There is a science to "why people give" and there is an art to "convincing them to do it."  Mainstream marketers sell a product or service by identifying a need within a target market, making a product to fill that need - then effectively communicating how their product or service will fill that need. In the world of nonprofit marketing, we are selling ideas and feelings about the potential impact. Nonprofit marketing, in contrast to selling shoes, is selling the idea that there is an urgent problem and then convincing a potential donor that their contribution will positively impact that problem. By the way, doing this whilst competing amongst the millions of other equally worthy nonprofits. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations are registered in the U.S. They are filling needs for everything from toothbrushes to heart transplants. This also includes those nonprofits that are selling "an idea of something" like an investment in community arts and culture or in educational systems. There are no shortage of perceived needs in our society and thankfully no shortage of concerned groups rising to fill those needs.    I work with nonprofit organizations to develop fundraising events and marketing strategies to help them grab their share of the estimated $410 billion that American individuals, estates, corporations and foundations are estimated to give annually to nonprofits, faith-based organizations and other charities. (Infographic provided by Giving USA based on current data).  Below is my personal take on what motivates someone to donate to a charity - and important to note that I believe there is NO WRONG REASON to give.   Top 5 Reasons People Give to a Charity 1.  They have a personal connection to the cause such as giving to the American Lung Association because a grandfather had Lung Cancer.  Or feeling the loss of a neighbor's child to a drunk driver and giving to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.2.  In exchange for a benefit such as: a ticket to a gala, a foursome of golf, a trip to Africa (at a charity auction) or for having their name engraved on a donor wall.3.  Because they are influenced by a group giving ask - from a religious or social group, from the company they work for or from family and friends. 4.  To receive a tax benefit.  To note, if you donate $100, you don't actually receive a $100 off your tax bill. You would receive a percentage of the $100 based on your tax bracket - which according to the US Tax Center is 10% to 37%. 5.  They are inspired or motivated by nonprofit marketing efforts. Here a nonprofit organization has creatively gathered facts, figures, stories and insights about "the cause" and presented them in a meaningful fashion to a target donor in an impactful way.  Keep Reading About Nonprofit Marketing Four Kinds of Fundraising Events Designing a Fundraising Concept that Keeps On Giving Free Event Planning and Marketing Resources Importance of Developing Community Partnerships

Press Release (Ocoee, Florida) The Collage Companies completed a $3.9M expansion and renovation of the Ocoee Lakeshore Center, part of Ocoee Lakefront Park (located on the shores of Starke Lake at 125 North Lakeshore Drive in Ocoee). The project was completed in the fall of 2019 and the city has already confirmed event contracts through 2021. The city is planning a grand re-opening event to be held on Tuesday, August 25th from 6pm to 9pm. Ocoee’s Lakefront Park is owned and operated by the City of Ocoee and combines the classical old-Florida elements of spacious lakeshore greens and the Withers-Maguire House (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) - with the in-demand modern meeting and banquet facilities of the newly updated Ocoee Lakeshore Center. Also part of the Lakefront Park complex is Bill Breeze Field, the city’s largest venue for non-sporting events. The community center was originally built in 2014, the recent $3.9M expansion was in response to a growing need for versatile and affordable event space to serve the west Orange County community. The existing 8,500 sq. ft. space was expanded to nearly 15,000 sq. ft. which increased the size of the banquet hall and pre-function space. The new Lakeview Room accommodates 125 for banquet seating. The expansion of the space as well as the addition of a bridal suite and a rear porch are all part of the city’s plan to make the space an attractive option for special events and weddings. Many municipalities use local event centers to generate incremental revenue and to provide a non-hotel option for community events, weddings, and business meetings. Other Central Florida event centers owned by city municipalities include: City of Orlando - Camping World Stadium - Collage is part of the Barton Malow Company team working on the $60M renovation City of Orlando - The Varsity Club at Camping World Stadium which Collage renovated in 2018 City of Winter Park - Winter Park Farmer’s Market and Winter Park Country Club City of Altamonte Springs - Westmonte Recreation Center which Collage renovated in 2019 Rob Maphis is Vice President of Operations and COO at The Collage Companies, and says of the significance of the project: “The Ocoee Lakeshore Center is a place for the community to connect and to celebrate - aligning perfectly with Collage’s mission to build projects that strengthen the foundation and fabric of our community. We are proud to have partnered with the City of Ocoee to make this project a success.” About Collage The Collage Companies is an established integrated services firm with expertise in Design Build, Construction Management and General Contracting Collage has served Florida and the southeast since 1982 from their headquarters in Lake Mary, Florida - and has over $100M worth of construction projects planned for completion by 3Q 2020. Collage pursues community–centric projects with an emphasis in the hospitality, religious, transportation, and parks-and-sports sectors. The Collage Companies was honored as one of the 2018 Florida Companies to Watch as announced by GrowFL for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida.

