Our Efforts Transformed Iowa Into a No-Kill Society. Your Support keeps it That Way. Sin ce 1926, An imal R es cu e L eag u e h as taken action to pr omote an imal welfar e, th e h u man an imal bon d, an d pr ev en t ov er popu lation . T h r ou gh th eir r ich appr oach to h elp both an imals an d people, th ey ’v e gr own in s ize an d n u mber of cau s es . F u n din g for th es e cau s es come mos tly fr om pr iv ate don or s , an d s ome comes fr om g r an ts . AR L ’s pr og r ams addr es s is s u es th at lan d an imals in s h elter s in or der to tr y to pr ev en t it. In itiativ es in clu de beh av ior cou n s elin g , cr u elty in ter v en tion , an d h u man e edu cation . AR L ’s commitmen t to edu catin g th e pu blic on h u man e activ ity , cou pled with th eir con cer n for pet ov er popu lation led to th is campaig n abou t s pay /n eu ter pr actices an d acces s ibility .
CatSnip CatSnip provides those on a financial assistance program to have their cat spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and micro chipped at no cost to them. PetSmart Charities granted ARL the funds for the CatSnip program for zip codes 50312, 50315 and 50317 in Des Moines. CatSnip surgeries, which take place every Tuesday and Wednesday in 2011, can be scheduled through the main shelter. Donations from participants are encouraged since the CatSnip program is relatively new and still needs to expand into other zip codes. For more information and surgery dates, visit our events calendar page.
The Purr Project
The Purr Project is a bit more specific than the CatSnip program. This initiative spays/neuters farm or barn cats in the Des Moines area, who would otherwise not receive the surgery. The Purr Project is not intended for indoor cats with owners; but rather the outdoor cat population who receive food, water and shelter for the livelihood of the cat. Though the program is not free, it is a greatly reduced rate. Surgeries also take place Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For scheduling, contact Dr. Braas at lbraas@arliowa.org or (515) 473-9117.
PitStop PitStop provides free spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations (heartworm test, rabies, distemper) to owners of pit bull terriers in Des Moines who would otherwise not have the finances to get these for their dog. Although services are free, donations are encouraged, and go back directly to the PitStop program. Appointments are scheduled as funding is available. To be added to the list of those in need of this service, contact Gloria Shipman at gshipman@arl-iowa.org or (515) 473-9118.
The Daily Fix The Daily Fix is for other licensed shelters to be able to bring their animals to us for these and other veterinary services in order to make an animal available for adoption through their respective adoption programs. To receive these services, shelters must be licensed and in good standing with the State of Iowa. This program is for dogs and cats and runs Monday through Wednesday by appointment only. To schedule an appointment contact Dr. Braas at lbraas@arl-iowa.org or (515) 473-9117.
Donate Today This is an issue that needs constant support and attention from the community. Given that all of these programs are in their beginning stages, funding is spread thin. Help ARL keep pet population down. Keep our pet population down in Iowa, so we can hold on to our proud title as a no-kill community.
Tom Colvin, Executive Director Tom Colvin has been the ARL executive director since 1996. He joined ARL in 1993 as shelter director. Before making his way to ARL, Colvin was the executive director of the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo, IA, for 12 years. Since 1981, Colvin has held the president post of the Iowa Federation of Humane Societies. He also held a master of wildlife rehabilitation license. For the past 35 years, Colvin has served as the director of animal shelters. His advancements for animal welfare include training local prison inmates to provide temporary care and rehabilitation for abused and neglected horses and dogs; satellite adoption centers around the city; a barn buddy program for farm animals; special cat adoption programs; and a Black Dog Club for those who adopt black dogs, which tend to be most overlooked, from shelters. Colvin serves on numerous committees and boards related to animal issues in Iowa. He also actively lobbies for animal welfare legislation. He believes that helping hundreds of shelter dogs and cats is important but working to protect animals through strong humane laws brings lifelong change and prevention of future overcrowding in shelters.
