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Specific Problem and Opportunity
Problem
The economy has been worsening over the past eight years, and the influx of donations for
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been decreasing slightly. As more people have hard
times making ends meet, they are less likely to give generously to a program such as
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. However, Millennials shows that it has a philanthropic
mindset and desire to make a difference rather than earning a multitude of money. According
to “The Economist” article on How Generation X and Millennials are transforming charitable
giving, these two generations have an increasingly global mindset, an active engagement in
giving, and a strong desire to have a measureable and enduring impact. A new generation of
financiers is uniting a passion for investing with an intense desire to transform the world for
the better” http://www.economistinsights.com/analysis/portraits-young-philanthropists
10. Opportunity
Focus upon Millennials and tap into the market of inspiring college students to create
fundraisers for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in their universities. UGA Miracle fundraised
over $500,000 for the kids, a popular phrase within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. If
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta implements research as to why The University of Georgia is
so successful in fundraising then Children’s can inspire new philanthropies at competing
universities in order to receive more donations.
12. !
II. Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Create new partnerships with Georgia universities and colleges.
a. Objective 1: To increase partnerships with Georgia colleges and
universities from three to six within one year.
b. Objective 2: To help current Georgia universities (Georgia Institute of
Technology, The University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University) to
increase their donations given by 25 percent by the end of the current school
year.
Goal 2: Increase donations to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
a. Objective 1: To increase donations received from previous fiscal year by
10 percent within the end of the current fiscal year.
b. Objective 2: To utilize donations to hire five new doctors that specialize in
unmet areas of need within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital networks
within one year.
III. Research
For this campaign, primary research must be conducted in order to focus on a group of
specific colleges and universities. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will need to conduct
Interest surveys amongst Georgia universities to gauge how many students would be
willing to plan a Dance Marathon.
13. The universities that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will conduct interest surveys in are
the following: Georgia Southern University, Georgia Perimeter College, Valdosta State
University, University of West Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Georgia Gwinnett
College and Columbus State University.
The surveys will be administered in person at central locations of each major university
with the goal of surveying more than 500 people in one week’s worth of conducting
interviews. The research will then be used to analyze which schools will potentially
make the greatest financial impact on Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
After determining which three universities are most willing to support Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta, the research team will then begin conducting interviews to
compile executive teams to create those universities first Dance Marathon events.
Once the Dance Marathons have been established within the new universities, the staff
will conduct internal research to see which areas Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta need
new specialists in order to further hold ground in the market for healing children from all
types of diseases.
After figuring out which specialist are needed, researchers will conduct a national
search for the top physicians that have the most widespread and innovative practices
for healing children with aforementioned specializations.
15. !
!
IV. Strategies and Tactics
Strategy 1: After completing research, set up an effective executive
board that will strategize, plan, promote and execute the first Dance
Marathon for each of the three universities selected.
a) Tactic 1: Promote application process through flyers, social media networking,
club meetings and guerrilla marketing tactics in order to have a wide variety of
interested students who will lead a successful plan.
b) Tactic 2: Train the new executive boards to conduct their own interview process
in order to set up committees.
Strategy 2: inspire students in each university selected to network
and come to Dance Marathon or raise money.
a) Tactic 1: Host a philanthropic event that features some of the Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta families who need the donations to help pay for their bill in
order to inspire students to donate and register for their school’s first Dance
Marathon.
b) Tactic 2: Create an informative and inspirational video highlighting campus
heroes and historic buildings and utilize the universities’ mission statements to
inspire students to reach their full potential as miracle makers by partnering with
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Strive to get this video sent on the
undergraduate listserv.
20. FOR RELEASE ON: Sept. 26, 2014
Connor Siegel
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Public Relations Practitioner
770-855-2017
csiegel1@uga.edu
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Opens New Hospital in Cobb County
ATLANTA, Ga.– Starting Friday, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will begin treating
patients at its neighborhood location at The Marietta Square in Marietta, Ga.
The new 25,000- square-foot space is Children’s northernmost location and provides
outpatient services, including immediate care, rehabilitation, sports medicine, orthotics and
prosthetics, X-ray and laboratory services. The location is also home to pediatric specialists for
disability rehabilitation and speech pathology therapists.
