(Richmond, VA- November 9, 2010): Turnkey Promotions, a Richmond-based promotions company specializing in fundraiser recognition campaigns and corporate employee reward programs, announced today that its client, Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA), surpassed their Over the Edge event income goal by 53%. New techniques were incorporated to ensure success including the administration of a fundraiser recognition program administered by Turnkey Promotions.

Over the Edge, a new income event for SOIA, is a Special Olympics signature fundraising event where eager fundraisers are sent rappelling down a local office sky scraper. To ensure its success, SOIA employed several important marketing techniques. “We used robust pre-event communications and really pushed our recognition program.That promotion served to bring people into the event and to increase the fundraising by each rappeller,” says Jamie Boersma, Special Olympics Iowa Vice President of Development.

Boersma also emphasized the consistent promotional messaging that included Special Olympics Iowa athletes and the value of Special Olympics programs not only to athletes, but also to their families and communities. “This event generated a tremendous amount of interest not only in the fundraiser, but also for Special Olympics Iowa,” Boersma said. “For participants, this was an extremely rewarding experience with the adventure of rappelling and also fundraising for a great cause.”

The recognition program administered by Turnkey Promotions targets the event participant and uses proven marketing techniques and meaningful gifts to encourage them to achieve higher fundraising levels. Turnkey has found that clients typically see a 21-to-29 percent increase in participant fundraising by incorporating such programs. SOIA surpassed its fundraising goal for the event by 53%.

“First time events are tricky,” says Katrina VanHuss, CEO at Turnkey Promotions. “These guys pulled off a huge win by following best practices drawn from other events. They did everything right. They promoted the recognition program heavily and ran an incredibly well-executed event from the logistics side. They are just the kind of partner we love,” she adds.

Rappellers for the Iowa Over the Edge event were required to raise $1,000 before being “allowed” to rappel for the cause. For this particular event, the average raised by each rappeller was $1,317 – an amount much higher than the norm for other income events.

Implementing a creative twist to the recognition program was one of the reasons the event was so successful. Boersma explains: “We felt like some people wanted to support Special Olympics, but not necessarily rappel.Turnkey suggested creating a recognition gift level below that of the rappellerfor the Special Olympics advocates. We had lot of people aspire to and get the recognition gifts below the $1,000 rappel level.”

Conversely, targeting the activity itself was key. According to Boersma, another driving force for this event was excellent public relations. She explains further: “We needed to tap into the audience that maybe wasn’t a part of the Special Olympics community, but wanted to rappel down a building.We did that with PR focusing on the activity itself. By drawing people to the activity, we then were able to create new relationships for Special Olympics. Every message for the event included the connection between our OTE fundraiser, Special Olympics Iowa athletes and SOIA’s program benefits.”

About Turnkey Promotions
Turnkey Promotions is a Richmond-based promotions company that is research and nonprofit focused. The company specializes in corporate recognition programs that change behaviors and nonprofit incentive programs that increase individual participant fundraising, lower administrative costs, and retain volunteers. Turnkey’s logo-imprinted items make for great grocery store conversations and create awareness all year long. Follow Turnkey Promotions on Facebook, Twitter, or via blog posts at http://www.turnkeywow.wordpress.com.

Press Contact:
info@turnkeywow.com │ 804.545.1000 │ http://www.turnkeywow.com

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