Alliance for Children & Families Magazine ::
O N L I N E ::
 |
The Touchdowns for Families partnership, which was funded
by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ),
“We are ecstatic about the Super Bowl victory and the
unexpectedly large donation,” says Bob Jones, president and CEO of
Children’s Aid and Family Services. "I'm profoundly grateful to Horizon Blue
Cross Blue Shield for generously supporting this agency. Thanks to this
wonderful partnership, we have been able to increase community awareness of
the important work the agency does." At times, the Touchdowns for Families partnership also
served as a rallying event for children served by Children's Aid and
Print this Article 
E-Mail this Article 
Add to Favorites | Suggest a Story
(Alliance News Service) —
Children's Aid Shares in Giants' Super Bowl Win
Partnership brings monies and visibility
to Alliance member
During Super Bowl XLII in February, two New York Giants touchdowns helped
end the New England Patriots' run at an undefeated season. Those same
two touchdowns, however, opened the door for a different kind of
"perfect season" for Alliance for Children and Families member
Children's Aid and Family Services, Paramus, N.J. Thanks to a
Touchdowns for Families partnership, the organization netted $5,000
during the Super Bowl for an unexpectedly large grand total of
$35,000 in Giants’ touchdowns during the 2007 season.
benefited
Children's Aid and Family Services each time the New York Giants scored a
touchdown. Using history as a barometer, Horizon BCBSNJ, the New York
Giants, and Children’s Aid and Family Services, hoped that the Giants would
at the very least repeat the 40 touchdowns the team scored during the 2006
season. Forty regular-season touchdowns at $500 a piece would have resulted
in a $20,000 donation.
Thanks to the Giants' late-season momentum and Horizon BCBSNJ's
commitment to up the ante to $1,000 for every playoff game touchdown and
$2,500 for every touchdown during the Super Bowl, however, Children's Aid
and Family Services walked away from the 2007-2008 National Football League
season with more than it ever expected—and not only because of the dollar
amount.
The Touchdowns for Families partnership, along with the variety of news
media stories it spurred, played a pivotal role in the extraordinary upsurge
of support and visibility that the organization has received since last
fall, Jones says. The partnership is likely one of the reasons why the
agency has seen a jump in hits to its Web site and the number of inquiries
from prospective adoptive and foster families.
Family
Services. “Our kids feel like they were the Giants' good luck charm," Jones
says. A child who attended the agency's Turrell Child Care and Early
Learning Center created artwork that was featured in a colorful "Good Luck"
card that was given to the Giants to take to Arizona for the Super Bowl. The
note in the card, written by another child at the center, read, “We think
you are a great football team. Please win the Super Bowl for us.”
Children connected to the agency also participated in the official launching
of the Touchdowns for Families partnership in September 2007. During that
event, which featured Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer, each child received
a special tour of Giants Stadium and team gifts. Children and teenagers from
the agency's group homes also enjoyed the festivities at the annual “Jingle
Jam” holiday party hosted by the Giants in December.
While Children's Aid and Family Services plans to use the $35,000 raised to
support the organization’s operations in Bergen County, N.J., Jones hopes
that the impact realized by the increased visibility the organization
experienced will have an even larger affect.
"We've seen a 30 percent increase in corporate sponsorship support for
our
spring
gala," Jones says. "We have been approached by numerous businesses,
community groups, and organizations that have heard about us for the first
time and have offered support. These include an upscale car dealership that
is making a donation to us for anyone who takes a test drive in one of its
new models, a financial services company that held an employee drive, and a
group of professional women who organized a fundraiser to assist our Parents
Fund for aging out youth. Typically, we would receive one such approach per
month. Now, we are receiving four to five."
Article Photos: Far Left Top: Far Left Middle: Far Left Bottom:
|
| |
11700 West Lake Park Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53224-3099
Phone: (800) 221-3726
Fax: (414) 359-1074
Copyright © 2008. Alliance for Children and Families .
All rights reserved.