VALOR – Beyond the Call

On November 1, 2018, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation (LAFDF) hosted a luncheon to honor those LAFD members whose feats of bravery were remarkable. Your Great Event was honored to have been selected to help produce the event.

The mission of the Los Angeles Fire Department is to preserve life and property, promote public safety, and foster economic growth through a commitment to prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery as an all risk life safety response provider. 

A total of 1,018 uniformed firefighters (including 270 serving as Firefighter/Paramedics), are always on duty at fire department facilities citywide, including 106 neighborhood fire stations strategically located across the Department's 471 square-mile jurisdiction. They respond to more than 1,000 911 calls daily.

All firefighters risk their lives and perform heroic feats in the face of danger. But how do you recognize those firefighters whose actions go beyond the call. You bring civic leaders, sponsors, firefighters and their families together for an emotion-filled afternoon. And you tell their stories.

Purposefully simple décor – black linens and white flowers – kept the focus on the 13 honorees. The California Ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites provided the downtown location that allowed a record number of sponsors, supporters, and firefighters to attend. NBC4 Southern California general assignment reporter and news anchor, Robert Kovacik, was impactful as the emcee as he read the powerful narratives of the award winners. Videos and photos provided a compelling backdrop as the description of their actions sounded throughout the room.

A firefighter who risked his life to pull three children from a burning, smoke-filled structure fire – one that had been set on purpose – received a Medal of Valor for his actions. The children and their mother attended the event and provided a particularly heartwarming moment. Additionally, one Medal of Merit and seven Medals of Valor were awarded to members of the LAFD who were off-duty while in attendance at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017. They were there to enjoy the concert with their loved ones and friends when the gunfire began. The tales of their courage and compassion were overwhelming and prompted standing ovations from the audience.

The Foundation also gave awards for Lifetime Achievement, Corporate Responsibility, and Community Service. The Fire Chief’s Distinguished Service Award honored the LAFD Air Operations Service. A special award for a Legacy of Service was given to the woman who founded the LAFDF and who raised more than five million dollars for the department before she retired.

This solemn and ultimately uplifting luncheon didn’t need splashy entertainment or bright lights to make an emotional connection with the audience. Your Great Event will always produce an event to tell the client’s story in a way that will be unforgettable. 

Non-Profits’ Budgeting & Planning Maze

It’s that time of the year again: Time for the dreaded budgeting exercise for non-profit organizations. The mismatch between wishes and what is realistically feasible.  The ambitious plans and how to pay for them. 

Does this all sound overwhelming? You are not alone. More than 85% of executives (corporate and non-profits alike) view the annual budgeting exercise with trepidation.  Governments are no different. 

In the specific case of non-profits, the difficulty lies in having to project revenue streams that often seem so elusive. Revenues are, for the most part, derived from memberships, if applicable, donations and fundraisers—none of which can be taken for granted. In the process, non-profits are confronted with so many unknowns: Will all our membership renew? How can we do a better job in our outreach programs? What kind of fundraiser can we plan for to guarantee success?

Small to medium size non-profits lack in required financial means to fund a full slate of professional staff to help them out with the needed tasks that can guarantee success. Lack of resources often leads to curtailed efforts; which, in turn, results in less-than-satisfactory performance when it comes to raising needed funds.  

This is where the expertise of a professional planning firm comes into play.  The organization can be overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks to be able to plan for the future in an objective and proactive manner as in the proverbial “too close to the trees to see the forest.”  A professional planning agency can weed out the superfluous steps and guide the organization with a focus in the direction that is guaranteed to bear fruit.  

A professional planning firm can remove emotions out of the budgeting process and guide the organization in a direction that is both realistic and feasible.  Relying on internal staff alone may at times pose a conflict if the organization may be facing a staff reduction and/or fine-tuning of tasks to achieve its desired goals. The management can spare itself the agony of dealing with otherwise unpleasant tasks that at times is required in the process.

