The African American Church Inaugural Ball – 2009 & 2013
Rhue Still, Inc., formerly Square One Communications, served as the Official Event Planner and Marketing Promotions Agency for the first and second Presidential inaugural celebrations produced by The Balm In Gilead, Inc., for the national faith community – Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Executive Producer. (www.AACIB.com)
- Internet and Viral Marketing was used to generate national and international interest, visibility and action.
- Event was covered by hundreds of media from the United States, Africa and the United Kingdom.
- Visibility for the first inauguration event went from zero to stellar in less than a two (2) month execution window. (Short turnarounds don’t scare us!)
- Assisted in coordinating fundraising efforts and prospect development.
- Created Sponsor solicitation materials and facilitated prospect database development.
- Executed an aggressive publicity and promotion campaign.
- Coordinated Celebrity engagement and secured key high-profile celebrity involvement.
- Exceeded projected attendance goal by 60%
- Event attendance totals were over 1700, comprised of national and international dignitaries including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other newsworthy personalities.
Tools used:
- Snappy, creative design coupled with an aggressive E-Blast schedule.
- Social Media branding and engagement
- Targeted Blast communications to stakeholder lists.
- Aggressive on-line communications plan for targeting and keeping media engaged.
- Designed all collateral materials and signage and coordinated printing
Results:
- Exceeded attendance goals by nearly 60%
- Exceeded media coverage expectations substantially.
- Event was covered like a Hollywood premier because of the numerous celebrity attendees.
- Exceeded fundraising goals.
- Honorees included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Mr. Marc Morial and a host of other dignitaries.
- Celebrity guests included Roland S. Martin, Morris Chestnut, Pastor Rick Warren, Actor/Comedian Chris Tucker,Hugh Masakela, Ebony Magazine Creative Director Harriett Cole and others.