The world is spinning and it doesn't appear to be slowing anytime soon. As each industry is buzzing to find its unique new default setting, we are learning that our biggest value is likely in responding creatively in the face of uncertainty.Of all the industries that have been turned upside down - the event industry (trade shows, meetings, conventions, fundraising, social events) is near the top of the list and estimated to be valued at $325 billion annually (in the US alone). With an estimated two million events planned in 2020, event strategists and convention planners have been busy responding - usually in one of three ways: 1. Canceling or Postponing the Event2. Re-Engineering a Hybrid Physically Distanced Event Experience3. Converting to a Virtual Event ModelSocial events (whose goal is to help people to have fun) are proving harder to convert to a virtual event. Probably because when you take the "event" out of the "event" you can be left with, well - it can be similar to nonalcoholic beer or decaffeinated coffee. It's good, you know..but, do you really need it?On the other side of events, you find the business of events (trade shows, conventions, fundraising events, meetings) where you have the largest organizations and companies in the world dedicating large portions of their marketing and advertising budgets to produce event marketing concepts, trade shows, meetings, conventions, and other consumer engagement strategies. And with each budgeted event, there was a planned return on investment (ROI) which is now lost or at risk - which has left companies challenged to innovate new ways of engaging stakeholders.  Trade shows drive innovation, product launches sell products, sales conferences motivate sales forces and fundraising events fill community needs. So what now? Here are some resources and ideas on how to navigate the new events industry. Association of Destination Management Executives International "Build Meaningful (and Profitable) Relationships in an On-Screen World"  Events Industry Council created a fact sheet of key messages and FAQs Six Things to Know - About Postponing Your Event - Post-COVID Hotel & Lodging Association's Facts About Coronavirus  Top Trade Shows in the United States COVID-19 - Event Cancellation and Postponement Check List Calculator Tool Helps You Plan Physically Distanced Events and Exhibitions Protocol for imagining spaces, services, and attendees for smaller in-person events  Hilton Expands CleanStay Program to Meeting Spaces For Conference Planners, Virus Means a ‘Huge Learning Curve Trade Show Organizers Respond to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Awards show to recognize and honor sports business professionals from all facets of Greater Orlando’s sports ecosystem. ORLANDO, FL (July 15, 2020) – After a six-year hiatus, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission has announced the return of the SPORTYS. The 2020 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions will air commercial-free on WKMG-TV News6 on Saturday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m. EST.First introduced in 2011, the SPORTYS were an awards show dedicated to the Greater Orlando sports community. The show recognized dozens of athletes and professionals for their unwavering work and performance in our local sports industry. That format continued through 2013. The SPORTYS are returning in 2020 with a new focus on honoring sports business professionals whose contributions and impact are vital in making Greater Orlando one of the country’s premier sports destinations. There will be 12 award categories for this year’s event – see below for a complete list. “In the midst of these difficult and trying times for our community, we still want to be able to recognize and celebrate the many individuals in our sports community who have gone above and beyond for not only their respective organizations, but for the Greater Orlando region,” said Paul Johns, Chief Operating Officer at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital and Chairman of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board of Directors. Nominations are now being accepted online at GreaterOrlandoSports.com/SPORTYS. The nomination period will close on July 31 and a voting committee will determine four finalists and a winner for each category. Finalists will be notified and announced in advance of the broadcast, and the winners will be revealed during the televised event on Saturday, August 29.2020 SPORTYS Award Categories:1. Best in Sports Media2. Best in Corporate Partnerships3. Best in Facility Operations4. Best in Business Operations5. Best in Gameday Operations6. Best in Marketing7. Best in Communications & Public Relations8. Best in Team Operations9. Best in Social Responsibility10. Best in Sales11. Best Sponsorship Activation of the Year12. Executive of the YearLimited sponsorship opportunities are still available. For sponsor information, contact Michael D. Kalinich at Michael@greaterorlandosports.com.ABOUT GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSIONGO Sports is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1993, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,400 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $1.78 billion in spending within the community. For more information, please visit GreaterOrlandoSports.com.