The budgeting exercise is not only about matching expenses with realistic revenue streams, it is also a unique opportunity to step back and look at the organization’s existing mission, stakeholders, modus operandi, and outreach efforts.  One of the most common sources of securing a portion (or all of) needed funds is a fundraising gala function possibly coupled with an auction of sort.  Some non-profits opt to plan and hold such events entirely with internal staff—which often times has to juggle many functions within the organization. This is where the proverbial “penny wise and pound foolish” expression holds true.  An event planning company with expertise in fundraising events can not only reduce—or entirely remove—the burden of organizing such a make-or-break event, it can practically guarantee financial success—not to mention an opportunity for positive exposure in traditional and social media.  

To start with, a professional planning firm can shed better light on the importance of fundraising events and how best to organize a successful one.  Non-profits too often view fundraising only as a means to making money to accomplish their agendas and pay their staff, so much so that they neglect to integrate fundraising into their long-term planning process. Non-profits that do incorporate fundraising and development into their organizational strategy are the ones that guarantee their long-term survival and longevity.  Here are a few important reasons to view fundraising with a broader perspective: 

1. Fundraising forces non-profits to plan

Sadly, many small and midsize non-profits rarely start the year with planning, which often leads to chaotic work plans and disjointed focus.  Planning for fundraisers should help non-profits to take a step back and think about how they are going to accomplish their mission with what resources, and in what time frames.   

2. Fundraising allows non-profits to see where they are vulnerable

In the process of planning and asking the question of how they are going to accomplish their mission (or a project) a planning firm can help a non-profit to realize that they may have gaps in their internal resourcesto meet their goals. Identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities in organizational structure is a critical step in strengthening non-profit organizations.

3. Fundraising makes non-profits work as teams and align goals

Often, non-profit staff and volunteers are disjointed by project areas. Fundraising acts as a glue for different project areas, unifying the team and its different project goals into one holistic mission. A non-profit will be stronger if its different components are brought together under a solid mission base.

4. Fundraising makes non-profits sustainable

The most important contribution the planning process can make to a non-profit organization is ensuring its sustainability.  Without a sizable injection of funds, most non-profits remain vulnerable to economic fluctuations, how their mandate is viewed by their stakeholders, and general increases in operating expenses.  The reality is that nothing is permanent in the non-profit world and the sources of funds can disappear very quickly. A proper mix of revenue sources, such as donations, grants, gifts, and sponsorships is the best way to ensure sustainability of the organization’s cause.

Fundraising is so much more than raising funds. If done right, fundraising can help a non-profit develop and evolve into a high functioning, networked, sustainable, impactful force for community good.  

In closing, don’t let the budgeting and planning process paralyze you. Brace it as a unique opportunity to evergreen your mandate; and view it as a means (even if forced) to strengthen your organization’s foundation and modus operandi. Invite a professional planning company to review your strategies, and operations with a critical view and help you separate wheat from chaff to ensure a sustainable mission.

Let professionals at Your Great Event lend you a hand in evaluation your strategies, finetuning your budgeting exercise and offer constructive suggestion in planning successful fundraisers.

YGE: Your Strategic Partner

We fully understand that events are crucial to non-profit organizations for raising badly-needed funds and awareness. In order to successfully accomplish both goals, Your Great Event (YGE)can be your ‘one-stop shop’ to plan and execute your critical fundraising gala, golf tournament, auction or whatever other medium you may wish to use. Planning a charity event involves a long list of components to consider and coordinate. And if your non-profit organization lacks a sizeable budget or the infrastructure to successfully execute a big fundraising event, the task can be even more daunting.  You don’t want to worry about who you need to hire or how to coordinate multiple vendors and producers. You just need a single go-to partner to do it all for you while keeping costs manageable and expectations high. 

That’s where Your Great Event shines. We have a mission: We are committed to giving back to the community and promoting community engagement.  So, wherever a non-profit organization needs help in planning a fundraising event, we always try to make it a resounding success for them—both from financial as well as execution points of view.

Mission Possible 

Some non-profit organizations need a “fundraising makeover;” some may not know where to begin to cultivate a donor pool; and some may need help with their strategic planning process. YGE specializes in helping non-profit organizations raise funds from individuals, corporations and foundations by helping them develop and implement an on-target development plan. 