With 110,000 pediatric residents, expansion into Cobb County was a natural fit for
Children’s, which is already one of the largest pediatric providers in the United States.
Children’s Healthcare of Cobb County is one of 18 neighborhood locations in the Children’s
system. Located off Cobb Parkway, the new location will also serve families in Cherokee,
Fulton, Douglas, Paulding and Clayton counties.
“Whether you’re the parent of a collegiate athlete or a baby with whooping cough, you’ll
find staff of Children’s Healthcare of Cobb with years of training and age-based treatments to
treat all ranges of pediatric health issues,” said Lisa Richard, manager of clinical operations at
Children’s Healthcare of Cobb County.
-more-
21. New Hospital in Cobb
Page 2
From physicians and technologists who have a multitude of pediatric training to
child-sized machinery and new technology like the STARscanner to treat young patients with in
utero complications, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta can treat all injuries and sicknesses.
Children’s Healthcare of Cobb is located at 800 Cobb Parkway in Suite 900 of The Cobb
Parkway Building. Walk-in patients are welcome from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. all week. For more
information, visit www.choa.org/cobb or call 404-785-3100.
###
To be distributed to the Atlanta Journal Constitution
About the Organization
C h ild r e n ’s H e a lth c a r e o f A tla n ta , a n o t- fo r - p r o fit o r g a n iz a tio n , is c o m m itte d to e n h a n c in g th e
liv e s o f c h ild r e n th r o u g h e x c e lle n c e in p a tie n t c a r e , r e s e a r c h a n d e d u c a tio n . M a n a g in g m o r e
th a n h a lf- a - m illio n p a tie n t v is its a n n u a lly a t th r e e h o s p ita ls a n d 1 7 n e ig h b o r h o o d lo c a tio n s ,
C h ild r e n ’s is o n e o f th e la r g e s t c lin ic a l c a r e p r o v id e r s fo r c h ild r e n in th e c o u n tr y . C h ild r e n ’s
o ffe r s a c c e s s to m o r e th a n 3 0 p e d ia tr ic s p e c ia ltie s a n d is r a n k e d a m o n g th e to p c h ild r e n ’s
h o s p ita ls b y U .S N e w s & W o r ld R e p o r t. W ith g e n e r o u s p h ila n th r o p ic a n d v o lu n te e r s u p p o r t,
C h ild r e n ’s h a s m a d e a n im p a c t in th e liv e s o f c h ild r e n in G e o r g ia , th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d
th r o u g h o u t th e w o r ld . V is it w w w .c o a h .o r g fo r m o r e in fo r m a tio n .
22. Client'Fact'Sheet'
'
Company Profile for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta:
Lifesaving work is happening at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta—from
heart transplants to surgeries to remove brain tumors. Children’s is the
largest pediatric provider in Georgia. In 2013, Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta treated children from !
all 159 Georgia counties.
Company:!!
Headquarters!Address:!
Main Telephone:
Type of Organization:
Industry:
Key Executives:
Number!of!Employees!
Statistics in 2013:
Children’s'Healthcare'of'Atlanta'
5455'Meridian'Dr.'
Atlanta,'GA'30342'
404-785-8330
Nonprofit company
Hospital and Health Care
President and CEO: Donna Hyland
COO: Rex Adams
6,616
860,849 patient visits
25,758 hospital admissions
37,995 surgical procedures
Public Relations Contact: Connor Siegel
770-855-2017
csiegel1@uga.edu!
28. !more!&
&
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Connor Siegel
Public Relations Director of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
770-855-2017
csiegel1@uga.edu
The Sight Beyond Blindness
Personality Profile of UGA Miracle and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Patient: Logan Setzer
ATHENS, Ga. – In 2007, Logan Setzer was just like any other 11-year-old boy. He loved sports,
cartoons and riding his bike with neighborhood friends. However, one day Setzer’s life was
flipped upside down as headaches and spontaneous vomiting began in May 2007.