PRESS RELEASELocal Indian Physician Organization Doing Their Part (Orlando, Florida) The Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian subcontinent (CAPI) represents over 700 physicians and surgeons of Indian origin. The organization facilitates professional growth and leadership development amongst its members, promotes health and wellness awareness in the community, and raises funds to support a variety of nonprofit organizations.CAPI’s annual fundraising strategy relies on two key fundraising events and a series of medical conferences, which were canceled or postponed this year due to healthcare cautions. The leadership team, led by CAPI President, Dr. Sri Pothamsetty answered the call by reaching out directly to members for support. The organization raised over $50,000 in donations. This was distributed to several Central Florida nonprofit organizations with a focus on providing hunger relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. A floating check presentation event, on July 10, 2020, featured a small group of masked physicians visiting each organization, learning about the work being done there, and presenting a check.CAPI Team In Photos: Dr. Sri Pothamsetty (CAPI President), Dr. Tejal Patel (CAPI President-Elect), Dr. Jamin Brambatt, Dr. Revati Narahari 1. Harbor House of Central Florida - $10,000 2. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida - $10,000 In Photo: CAPI Team with Dave Krepcho President and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida3. Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida - $10,000 In Photo: CAPI Team with Katie Moore - Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida - Allison Krall President & CEO4. Orlando City Foundation - $5,000 In Photo: CAPI Team with Kaia Forget - Senior Director of Community Development for Orlando City Soccer Club 5. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida $5,000 In Photo: CAPI Team with Sarah Johnston, Vice President of Development for Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida ‘There is no shortage of need in Central Florida. Especially in these trying times, hunger relief has become an urgent priority. Our members feel honored to practice philanthropy just as we practice medicine. But this year we did not have our normal event platform to raise funds. So, I just made a lot of phone calls and sent late-night texts to physicians asking for money. And our CAPI member physicians came through with heartwarming generosity’ CAPI President, Dr. Sri Pothamsetty # # # View More Images and Video Contact: paula@anythingisposhable.com As seen in  - Orlando Medical News

There are 328 million Americans, living on the same 3.8 million square miles (continental United States) that we started with (in 1776). As a society, we are called to increasingly higher levels of accountability toward stewardship of our environment. At the foundation of this commitment, the commercial construction industry continually renews sustainability practices and guidelines. In the construction industry sustainability standards are maintained by external third-party industry-run organizations such as: the LEED Certification which is administered through The US Green Building Council and the National Green Building Standard GREEN Certification program administered by Home Innovation Research Labs. The process to submit a project for a green certification program ranges from $5,000 to $100,000 per project and requires the developer, general contractor, and all of the specialty contractors to work in conjunction on standards and requirements that inform the construction process from start to finish. High Growth Markets In high growth markets such as Central Florida, these types of investments are even more important. As one of the largest construction companies in Central Florida, Winter Park Construction has been keeping it green for over 45 years. WPC President, Jeff Forrest, “Winter Park Construction (WPC) believes that sustainability is about meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Environmental stewardship entails not only adhering to standards but also includes creative thinking with energy efficiency, development of smarter practices and embracing innovative materials” Green Building Standards At least 14 WPC team members have achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council, this makes nearly one-third of all of WPC Project Managers and Superintendents. ​ WPC Sustainability Commitment. In the News Home Innovation Labs certifies single and multifamily construction to the rigorous requirements of the National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) – the first residential green building rating system approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. The NGBS provides practices for the design and construction of all types of green residential buildings, renovations, and land developments. In April 2020, Home Innovation Research Labs recognized 5th Avenue Apartments in St. Petersburg, Florida as a NGBS Green Certified Project. WPC provided general contractor services for 5th Ave Residences, for The Richman Group, working with Architect/Engineer: Slocum Platts Architects. The 2.2-acre project includes a 5-story building with 132 units and a 6,351 sq. ft. clubhouse. Keeping it Green Before construction ever begins, WPC performs a detailed building life cycle analysis on every jobsite. During construction, our solid waste management programs go into action, recycling construction debris. We participate in many sustainable purchasing programs.  