By providing state-of-the-art development, strategic planning and event production services with proven results, over the years, we have helped many smaller organizations grow into larger ones, and well-established organizations into highly successful ones.  We recognize that no two organizations are alike. We work with each of our clients to customize and design a development plan that will meet their needs and maximize their funding opportunities. We conceptualize, implement and manage a custom-tailored plan for each client. Our clients are then able to keep their overhead costs down, learn the intricacies of development and fundraising while their organizations benefit from partnership with a professional event planning company with YGE’s stellar reputation.  At YGE, we treat each event with our signature standard of professionalism, attention to detail and innovative conceptualization to get your cause the attention it deserves. We work with the best teams in the industry—from the most suitable venues to dependable catering and décor partners—each specializing in the various components that come together to make your fundraising event a resounding success.

Core Competence

From the initial planning process to managing the fundraising event production itself, YGE can work with you to design, produce and execute every detail, so that you can focus your time on bringing attention to what really matters. Beyond planning your fundraisers, our core competence consists of:

·      Comprehensive strategic and development planning (long and short term)

·      Assessment of annual campaign(s)

·      Donor cultivation

·      Major gift solicitation

·      Marketing and promotion plans (including collateral material)

·      Board and donor liaison

·      Donor recognition programs

·      Social media campaigns

·      Board recruitment

·      Prospect research

·      Training staff and board in all aspects of development and gift solicitation

·      Planning fundraising events (galas, golf tournaments, board retreats, etc.)

·      Auctions (silent, pledge and online)

·      Event registration and tracking

·      Event logistics including theming.

Alliances for Success

We understand that events are crucial to non-profits for raising funds and awareness. From larger events like a gala, to mid-sized events like a silent auction, to smaller events like a VIP cocktail reception, YGE will help devise an event experience that is best suited to meeting your goals, maximizing your resources, and will be a celebration of your organization's history and mission.

Whenever there’s an opportunity, we’ll always lend a hand and try to “connect” our corporate and non-profit clients in joint events. This innovative pairing results in mutual benefits and bigger, better results for everyone.  From joint marketing to generating exposure, everyone benefits. With the right fit, corporate and non-profit partners can have a meaningful impact on each other and the people their organizations serve.

We will work with your key staff to create action plans based on your goals.  We will provide detailed timelines and regular status reports to ensure that your event can afford to be ambitious, but achievable.  Our team will handle all event logistics from the largest details to the smallest ones.

Putting It All Together

Finally, during the execution of the event, letour event professionals ensure that your organization is able to maximize profitability while producing a memorable event that upholds the mission of your organization by taking care of all aspects of the event from load-in to load-out to ensure a smooth, successful, and seamless event experience for all.  We will produce a run-of-show that is detailed down to the minute, making our staff “the team behind the curtain,” allowing your staff to concentrate on your donors, your honorees and other VIP guests.

Event planning isn’t always easy. It’s the kind of job where perfection can be hard to attain. Where, even when you have done everything right, something (or everything) can go wrong. In fact, if you’re doing your job well, no one knows you’re there at all.  So why do we do it? We do it because we crave the challenge; we like solving problems and making things come together. We also do it because we believe in the mission of the organizations we serve, and it’s our small way of helping to advance their causes.

Your Great Event—the trusted name in planning events for non-profit organizations for over 20 years. 

Put Some Fun in Your Fundraising

Fundraising events can be stressful for the organizing non-profit—and everyone involved.  The combination of taking care of the event’s logistics requirements as well as trying to keep a constant eye on your target results, can be worrisome.  Such events typically involve many moving parts.  There is also the natural preoccupation with the financial goals and how to achieve them.  As the event date approaches, the anxiety levels can indeed rise.  

Organizing a fundraising event need not be all stress. You can organize a successful fundraiser with less tension…and try to have some fun along the way.  Here are a few tips on how to inject some fun in your next fundraising event:

1.    Planning for a fundraiser need not be all work and no fun.  Think of ways to introduce into the process some simple fun activities for your staff and volunteers along the way.  This can be in the form of fun teambuilding activities; engaging games for everyone involved; or picnics, BBQs and other social gatherings.  These can foster closer working relationship and bond your teams together, resulting in enhanced productivity and improved results.  