On July 29, 2007, a CT scan revealed a brain tumor, and Logan was in surgery five hours later to
relieve pressure on his brain. The neurosurgeon explained that the tumor was benign, which at
first seemed to be positive news.
However, Setzer soon learned that his tumor was in an extremely dangerous place. The tumor
was located where the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and optic nerves cross paths. Two months
later on August 3, Logan was admitted into Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to have a six-hour
surgery (partial resection) to remove half of the tumor. The calcified half was to be removed
through radiation treatment.
In September 2007, Setzer had another surgery to insert a shunt to keep the spinal fluid
circulating properly in his body rather than seeping out through the surgical cracks in his skull,
which caused a lump on his head. Logan Setzer’s humor never ceased as he named the lump Mr.
Jiggly because he could see the liquid jiggle when he shook his head.
29. !more!&
Sight Beyond Blindness
Page 2
Doctors delayed radiation because they agreed that they needed to find out what happened to
Logan’s vision before doing radiation on his optic nerves. Unfortunately, the optic nerves
atrophied, and Setzer was pronounced as legally visually impaired. He had no vision in his left
eye, no peripheral vision in his right eye and was left with 20/200 eyesight.
Radiation finally began soon after the diagnosis, but new cysts were forming from the remaining
tumor. Setzer underwent a fourth surgery on Halloween in 2007. This surgery removed the
remaining tumor and showed the Setzer family all of the childhood experiences that Logan could
lose due to the extensive amount of treatments to come.By December 2007, Logan had
completed 31 radiation treatments.
Now that Setzer is technically in remission, he is learning to live a new way of life by being
visually impaired and overcoming many other biological changes.
Setzer can now only see with one quarter of his right eye. The brain tumor changed Logan’s
personality and has forever altered his physical appearance. He suffers from lifelong obesity,
narcolepsy, cognitive deficits, impaired processing speed, emotional outburst, anxiety,
transitioning issues, social deficits, obsessive-compulsive disorder and complete hormone
dysfunction.
30. !more!&
Sight Beyond Blindness
Page 3
Logan is now 15, takes 23 pills a day, one growth hormone shot and learns in small group special
education classes at Pope High School. However, the story does not end here. Setzer is a
genuinely faithful young man who finds joy through all his pain.
Logan has two loving parents who constantly provide support and encourage independence.
Logan also has a huge supporter in his younger brother, Dylan, who last year raised more than
$3000 during a high school fundraiser. He continued to show his support for his older brother by
shaving his head completely bald.
Logan inspires every person that he meets because he never complains. He believes that God has
a plan and he trusts Him completely with his life. Logan never questions why anything is
happening to him and takes the challenges in stride.
The only negative thing Logan talks about is how he hates his brain. Logan has an eating
disorder that causes his brain to tell him he is starving when he is actually full. However, this
challenge does not hold him back.
Logan teaches people there is no such thing as limitations when you put your mind to your
actions. Although he is legally visually impaired, he relies on his faith to have spiritual sight.
31. !more!&
Sight Beyond Blindness
Page 4
“I am truly physically blind, but I am not spiritually blind. Christ is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.”
###
To be distributed to the Athens Banner-Herald
36. !
!
!
National Convention Speech:
Speech to be given at the 2015 annual leaders conference for
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
This speech is to take place at 3:30 p.m. on the last day of the
conference before all attendees return home. The regional director of
Dance Marathon, Taylor Dietrich, will deliver the speech. The speech
will take place in the conference room in front of the nation’s Dance
Marathon and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals staff.
The purpose of this speech is to inspire leaders to remember why
they dream, how they dream and how to encourage others to dream
alongside of them. This speech is designed to unite all leaders across
the nation under the principal message of “For The Kids”.
The expected attendance is more than 500 students, staff and
volunteers with the major focal audience being college students.
37. Let’s Make Miracles
Good morning, world changers. I am so humbled and honored to stand before you today
as your southeast manager. It is not the work that I have done that put me in this position
but rather the hearts and work ethic that you bestow in front of me each and every day.
Throughout our childhood’s, we are told to follow our dreams. We spent countless
hours staring off into space dreaming unimaginable dreams that the world constantly told
us were impossible. As we grew up, our dreams became visions, our visions became our
passions, our passions became our plans, and our plans become our reality.
