The Hearts Are Back!
SEATTLE, November 15th 2012. Team Seattle kicks off their 2013 fundraising programs with a return of the successful ‘Buy a Heart. Save a Life!’ program.
Female Heart (click to download full size)
The Heart Program returns for a third consecutive year but has two (maybe even three) new designs and a brand new program designed to increase the awareness and penetration of the program.
Thanks to Rich Werner, Team Seattle supporter and fantastic artist, the Hearts are back with a twist. For the first time ever, donors will be able to select what type of Heart they’d like. There are two clear options, male and female, with the possibility of a third choice as the program rolls out in the lead up to Daytona. “We’re all very excited for the roll out of the new Hearts for 2013” says Don Kitch Jr. who founded Team Seattle back in 1997 with his wife Donna. “As Team Seattle supporters and fans have evolved we’ve had to do the same to continue to keep the Guild fresh and exciting”, “The addition of a second design will allow us to weave a new element into our fundraising program and growing on a proven model”.
The second big difference in 2013 will be the addition of the ‘Heart Army’. The goal will be to offer Team Seattle fans and supporters, the life blood of the charity, a chance to make an even bigger difference by taking the Hearts program to new markets and new audiences. “Last year’s Hearts program, while successful, didn’t see as many donors as the inaugural year” says James Colborn who created the Hearts Program with Kitch back in 2010. “We need to expand our distribution without shunning our faithful base of fantastic supporters and the Heart Army program will allow us to do that at the same time as rewarding the long term [and short term] Team Seattle faithful with team exclusives and recognition”
Male Heart (click to download full size)
The Heart Army has also created some of Team Seattle’s corporate partners to create programs within their own organizations and customer bases to drive even greater traction. At launch, companies like Blue Sky Journeys, Asset Control, Talking Rain, Kelly Image Systems, Hilton Homewood Suites of Daytona Beach and The North Turn Bar and Grill of Daytona Beach have all pledged to participate in some way. Blue Sky has gone as far as to create their own Facebook page (called the Blue Sky Heart Brigade) which has had an immediate impact.
As ever the program is effective in its simplicity. For a donation of $50, a donor receives a Heart stuck on the Team Seattle Rolex GT effort at the 24 Hours at Daytona as well as a mention on the 24 Hour Tote Board. All of the donation goes directly to Seattle Children’s Hospital and helps to make a material difference to a child’s life. As an added bonus, anyone who is physically attending the 24 Hour race can walk up and stick their Heart to the car and sign it.
To learn more about both the Hearts Program and the Heart Army please visit http://www.teamseattle.com and to keep up to date with the team throughout their preparation (both on and off track) for Daytona, follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/teamseattle and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/teamseattle