2.    Introduce some enticements for your teams—staff and volunteers.  A little friendly competition goes a long way to keep your teams engaged and committed. Introduce fun [and inexpensive] awards for best performance in the categories you set up.  A little break from steady work at the end of the day—or week—can pay off in improved morale and a healthier sense of commitment. 

3.    Volunteers can be invaluable in your outreach efforts—whether that is for driving auction item solicitation or for selling tickets to your fundraising gala.  Put in place ways of identifying everyone’s strengths and motivations; and try to tap into that potentially-vast resource to advance your goals for the event. Committed and engaged volunteers can be a vast pool of multifaceted resources.  Keep them happy!   

4.    Fundraising galas need not be all formal and serious. While there is a place for formal events—with speakers and celebrities—a fundraising event can also incorporate some fun elements.  Making your guests have fun at your fundraiser can often translate into more giving—and longer-term commitment to the cause.  

5.    Many non-profits think of fundraising events as the typical gala dinner with entertainment and speakers.  Try nontraditional activities during [or as part of] your fundraising event.  How about a fundraising event in conjunction with a regatta at the local yacht club? Or fundraising in a speakeasy venue with all the fun that that entails—top hats, feather boas and all.  If you have a baseball celebrity, why not try to hold your fundraiser in a ballpark—where your sports celebrity can pitch a few balls to add excitement to your event?

6.    Instead of a tuxedo-attired group of guests crowded into a hotel ballroom, how about making the event more family centric—with appropriate [fun] activities for all members of the family?  Children and grandchildren bring joy to parents and grandparents making them more giving participants.  

7.    Don’t underestimate the value of various social media platforms as a means of energizing (or reenergizing) your stakeholders—be it through serious posts or fun facts about your cause.  Pictures of your previous fun-filled fundraiser can be powerful tools to draw interested donors to your cause.       

8.   Hire a good event planning company with a proverbial roller deck of fun ideas to spice up your fundraiser—with the clear goal of improving results while taking some load off your back.  Choosing the right event planning company can spell success in so many ways—from smooth-running logistics, to theming and high-energy fun components, and to proactive social media strategies to drive attendees to your fundraiser or donors to your cause.

Let professionals at Your Great Eventspice up your next Fundraiser with clever and fun ideas. We have been serving our non-profit clients for over 20 years.   

How to “Professionalize” Your Next Fundraising Gala: 7 Reasons Why Hiring an Event Planning Company Will Help You Minimize Stress and Maximize Results

A professional event planning company will not only handle major aspects of your fundraiser, but also minor details such as an appropriate theme, the right venue, food arrangement, tableware and floral and décor. Having a professional event planning company on your side allows you to channel your energy into one or two areas in the planning process leaving the rest to your event planning company that is there to ensure that every other aspect of organizing a successful and stress-free fundraising gala is taken care of from every angle.  Here are seven key benefits of having a professional event planning company on your side:

1. Keep Your Budget in Check

Many believe that hiring an event planning company to orchestrate your gala could only result in you acquiring more costs than if you had planned the event yourself, but this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. An experienced event planner generally knows what costs to expect and whether there are differences in value. With this knowledge, they can help keep track of the overall costs and suggest ways that you can stay within a set budget.  They have years of experience in the art of planning successful fundraising galas; and are familiar with the ins-and-outs of the industry so well that they’re experts at knowing which vendors will get you the best deals for your price range as well as how to carefully map out your budget and stick to it.

When planning your next fundraising gala, ask your event planner for their expert recommendations regarding how to carefully map out your budget and stick to it, as well as insight on which vendors, venues, and services will get you the most bang for your buck at your next gala. 