In 1983, dreamers created a vision, a plan, a purpose. This vision would change
lives for years to come, one child at a time. In 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
was birthed into life. The founders created a mission that declares, “We increase funds
and awareness for local children’s hospitals.”. From there, the founders created a
vision… – simple, short, but flawless: “Together, we save kids’ lives.” Don’t miss this.
Listen carefully. Together, we save lives.
Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5
billion, sometimes just one dollar at a time, for 170 children’s hospitals across the United
States and Canada.
As we sit here gathered for this rally, take a moment to learn from one another.
Each person in this room has a story that is comprised of successes and failures, joys
and sufferings, celebrations and mourning. One thing that we all have in common is that
we all have a heart and that we all love. I believe that we get so caught up in this life
38. focusing on our differences when in reality we should be focused upon what unites us as
a human race: the ability to love.
One of the best lessons I ever learned is that people do not buy what you do, but
rather why you do it. Listen to that again. People do not buy what you do, but why you do
it. Hear me clearly, friends. We can post on social media asking people to donate to our
cause; we can apathetically stand with signs, and maybe we will get a few dollars here
and there. Or we can do exactly what the world says we shouldn’t.
Open your hearts, be transparent, share your heart, express emotion, and
essentially tell people why you care about Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Sure, we
have fun phrases and fliers that garner attention, but it’s the heart of the matter that is
important.
The most beautiful thing about each of you is your heart and your story. The same
is true with every person in this world today. Our whole purpose during this conference is
to empower you to empower others so that we can empower the kids.
You are worth more than a number. You are worth more than a dollar sign. Your
story, your heart, your drive and your passions are what carry this organization. Tell
people about this cause, the children and the hospital, in order to inspire them to partner
with you in helping children find “all better, “touch their hearts. Tell them the direct impact
that they have had on your life. Tell each person in your life what exactly he or she have
done to alter your life and how it wouldn’t be the same without him or her.
39. Every child deserves a lifetime. Every child deserves a family. Every child
deserves to have a childhood full of laughter.
Let me tell you a quick story about the healing walls within one of our Children’s
Miracle Network Hospitals, CHOA. Recently, CHOA opened up a new floor dedicated to
robotic rehabilitation. As I walked into the room, I saw a little girl enduring strenuous
physical therapy. However, when I looked upon her face, she was grinning ear to ear as
she was finally about to walk again. She erupted into laughter as the hospital staff
transformed rehabilitation into a game of tag.
The sound of a child laughing is one of the most beautiful sounds. That is why we
are here today. We are here to celebrate life. We are here to celebrate laughter. We are
here to celebrate the 32 million patient visits every year as most leave healed.
I want you to know that you are valued. You are cared about. You are a world
changer. You have a special impact that no one other single person can have on this
world. You are a champion.
Students, as we wrap things up this morning, I want you to remember one thing.
Glory, glory to your story, glory, glory to their story, and glory, glory to our story. As we
head back to our respective campuses, remember your importance and your self worth.
This world would NOT be the same without you here.
Go back to your schools and shake the foundations of your campus with your
hearts. Put your hearts on the table and inspire others to do the same. Lets all grab
hands and realize that we may not have it together, but together, we have it all.
Go and continue to make miracles.
42. !
Memo
To: Victoria Hicks
From: Connor Siegel
Date: Dec. 6, 2014
Subject: Special Event Proposal
Dear Ms. Victoria Hicks:
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals could benefit from holding a special event next
June. The calendar has a fitting available date. Below is more information about the
event.
The Event
The special event will be called the 2015 Dance Marathon Leadership Conference. It
will take place at The University of Georgia in order to inspire other universities and
colleges to perform at the level that UGA does. The conference will begin on July 25,
at
10:00 a.m. The conference will end around 1:00 p.m. on July 27.
The event is going to consist of breakout sessions, training sessions, groupthink groups,
and large group meetings with keynote speakers. The purpose of this event is to train,
inspire and empower a new breed of eager leaders to increase their fundraising efforts
on their campus. The collaborative environment will allow students from across the
country to share ideas on past successful campaigns.
