Question

Topic: Taglines/Names

Dinner/gala Event Name - Need Creative Help!

Posted by Anonymous on 6/6/2012 at 4:21 PM ET 250 Points
I work for a high-performing non-profit charter school called KIPP Delta. We are planning a first time dinner/gala type event at the Governor's Mansion. I'm having an extremely hard time coming up with a name for the event and would love some ideas! I'm just not creative that way.

Just some informational background on us: Our mottos are work hard, be nice. There are no shortcuts. All of us will learn. Build a better tomorrow. There are no excuses. We are team and family. Basically, we are all about being the best you can be and changing the educational landscape in Arkansas by doing whatever it takes to get our students TO and THROUGH college.

Another KIPP school has an event called Be the Change Gala. I like the feel of that. Oh, and this is our 10th Anniversary - would be nice to incorporate that if we can.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 6/6/2012 at 5:57 PM Member
    Bound For College Gala
    Students First Gala
  • Posted by peg on 6/7/2012 at 2:21 PM Accepted
    Theme: TOP TEN

    Related thoughts:
    -- Invitations could list the "top ten" reasons to attend (or donate)
    -- Speakers could focus on what it is to be a top student, top parent, top sponsor or supporter ... and what it takes to be a top school.
    -- You might honor the top ten (volunteers?) or the top (student? teacher?) for each of the past ten years, even if some have retired or moved on.
    -- You might find one big donor who will match contributions 10-to-1 up to a certain amount.
    -- You might pledge a special benefit to anyone who buys a table of ten (private lunch with the principal or founder over the coming few months?)
    -- You might distill the school's many values into "Our Top Ten Beliefs" and perhaps produce them (laminated business card size?) for every attendee to take home.
    -- You might use the occasion to announce the school's plans/goals for the next ten years, which is another way of encouraging people to make donations of money or time.

    Hope some of these ideas help you form a plan. Good luck to you and THANK YOU for working to provide serious education to your school's students.

  • Posted on 6/7/2012 at 2:24 PM Author
    Peg,

    Those are GREAT ideas and I will definitely be incorporating some of them! So thank you! I'm not sold on the name of the event being Top Ten as I want to be able to use the name from year to year to establish the "brand", but I'm sold on the ideas you gave to incorporate.

    Thank you!

    Carissa
  • Posted by peg on 6/7/2012 at 3:19 PM Member
    Hi, Carissa.

    Sorry, I misunderstood your request. If you want a brand name, then I suggest you keep it simple. As time passes, you don't want to be trapped with a verbal association that's suddenly not working for the school because it's a word that changes to take on a negative association. Don't overlook the value of the brand name you already have:

    KIPP Delta 1st Annual Gala

    KIPP Delta Dinner Gala

    Friends of KIPP Delta Gala

    KIPP Delta Gala Evening

    Uncomplicated names such as these are clear and communicate a lot of information to attendees in the title alone -- which is what a brand should do; and these are names that won't feel dated in the future. Also, when you use a fundamental name like one of these, then you are always free to supplement it with a theme for the night when it makes sense, such as your upcoming 10th anniversary occasion.


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