WPC President, Jeff Forrest, “At WPC Our Safety and Sustainability Manager leads efforts to keep us not only in compliance with environmental regulations but to ensure we are at the forefront of new green building practices.” Since 1974, WPC has provided general contractor, pre-construction, construction management and renovation services to Central Florida and the southeast United States. With over $200M in projects set from completion in 2020, WPC provides employment for 140+ full-time employees and thousands of subcontractor positions. With a portfolio rich in many sectors, in 2020 WPC is focusing on construction projects in the hospitality sector and in the senior housing market as well as on major renovation projects.

The Orlando Sports Foundation is excited to announce it's first Holiday Card Competition! Every year, they send an annual Holiday Card to their donors, sponsors, and supporters. This year, they are calling upon the talent of their youngest supporters!The competition is open to all students going into Kindergarten through 8th grade for the Fall 2020 semester. Submissions are open from July 1st – July 22nd at 11:59 pm. Original designs are to be submitted via the online process. The winner will be announced on July 25th. The winner will receive 4 sideline tickets to the 2020 Cure Bowl and have the opportunity to take a special, on-field photo with CB (the Cure Bowl Mascot). Entries are based upon imagination, originality, and creativity. So, the most skilled artist won’t necessarily be the winner! It's open to all ages and skill levels. Learn More and Register

 Having opened in 1912 Tampa Union Station was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and received local landmark status from the City of Tampa in 1988.  The station was closed in 1984 due to deteriorating conditions but was refurbished and reopened in 1998.  Today the station operates as an Amtrak station for the Silver Star line, connecting passenger trains to Miami and New York.  The Collage Companies (Collage) is providing general contracting services for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) to lead ADA renovations to the Historic Tampa Union Station (601 North Nebraska Avenue). This project is part of Amtrak's ADA Station Program, which is a massive nationwide undertaking to bring all Amtrak stations across the country up to standard with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).  On June 19, 2020, an event was held to celebrate the ongoing safe construction and milestone progress on the station’s Amtrak ADA upgrades.  Collage is building a new elevated precast platform that will improve passenger accessibility to trains, enabling boarding of trains without the need for wheelchair lifts.  The structure is nearly 1,000 feet long and includes a canopy system.  The platform is secured by a foundation undergirded by hundreds of helical piles, which were installed in very close proximity to existing active tracks without disrupting ongoing rail operations.  The station has remained active throughout the life of the project, with multiple trains arriving daily within feet of construction.  The construction team has worked closely with Amtrak and the station to ensure safety for passengers and workers alike.    Rob Maphis is Vice President of Operations and COO at The Collage Companies, and says of the significance of the project:  “Rail travel has been an important part of this nation’s past, and the Tampa Union Station has a 100-year history of serving train passengers along Florida’s gulf coast.  Our work at this station will allow this tradition to continue, providing for upgraded accessibility and an improved passenger experience when boarding Amtrak’s trains.  We are truly honored to be one of only eight builders nationally working as part of Amtrak’s ADA stations program to help serve America’s railway passengers.” About Collage The Collage Companies is an established integrated services firm with expertise in Design Build, Construction Management and General Contracting  Collage has served the southeast since 1982 from their headquarters in Lake Mary, Florida, pursuing community–centric projects with an emphasis in the hospitality, religious, transportation, and park sectors. The Collage Companies was honored as one of the 2018 Florida Companies to Watch as announced by GrowFL for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida.