Emily Beckmann Children’s Cancer Connection 1221 Center Street – Suite 12 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 243‐6239, ext. 1102 E‐mail: Emily@childrenscancerconnection.com March 2, 2011 Gerald Storch Toys “R” Us, Inc. One Geoffrey Way Wayne, NJ 07470 Dear Mr. Storch: I can still remember as a child the sheer excitement and reward of getting a new toy. From seeing it on the shelf, to bringing it home and tearing it out of its package; and finally playing with it. Without a doubt, Toys “R” Us has always been the destination for children who have just learned to potty‐train, gotten an ‘A’ on their big spelling test or made the winning goal in soccer. Every child deserves the rush and reward of a new toy from time to time. Here at Children’s Cancer Connection we have made it our mission to enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer. We do this by providing programs for education, recreation and support. One of our hospital programs is the “poke box.” When an oncology patient at Blank Children’s Hospital receives a “poke” or other painful procedure, they are welcome to choose a toy from the “poke box” provided by Children's Cancer Connection. These toys can help make the procedure less daunting, and help children focus more on the toy and less on the pending procedure. With your history of giving to children in times of need, we would love to build a partnership with your company through product donation for our “poke box.” Your assistance would bring tremendous joy to some of the most deserving children. We look forward to having a conversation about this partnership with you soon. You can reach me at (515) 243‐6239, ext. 1102. Sincerely, Emily Beckmann Director of Marketing and Communication Encl: agency brochure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Children’s Cancer Connection 1221 Center Street, Suite 12 Des Moines, IA 50309 Emily@childrenscancerconnection.com www.childrenscancerconnection.org Children’s Cancer Connection Hosting Benefit Fashion Show Des Moines, Iowa (March 23, 2011) – As spring approaches, the people of Des Moines are ready to put away their snow boots. To cure that winter cabin fever with a purpose, you can attend Couture for a Cause. Children’s Cancer Connection is hosting this event Saturday, April 2 at Hoyt Sherman Place. This event, sponsored by Blank Children’s Hospital, will be emceed by First Lady Chris Branstad. The models for the program are the women of Children’s Cancer Connection. “Couture for a Cause is a great way Children’s Cancer Connection to interact with the Des Moines community through building a relationship with the small businesses who are participating in the event,” Emily Beckmann, Director of Marketing and Communication. Retailers showcasing their clothing at the show include: C’est Bon, Worn, Bargain Basket, Dorthea’s Closet and Plato’s Closet. In addition to the fashion show, the event will also have live music and a champagne brunch. Tickets are $50 per person. You may order tickets through March 25 by calling our office. All of the proceeds from the tickets will benefit the programs and services of Children’s Cancer Connection. Children’s Cancer Connection is a nonprofit organization run by a small staff in Des Moines. The majority of efforts come from the support of volunteers. We channel our efforts toward enhancing quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer. Around 300 children attend our annual summer camp programs. In addition to the summer camp, there are hospital‐based programs and support services. Contact: Emily Beckmann (515) 243‐6239, ext. 1102 # # #
SUMMER CAMP FOR ALL :30 SECONDS SFX:
CHILDREN LAUGHING, PLAYING KICKBALL
FEMALE V/O:
IMAGINE THESE CHILDREN PLAYING AT SUMMER CAMP.
SFX:
SPLASHING AND LAUGHING IN A POOL
FEMALE V/O:
NOW IMAGINE A CHILD WITH CANCER.
SFX: FEMALE V/O:
HEART MONITOR BEEPING YOU WOULDN’T GUESS THAT THESE CHILDREN PLAYING AT CAMP WOULD BE AFFECTED BY CANCER—BUT THEY ARE. WITH THE HELP OF DONORS LIKE YOU, CHILDREN’S CANCER CONNECTION MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER TO EXPERIENCE SUMMER CAMP. WITH THIS ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, FOR A FEW WEEKS EACH SUMMER CAMP HEART CONNECTION PROVIDES A HAVEN FROM THE BURDENS OF CANCER FOR THEM. GO TO CHILDRENSCANCERCONNECTION‐DOT‐ORG NOW TO SEE HOW YOUR DONATION MAKES LIFE MORE ENJOYABLE FOR THESE CHILDREN.
