$700,000 target for games fund-raising

Businesses being urged to help sponsor prestigious 2013 summer event

A $700,000 fund-raising campaign has been launched for the 2013 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games in Barrhead and Westlock.

Sponsors and donors are needed for the July 25-28 event which will feature more than 1,000 participants and is seen as a great chance to showcase both communities.

“We need money, money, money,” said Carol Lee, Friends of the Games Committee chair. “We need money and/or gifts in kind.”

Sponsorship packages have now been distributed to businesspeople. These outline five levels of recognition given to sponsors, depending on their contribution. Other fund-raising moves are also under way, including:

• A July 21-22, 2012, casino at Yellowhead, Edmonton. It is hoped this will raise as much as $60,000; and

• Plans for a golf tournament, probably in September. A tentative fund-raising target of $10,000 has been set.

Further ventures will also be organized nearer the date of the games, said Lee.

“I am absolutely confident we will reach our target,” she said. “When it comes to generosity, the communities of Barrhead and Westlock rock. We always rally to the cause.

“We welcome any amount. No amount is too small. People can also donate through gifts in kind, such as providing 1,000 water bottles for the athletes or food.”

Other gifts in kind could include providing space for First Aid personnel or a media centre.

Lee said the cost of the games would be about $1.2 million. Outside the $600,000-$700,000 fundraising target, the rest of the money was coming from the four municipalities – Town and County of Barrhead, Town and County of Westlock – and the provincial government.

Lee and games manager Marcie Mazurenko were special guest speakers at last Thursday’s general membership meeting of the Barrhead & District Chamber of Commerce. They appealed for the business community to throw its weight behind the games, which will feature such events as athletics, slo-pitch, golf, bocce, contract bridge, cribbage, military whist, floor shuffleboard, horseshoes, floor curling, pool, swimming, tennis, cycling and creative writing and arts and crafts.

In answer to members’ questions, they said the opening and closing ceremonies will be at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre and the Agrena respectively; slo-pitch would probably attract the most spectators; an army of 800-1,000 volunteers would be required; and help was needed for transporting and billeting athletes.

Lee and Mazurenko handed brochures containing sponsor recognition levels to Chamber of Commerce members. The top two levels are:

1. Diamond sponsorship, $50,000 plus. This means: approved use of games logo on company advertising; recognition as an official games sponsor; designated VIP seating at the opening and closing ceremonies (eight tickets); opportunity to help with medal presentations; invitation to the VIP reception (eight tickets); invitation to the Friends of the Games reception (eight tickets); logo recognition as a diamond sponsor on the games website; framed certificate of appreciation and full official medal set (gold, silver, bronze) to hang in your business; full page advertisement in the game souvenir program; approved placement of signage at venues.

2. Gold sponsorship, $25,000 plus. This means: designated VIP seating at the opening and closing ceremonies (six tickets); opportunity to help with medal presentation; invitation to the VIP reception (six tickets); invitation to the Friends of the Games Reception (six tickets); logo recognition as a gold sponsor on the games website; framed certificate of appreciation and official gold medal to hang in your business; half page advertisement in the souvenir program; and approved placement of signage at venues.

There are three other levels: silver sponsorship, $15,000 plus; bronze sponsorship, $5,000 plus; and Friends of The Games, $1,000 plus. This fifth level will entitle the sponsor to an invitation to the Friends of the Games reception (two tickets), a frame certificate of appreciation, acknowledgements on games website and one of the games publications.

Anyone interested in sponsoring, donating or helping the games as a volunteer should contact games manager Marcie Mazurenko at Westlock 780-349-6165.

The games website is www.bw55plussummergames.com.