According to testimonies from the former leadership conferences, lives have been
changed and dreams have been born. Most of the dreams that were originally inspired
from the conferences came to fruition the following year. For example, The University of
Georgia instituted the first ever $100 day challenge. The goal was 34 thousand dollars
and they ended up raising more than 68 thousand dollars in exactly 24 hours.
43. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Dance Marathon planners desperately need a
new conference to generate more passion. This conference is the ideal opportunity for
campuses across the nation to gather “For The Kids!”
Logistics
The facilities and supplies needed will be the following: The University of Georgia’s
Grand Ball Room in the Tate Student Center, study rooms in the Miller Learning Center,
sound system, video camera, 3000 chairs, 500 dormitory rooms and tables.
Even though you will not need to request any permits, someone will need to contact The
University of Georgia facilities management team in order to rent out the
aforementioned spaces.
There will be no need for sponsorships; however, I believe it would be extremely
beneficial to have the Dance Marathon and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
logos throughout the event. I also think that it would be important to have different
patient stories posted on the wall through professional pictures and posters. There will
be no need for prizes during the event; however, it would be great to award the top 10
Dance Marathons with a plaque to show them that their efforts are appreciated.
The planning committee should consist of the regional managers of Dance Marathon:
Brit Davis, Blair Janis, Taylor Dietrich, Briana Willcockson, Elyse Meardon and Zac
Johnson. Each regional manager can invite the leaders from the universities that they
oversee as well as connect with the families from each region. The committee should
meet once a month, every month until the conference.
Promotion:
The conference will not need a ton of promotion because the target audiences are
members who are already heavily involved in Dance Marathon and fundraisers for
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Each regional director would need to personally
44. contact the executive boards from each university under their jurisdiction. The majority
of promotion will by personal invitation.
Calendar:
Attached is a proposed event-planning calendar. Upon approval of this special event
proposal, a specific budget will be developed and submitted.
Summary:
The 2015 Dance Marathon Leadership Conference will take place July 25-27 at The
University of Georgia. The purpose of the event is to inspire, empower and create new
dreams. This will provide a multitude of inspiration for the leaders who make Dance
Marathons possible and the collaborative environment will encourage leaders from
across different universities to improve upon their current successes. I will wait for a
response by January 1, 2015 and upon approval will develop a budget for consideration.
!
52. !
The mission of this
newsletter is to provide you
with ideas, opportunities
and motivation stories to
help you in reaching your
fundraising goals. Here at
Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta we believe in
empowering you to reach
your goals and to serve as
an advocate for you.
www.choa.org
Thompson!Ritter!is!an!181year1old!student!athlete!who!has!a!
remarkable!story!of!recovery.!At!Thompson’s!sports!physical,!doctors!
thought!he!had!scoliosis,!!but!found!out!that!his!diagnosis!was!much!
more!serious.!Thompson!had!a!tumor!on!his!back!from!T11T9.!He!lost!
his!ability!to!walk!!due!to!neurological!problems!from!the!surgery.!He!
had!two!goals!in!mind1!to!walk!again!and!to!play!baseball.!After!one!
week!of!his!surgery,!!he!began!walking!and!played!baseball!the!
following!spring.!Thompson!is!a!living!miracle!who!is!now!a!starting!
pitcher!for!his!high!school!baseball!team.!He!is!now!a!UGA!Miracle!
representative!and!inspires!many!students!to!fundraise!each!day.!!
54. Interview Preparation
To. Taylor Dietrich
From: Connor Siegel
Date: Nov. 21, 2014
Content
The local television station just called and would like to feature Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta and Dance Marathon in a series on local nonprofits. The
six-minute interview will be at 6:00 p.m. live Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Below are
information and possible questions and answers, which will be helpful to be
familiar with for the interview.
The interview will provide viewers with a little information about your background,
history of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Dance Marathon partnership, and
how the money invested is directly beneficial for the families.