VOLUNTEER FOR CAMP :15 SECONDS ANNCR: CHILDHOOD CANCER IS A HEART WRENCHING FACT OF REALITY. A GREAT WAY TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THESE CHILDREN’S LIVES ALL WHILE SEEING THE BENEFITS DIRECTLY IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS VOLUNTEERING FOR CHILDREN’S CANCER CONNECTION. TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN SPEND TIME IN THE FRESH OUTDOORS OR CREATE FUN MEMORIES DOING ARTS AND CRAFTS WITH THESE REMARKABLE CHILDREN VISIT CHILDRENSCANCERCONNECTION‐DOT‐ORG.
Children’s Cancer Connection: We Promise Transparency with your Donation Since 1988, Children’s Cancer Connection has used funds, granted by donors like you, to enhance the quality of life of those affected by childhood cancer. Through their unique approach to enhancing the quality of life rather than finding a cure, donating provides more tangible results. There are three main initiatives that thrive off of these donations. One initiative includes the camps and recreation. Another initiative is the support. Lastly, are the hospital-based programs. Children’s Cancer Connection is a relatively small organization, but this ensures you know where your money is going.
Camps and Recreation Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp and Camp Heart Connection Sibling Camp, combined, host approximately 300 campers. A scholarship for one camper is $300. No child is turned away due to inability to pay. Camper scholarships grant these children the opportunity to escape their cancer-ridden life. In addition to these two main camps, 50 children attend the Mid-Year Reunion at $125 per child and 23 families attend family camp, which costs $3,750 per session. It is CCC’s mission to relieve some stress involved for each member of the family of a child with cancer. These camps are an effective vehicle for doing so.
Support Services Support services are vital to the work of CCC. Those facing the diagnosis of childhood cancer and its effects are in dire need of support and networking resources. CCC provides more than 90 resource kits per year. These resource kits help families learn about what is to come and provides opportunities to network with others in similar situations. Family resource kits cost $5,000 per kit. Support groups are also an integral facet of CCC’s support services. Club HOPE (for parents), The Survivorship Connection, The Lending Library and Adopt a Family are all support groups that satisfy a different need. Each support group requires about $500 a year to function.
Hospital-Based Programs Hospital-based programs start the journey with families affected by childhood cancer. From the treatment binder CCC provides to the “end of treatment parties,” there are numerous resources for families. Other hospital-based programs steal the children from boredom and anxiety while at the hospital. Arts & Crafts can occupy the children between tests. “The Poke Box,” is a program that gives a child a stuffed animal as a reward for enduring a surgical procedure, or some other difficult feat. Beads for Bravery, which costs $1,000 a year, is another program that recognizes overcoming obstacles for children in the hospital. For example, a remission bead or a CT scan bead could be granted to a child after these procedures.
Donate Today Donating to an organization on the grassroots level means much more likelihood of making your dollar count. As always, donating your money locally results in benefits for your community. Camp Heart Connection takes place at Y Camp in Boone, Iowa. The support services reach 450 families across Iowa, and even some surrounding states. Beads for Bravery, the Poke Box and Arts & Crafts keep patients entertained at Blank Children’s Hospital. Your money doesn’t go to research, but it guarantees a happier, more fulfilling life for a child with cancer.