2. A Fresh Perspective

When you’re planning a fundraiser, doing everything yourself is a very, very big job. And it gets stressful. As soon as you hire a professional event planning company, you can breathe. You can step back, regroup, focus on the things you know the most about, and get a lot of work done. Because someone else is handling the details of the event itself, you can be more productive on the things you do best. Plus, when the fundraiser happens, the event planning company’s team will be monitoring the event itself, taking care of every small detail and making sure the logistics are handled so that you can focus on making your guests and donors feel welcome and appreciated.

3. Expert Negotiations

Event planning companies know how to negotiate with vendors with ease so that your fundraising gala needs can be met without having to cut any corners. The professional event planning companies have helped a plethora of groups arrange successful fundraising galas over the years, and therefore have already established connections with trustworthy vendors who often provide reduced rates for their exemplary services.  Hiring an event planning company often means having a skilled negotiator to rely on, particularly when it comes to contracts with suppliers and vendors. An event planning company knows how to make sure your wishes are met; and is not afraid of putting pressure on the vendor or supplier when needed.

4. Your Time is Valuable

If you run a charity or nonprofit business, chances are, you already have plenty of responsibilities on your plate. Event planning is a time consuming, often-tedious process, and if you’re already devoting your days to take care of the day-to-day ongoings of your business, hiring an event planning company can save you a great deal of time.  They spend their time researching, planning and negotiating to help you get the spectacular event that you hope for.

An event planning company takes a lot of meetings for you. Why? Because there are details that you don’t have to be bothered with. They know the ins and outs of organizing fundraising events. Through the initial strategy meetings right at the beginning of the planning process, the event planning company should know exactly what your needs are. That means they attend meetings with the hotel and the catering company, the videographer and the furniture guy and the A/V people so that you can get more work done. As an executive director of a large non-profit once admitted, “I literally can’t count the hours having an event planner has saved me.”

5. The Devil’s in the Details

Event planning companies relish in perfecting even the smallest and most intricate details that go into planning the perfect fundraising gala. Orchestrating a fundraiser is no small feat; it’s common for nonprofits to get so caught up in big-picture event planning elements that crucial gala details may unintentionally fall to the wayside.  Utilizing an event planning company’s services for your gala will help you to rest easy knowing that there is an experienced team of experts there to help you manage every single detail so that you can enjoy the big night without a shadow of a doubt.  Event planners are very detail-oriented, which is great for making sure that nothing is left out. These professionals know what different events and occasions demand and are familiar with the finer details.

One of the biggest perks of hiring an event planning company is knowing that they have great organizational skills. From production timelines for the event to booking a venue on time, an event planner’s management is quite useful.  For busy professionals, the flexibility that an event planning company provides makes it easy to give as much or as little input as you desire. Event planners allow you to be as involved or uninvolved as you like!

6. Optimize and Organize

A professional event planning company knows how to take your wishes and demands to heart while making necessary tweaks and adjustments. An experienced event planner will listen carefully, provide input and be realistic when it is appropriate.

Planning an event doesn’t have to be stressful, especially when there are experts who enjoy helping with important details. By hiring an event planning company, you can not only save time and money, but you also greatly reduce your stress level. A good event planning company listens closely to what you have to say and incorporates your wishes and demands, mixing their professional advice or opinions when essential or asked for.

7. Conquer Emergencies with Ease

Having a professional take care of the large and small details and put everything together greatly reduces stress. They’re there to help troubleshoot difficulties and to make sure that the event goes off without a hitch.  Unfortunately, from time to time, things can go wrong [“Murphy’s Law”].  Having a professional event planning company on your side helps you deal with unplanned and unexpected emergencies in a calm and rational manner.  As a wise professional once commented, “Emergencies are inevitable in planning events. The manner with which you deal with an emergency can mean make or break.” 

In business for over 20 years, Your Great Eventis a professional event planning company dedicated to helping non-profits and charities organize the most successful fundraisers. 

We’re Planning the Purrfect Evening for Heaven on Earth’s 2018 “CATberet” Gala

Once again, Your Great Event is hired to help the Heaven on Earth Society for Animals in North Hollywood, CA, plan a paws-itively stellar event for their 2018 annual gala, and we couldn’t be more excited for this year’s theme: the “CATberet!” 

