The Custom Event, a Chicago area event planning and marketing firm, has been retained to manage the St. Bernard Hospital Centennial Celebration project. St. Bernard is a historic, catholic hospital on the south side of Chicago. It serves the developing but often troubled neighborhood of Englewood.
Company president, Bonnie Hansen Rybicki, states “We have developed a two-year campaign platform that will trace the hospital’s roots from inception in 1903, to the first laid brick in 1904, than to the first patient taken in 1905. It is designed to re-connect and re-commit St. Bernard to the people of the area.”
“The Growing and Giving platform will be utilized throughout hospital celebration events, fundraising activities, an in-house educational exhibit, and print and CD-Rom promotional materials.”
Chuck Holland, hospital Director of Development and Marketing, notes, “Even initial talk about the campaign has driven renewed interest in the past and future direction of the hospital, not only from community members but from our own staff.”
The campaign officially begins on November 18, 2003 with the introduction of a new pediatric mobile unit. The hospital aims to collect $2M over the course of the campaign for the ongoing support of this important vehicle and its staffing. Additional events and activities will follow throughout November of 2005.
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GALA EXHIBIT OPENING HONORS HOSPITAL CENTENNIAL
On November 20, 2004, hundreds of community members, media, and state dignitaries came together to celebrate a hospital that has stood the test of time. For 100 years, St. Bernard has remained a constant in a community that is not unused to upheaval...
The celebration centered around the unveiling of a 150' historical exhibit and Museum Room designed by The Custom Event. The event was themed "Building On Our Legacy" and was designed in the campaign colors of purple, orange, red and gold incorporated in specialty linens, lighting, and custom created centerpieces. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served as guests viewed the exhibit and renovated chapel area.
Also developed by The Custom Event as part of the communications campaign, a CD-Rom perspective, a gift calendar, brass gift ornament, marketing brochure, banners, and other elements that helped to deliver the message of celebration, awareness and need.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing, but the campaign has currently raised $1.3M, well on its way to meeting the $2M goal.
