Gunderson Direct raises more than $72,000 for kids with special needs & nabs a 2023 Summit Creative Award!

Key Takeaways:

  • Giving to a good cause feels great <3
  • Being recognized by the Summit International Awards feels great, too 🙂
  • We’re planning another great campaign to benefit children with special needs for 2024!

Listen to the podcast: Addressed for Success – Episode #13: Gunderson Direct Raises More Than $72,000 For Kids With Special needs & Nabs A 2023 Summit Creative Award!

Our #2023GoalPost campaign—benefiting the Special Forces Sports Foundation (now known as the Inclusive Sports Foundation)—exceeded all expectations!

Hey there, sports enthusiasts and do-gooders 🏈 We’ve got some fantastic news to share with y’all today. Our #2023GoalPost fundraising campaign has run up the score by raising a whopping $72,200 for kids with special needs! The campaign won a trophy, to boot: a Silver 2023 Summit Creative Award in the Direct Marketing + B2B category🩶

For those of you hearing about this effort for the first time, here’s the replay: earlier this year, Gunderson Direct partnered with the Special Forces Sports Foundation (now known as the Inclusive Sports Foundation [ISF]) to make a remarkable difference in the lives of children who face unique challenges. ISF’s mission is to provide children with special needs much-needed physical activity and inclusive social interaction while building compassion and empathy in youth + collegiate athletes.

Now, let’s talk the #2023GoalPost mailer. Imagine opening your mailbox to find a surprise that turns your living room into a mini football arena! That’s what recipients experienced when receiving the mailer in January 2023. Each package transformed into a 3D tabletop football stadium, complete with bleachers and a goalpost. But that’s not all! Inside, participants discovered tabletop football game pieces, instructions, fan finger goal cards, and details on participating and winning some killer prizes. Plus, there was an overarching inspirational message reminding everyone about the importance of reaching personal goals for themselves and children with special needs.

To enter the campaign, participants made donations in increments of $20. And here’s a kicker: They had the opportunity to double their entries by sharing social media posts with the hashtag #2023GoalPost. And boy were the prizes something to cheer about:

GRAND PRIZE: One lucky winner scored a Deluxe Super Bowl Package for two! This amazing package included two game tickets, a $500 flight voucher, a hotel stay, a $200 Visa gift card, and an awesome hat, hoodie, and T-shirt.

SECOND PRIZE: Three winners each got their hands on an autographed jersey from players Jared McCain, Javon McKinley, or Chase Claypool, along with a cool hat, hoodie, and T-shirt.

THIRD PRIZE: Five lucky folks snagged a set of a hat, hoodie, and T-shirt, perfect for showing off their team spirit.

Every single dollar raised through this campaign went directly to supporting ISF’s mission. That’s what it’s all about—making a real impact and spreading joy to those who need it most.

Mike Gunderson, founder and CEO of Gunderson Direct, couldn’t contain his joy and gratitude. “Working with the Inclusive Sports Foundation always brings the Agency joy,” he said. “Knowing that the creative we produce went to help raise awareness and money for the children at SFSF makes what we do so worthwhile. Thanks to everyone who donated their time and money to make this campaign successful. I can’t wait to see what my team comes up with next year!”

Matt Lance, founder of the Inclusive Sports Foundation, was equally thrilled with the success of the #2023GoalPost campaign. He couldn’t help but rave about the mailer Gunderson Direct sent out to participants. “The Mailer … was truly amazing,” he shared. “The messaging was clear, it promoted engagement from the recipients, and it was super fun.”

Thanks again to everyone who contributed, shared, and participated in #GoalPost2023. Your generosity is making dreams come true and bringing smiles to the faces of even more children in 2023. And know that we’re putting together another irresistible effort for 2024—keep an eye on your mailbox!

Gunderson Direct has long-lasting relationships with some of the country’s largest corporations, helping them to lower their customer acquisition costs and increase profits using address-based integrated direct marketing programs.

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Gunderson Direct has emerged as one of the largest and widely respected direct marketing agencies in the U.S. Why? We drive leads and close business for clients that include brands such as ZipRecruiter, Paypal, Personal Capital, and many more. Our team offers all the expertise you need to make the most of direct mail – from start to finish.

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