MEMORANDUM DATE: April 27, 2011 TO: Emily Beckmann, Children’s Cancer Connection FROM: Nora Harding SUBJECT: Tips to Enhance Children’s Cancer Connection’s Social Media Presence Children’s Cancer Connection should be commended for their effort in the world of social media. You have your name in most social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Blog, YouTube), however they could all use a little fine‐tuning. In addition to tweaking your existing accounts , you could also place your organization on a few other social media pathways. Creating, maintaining and updating your social media websites are full‐time commitments. Though time consuming, this is paramount to having a pertinent presence. Given that your organization is relatively small, it might be too much to expect that a paid employee would be in charge of this task. This would be a fantastic opportunity to create a position or two for prospective interns. First and foremost, college students are extremely eager to land an internship. Secondly, they are also stereotypically the most informed group on social media and current technologies. Thus, social media interns would run this part of your organization. The best stories and news tips for the media are time‐sensitive events. Another newsworthy story would be a feature story on how someone was touched by CCC. Or even more interestingly, a story about someone touched by CCC doing something significant in the community. Advances and achievements within CCC may also be newsworthy, but only to the audience that already knows the organization. All of the aforementioned tips require a planned course of action. I have specific suggestions for enhancing CCC’s social media presence. To have an effective social media campaign, especially with a lesser‐known organization, an obvious selling point is imperative. One small thing you could do to improve this on all of your Internet outlets is a tweak to your logo. To better convey your purpose and the “selling point” of the organization, you could add a tag line under the logo. For example, “The Entire Family. The Entire Journey.”, is already used on a lot of your publications, but not on the logo. The CCC Twitter account doesn’t need too much work. In fact, pretty much all of your tweets are very pertinent and informational, which is exemplary use of a non‐ profit Twitter account. However, you could make use of it a bit more. Incorporating pictures could be a way to engage followers. Also, you are tweeting almost everyday,
but you should be tweeting everyday. So many organizations tweet several times a day, so you should be trying to tweet at least once. Your Facebook page is also relatively well run. I saw a “Donate Now” tab on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Facebook page. They may be a much larger organization, but there’s no reason why CCC couldn’t make use of that tab. If you want to beef up your fans on Facebook (or followers on Twitter), give people a reason to “like” your page or follow you. For example, you could give away one of your new reusable bags to the first 100 people who “like” the page or follow you. Your YouTube page could use some work. There are only five videos on it now. If people go to your YouTube page and see that you only have five videos, they may not even bother watching, or they could watch all of the videos watched in a matter of minutes. Given that it looks like you don’t upload that often, they may not ever think of coming back because they wouldn’t expect anything new to be posted. You should try to upload videos on a regular basis. Ideas for videos are: Testimonials from donors, volunteers, participants, families, etc., documentation of activities such as Arts & Crafts, Beads for Bravery, a child receiving a toy from the “Poke Box”, what it’s like to volunteer for specific initiatives such as the gift wrap center at the mall during the holidays and so forth. Once you’ve built up your YouTube page, you could also add some of the videos to your Facebook video tab and direct the viewers back to your YouTube page as cross promotion. CCC has a blog, but it’s not promoted well enough. Try to promote your blog in all of your publications. Both conventional paper publications and Internet outlets should be mentioning the blog. Also, the blog should be updated far more often. People like to view blogs habitually. If your blog isn’t updated enough, people will just write it off and stop visiting, period. The sky is the limit with the blog. With things like Facebook and Twitter, people want concise information. Blogs are accepted as more subjective outlets, so use it as such. Let the intern use their creativity here. An intern should love this kind of freedom, but still use enough discretion to only post things that are relevant to the organization. A side note on the blog from the homepage: Have the link to the blog open in a new page, not the existing one. I also have a few suggestions for you that you aren’t doing now (or if you are it isn’t promoted enough that I’m aware of). You may have pictures on most of your social media outlets, but you should also create a Flick’r account. If people want to look at just photos, you need to make it easy for them. Flick’r would be a consistent place that all photos could be found. All other photos would only be used as needed in other outlets. You should also create an RSS Feed on the “Social Media Connection” part of the website. The RSS Feed could filter into all CCC news or volunteer and donor news only. One last thing that would engage your audience is Foursquare. Specifically, you could create check‐in rewards for CCC events or when someone checks in for volunteering.