Photo provided courtesy of Heaven on Earth Animal Society

Helping the World, One Feline at a Time

This widely-adored organization has devoted itself to “transforming the lives of homeless cats through rescue, sanctuary, and new beginnings,” and its dedicated team of staff and volunteers has far exceeded expectations whilst carrying out their mission. 

Since their founding in February of 2000, Heaven on Earth has developed a thriving cat adoption program, partnered up with a low-cost spay/neuter clinic to help stray cats in the San Fernando Valley area receive the assistance they need, provided valuable outreach services to the community, and created the Perry MacFarlane Sanctuary, a cage-free, no-kill cat care facility that was made possible through a gift from award-winning animation and comedy guru Seth MacFarlane in memory of his late mother, an “avid lifelong rescuer.”

Heaven on Earth’s annual gala plays a vital role in successfully funding their mission and services, with nearly 20% of the organization’s annual budget being acquired through generous donations made by friends and supporters who attend the gala.

Photo provided courtesy of Heaven on Earth Animal Society

A Meow-nificent Venue

The CATberet gala will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at The Jeremy West Hollywood hotel, a trendy, upscale venue on the Sunset Strip that features sleek, modern décor, dazzling social spaces perfect for cocktails and conversation, and stunning panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills and City of Los Angeles. 

This amazing venue is one of the most vibrant in the SoCal area, and the hotel opened just last year, so we’re thrilled that this year’s gala is going to be held in an event space as fresh, tech-forward, and breathtaking as The Jeremy!  

Showstopping Entertainment

Guests of the CATberet are in for a fun-filled night; the event will feature a program of captivating performances by renowned entertainers like acclaimed classical violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, voice actress and singer Rachael MacFarlane, comedian Dana Goldberg, and more!

An Action-Packed Lineup

The gala will begin at 6:00 PM; attendees will be free to participate in a silent auction while mingling in the midst of a fabulous cocktail hour reception. At 7:30 PM, the CATberet begins! Guests will be treated to an elite fine dining experience while enjoying the gala’s program and special guest performances. This year’s 2018 CATberet gala is going to be the best one yet, and we’re looking forward to treating Heaven on Earth’s dedicated supporters to a delightfully purrfect night!  

Purchase your ticket for the CATberet here, and visit this linkfor more information on how to become a featured sponsor at the event! 

Charity|Community|Connection — We Teamed Up with Ronald McDonald House Pasadena to Plan the Fundraising Event of a Lifetime

Picture this: On a sunny April morning in Central Park, Pasadena, Californian residents from all walks of life came together with the purpose of achieving a common goal—attaining invaluable resources for critically-ill children by raising funds for the Pasadena Ronald McDonald Housethrough their annual Walk for Kids charity event.

Events That Make a Difference

The donations Ronald McDonald House receives are put toward providing sick children and their family members with a “home away from home” so that they can have access to medical, emotional, and financial support when they need it the most, and we here at Your Great Event couldn’t be more proud of the major role we played in planning and orchestrating this heartwarming and momentous occasion.

A Community That Cares

At Walk for Kids, hundreds of eager participants traveled 3.7 kilometers through Pasadena’s Central Park while enthusiastic supporters cheered them on from the sidelines. An assortment of vendors provided the event’s participants with snacks, smoothies, customized Ronald McDonald House t-shirts, and other specialty gifts and goodies.

Excitement at Every Corner

The fun didn’t stop when the walk itself came to a close! After crossing the finish line, the celebration continued while the walk’s participants and their supporters enjoyed music, food, games, prizes, an inflatable slide, and much more. We were thrilled with the event’s great turnout, which even featured a celebrity guest appearance by the Los Angeles Laker Girls and Heidi Hamilton, radio host KLOS 95.5 as emcee.

Making Lifelong Memories    

Walk for Kids went off without a hitch, and we’re so thankful that Ronald McDonald House Pasadena decided to partner up with us to embark on this rewarding fundraising journey. Giving back is one of the greatest joys of life, and we’ll never forget the fascinating people we met and the long-lasting memories we made throughout this incredible experience.