Check out Big Fin Seafood on WKMG Channel Six News - May 29, 2020 Big Fin Seafood Kitchen faced the same news as the other restaurant row brands when they were forced to close their dining area by state mandates in March. And, like everyone else steadied to find a stable ground from which to operate. BIG FIN, along with many of the other non-chain national brands, had to temporarily release most of their team. In fact, of their 50 person staff-family they struggled to even maintain their six-person full time management team. During the following 41 days, this core team was responsible for cooking, cleaning, management, delivering food and more. After, 10+ years in the same Dellagio location, BIG FIN has a loyal following of fantastic locals - who tipped generously over the slow period. In total, they collected over $5,000 in tips. The management team will proudly present the entire tip jar to the staff as they return back to work. Big Fin Seafood Kitchen - New Industry-Leading Ownership Means A Fresh Look at a Restaurant Row Favorite - Big Fin Seafood Kitchen recently celebrated 10 years at Dellagio by renewing for another 10 years. This restaurant-row hot spot was consistently voted Best Seafood In Orlando and Best Happy Hour (Orlando Sentinel’s Best Bets since 2015). As of January, Big Fin has new owners, Philippe Villain and Kevin O’Donnell, who are the energy behind several other Central Florida Hot Spots. Philippe says of the power of their new Sand Lake Road investment, “We always admired Big Fin, a hot spot for locals and a favorite for special events. And there is no place like restaurant row in all of Central Florida, in terms of capturing the diversity and dynamics of the Orlando culinary scene - its where you want to be – at Big Fin we are dedicated and immersed in genuine Hospitality” With new ownership will come enhancements to the current menu, ocean’s freshest seafood flown in daily, interactive cooking classes and an enhanced special events menu. Dellagio - The Heart of Sand Lake - is in the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando just minutes from Central Florida’s world-class theme parks and the Orange County Convention Center. Dellagio is home to some of Orlando’s favorite award-winning restaurants, a full line up of wellness and beauty destinations and a host of professional service companies. Over 30 brands make up the Dellagio family. www.dellagioorlando.com

Fox 35 Orlando's David Martin and his crew stopped by Dellagio (May 29, 2020) to film a spot for Good Day Orlando, sharing the exciting new EMS training available at PhysioFix Fitness.  Check out this informative segment on EMS Training at PhysioFix Orlando. https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/689190 Orlando’s first PhysioFix opened on February 14th at Dellagio Town Center. PhysioFix offers EMS training which stands for “electric muscle stimulation.” EMS is a high intense full-body work out that uses low-frequency electric impulses to stimulate muscles. EMS has been widely used in physiotherapy for decades. Its rapidly expanding use as a whole-body training method provides a combination of a highly effective strength and cardio training. PhysioFix uses the most advanced EMS devices in the fitness industry. Approved by the FDA in 2019, EMS training has been popular across the globe in sixty countries among professional soccer players and tennis players who are averse to work out injuries.  To schedule your FREE DEMO, contact PhysioFix at ( 407) 701-6145 or Ask@PhysioFixFitness.com