Attire
Please remember that you are representing Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and
Dance Marathon so your appearance is extremely important. For this particular
interview, the goal is to look professional but also approachable so that you can
encourage new partnerships and donors to join hands with CHOA and DM.
Please wear a long black skirt, with a CHOA colored blouse (green, blue or red),
with black high heels and black leggings. Please wear your CHOA name tag on
the left side of your chest. Please make sure to have all clothing dry cleaned and
ironed prior to Friday.
Please shower before the interview and arrive without makeup, as the show will
provide hair and makeup for you prior to going on air.
Behavior
Please arrive to the station no later than 5:15 p.m. to find out where you need to
be and to relax in a new environment. Please be friendly to all employees as the
station uses people in smaller roles to prescreen interviewees before going on
air.
Please do not chew gum, cross your legs, or fold your arms. Please look relaxed
but enthusiastic about this cause. Speak from your heart and not your mind.
Remember that the goal is help people learn about CHOA and DM and to instill
passion in their hearts for this cause.
55. Objectives
This is a great opportunity to bring in new believers of CHOA and DM. We want
to use this interview to instill compassion, hope, love and belief into this
organization. This is free advertising so please make sure you are vulnerable and
transparent about everything Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Dance
Marathon believes and practices.
A. To tell the story about Children’ Healthcare of Atlanta, our three locations,
and what set this hospital apart from other hospitals.
B. To garner interest in the hospital and create interest and love for the
company so that we can increase our donations through our story.
C. To broadcast different patients' stories so that viewers can feel attached
and tied to a worthy cause.
Interview prep:
Q. What exactly is Dance Marathon and what is the connection with CHOA?
A. Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement involving college and high
school students at more than 250 schools across the country, all raising money
for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in their community – in our case,
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The students spend a year raising funds and
interacting with children’s hospital patients and families. The year finishes with a
12- to 40-hour-long event where the students stay on their feet through dancing,
games and entertainment in celebration of the total amount raised that year.
Q. Why does everyone stand the whole time?
A. “We dance for those who can’t. It is this solidarity to—and connection
with—the cause that makes Dance Marathon an event unlike any other.
Q. So what is your position, and why are you here today?
A. My position is the Dance Marathon manager, and it is my goal to serve
as a liaison between Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the schools. I help
organize and plan family days, which allow the students to directly connect with
the families to hear their stories so they are more connected to the cause. I am
here today to share more about our story, our dreams and our passions in order
to hopefully inspire more people to believe in this organization.
Q. Where exactly does the money go?
A. 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Children’ Miracle Network
Hospitals in that university or school’s local area. The hospitals never turn away
a patient. The hospitals are committed to restoring a childhood regardless of the
diagnosis. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the most specialized hospital in the
56. country for pediatric services. 100 percent of the funds go directly toward new
equipment, patient fees, rehabilitation camps and many more services.
Q. Will you tell us about a child whose life has been directly impacted by CHOA
and Dance Marathon?
A. Mr. and Mrs. Setzer have two sons, Dylan and Logan. Both are
incredibly bright young men who absolutely love the Lord. At one point in Logan’s
life, he kept suffering from massive headaches that seemed crippling. After a few
doctor appointments, the family learned that their precious son was diagnosed
with Brain cancer. The cancer transformed sweet Logan and changed his
personality, eating habits, and left him with only 10 percent vision. However, he
walks in joy and freedom from his disease. CHOA has inspired him to walk in that
joy and to show people the love that he has for life.
Q. What local universities have a Dance Marathon, and which are the most
successful/?
A. The University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Emory University and
Kennesaw State University all have successful Dance Marathons that directly
benefit the three hospitals in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The University of
Georgia raised more than $507,000 last year alone.
Q. Does the Dance Marathon money collected by each school go to Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta?
A. Yes. Specifically, it goes directly to the CIRU, which is CHOA’s
rehabilitation center.
Q What is one thing you want everyone to know about Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta?
A. We are dedicated to “all better.” Every child deserves to have a
childhood; every child deserves to feel loved. Children deserve to go back home,
and, when he or she is not at home, to feel at home. We cannot do what we do
without your help. Consider partnering with us and make a donation to Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta. Empower us, so we can empower them.
