A word about our generous 2008 Sponsors:
The 2008 Ottawa International Children’s Festival was a great success this year with over 17,000 attendees visiting us at Lebreton Flats. This was not only wonderful for the festival, but for our valuable sponsors as well.
We were very fortunate to have renewed support from TD Canada Trust and we appreciate their continuing sponsorship.
Adobe Systems joined us again this year in funding our Adopt a School Program – an extremely important program that allows Beacon Schools (designated special needs schools) to attend the festival free of charge. Without companies like Adobe, these children may not have the opportunity to be exposed to the arts, or to an environment that encourages them to explore their creative side. We were also proud to host Adobe Systems employees throughout the week and especially on May 28th, when employees and their families toured the spectacular Architects of Air luminarium and attended the opening night festivities. It was an evening enjoyed by all and we thank Adobe Systems for their continued support.
Another Adopt a School sponsor we welcomed back this year was MBNA – Bank of America. It is always a pleasure to have MBNA as a partner and host their employees and families at the festival.
The French Catholic School Board was a wonderful new addition to our 2008 sponsor list. A major supporter of our Adopt a School program, the school board was a very welcome, important and exciting partner for the festival, especially as we host theatre companies from Quebec and France. They had a grand presence on the festival grounds with their information and education tent, which was visited and enjoyed by many children and parents. We were pleased to have them onsite and we anticipate a long-lasting partnership.
The A Channel was our media partner and also participated in the Adopt a School program this year. As always, the hosts were full of energy and enthusiasm for the festival, and it was fantastic to have a commercial run on A Channel Ottawa leading up to the festival.
This year we had a wonderful new funder join us. We received a grant from the Harold Crabtree Foundation, and we thank them for choosing to award funds to the OICF. Because of their grant, we were able to continue our programming and logistical needs, as well as add new elements of programming.
We would also like to welcome the Delta Ottawa Hotel & Suites as our official accommodation sponsor this year. Our performers from Canada and abroad were delighted with their stay in Ottawa and made note of the warm hospitality and very comfortable accommodation at the Delta. Joining us this year as accommodation sponsors as well were the Minto Suite Hotel and the Arosa Suite Hotel. We welcome both and look forward to working with them in 2009 and beyond!
Our community partners are fundamental to our success each season. We are grateful for the continued, year-round support from the National Capital Commission, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the City of Ottawa, HRDC, and Festivals Ottawa.
The Ottawa International Children’s Festival staff and Board of Directors would like to thank all partners for their interest in and support of the festival. It is because of this support we are able to work throughout the year to bring one of the best Children’s festivals to the National Capital Region and, even more importantly, to the youth in our area.
We look forward to your continued support in the years to come.
Sponsorship
Sponsors and Our Audience
Audiences have a positive image of companies that sponsor our festival. Audiences will purchase a product or service of a Festival Sponsor over that of a non-sponsor. Involvement with the Children’s Festival provides the ideal medium to get your message to this prime target market.
• 75% of Festival patrons are likely to take part in a promotion linked to the Children’s Festival.
• 71% would purchase a product or service of a Festival Sponsor over that of a non-sponsor.
• 71% try to support companies who sponsor the Ottawa Children’s Festival.
• Over 75% of attendees to the Children’s Festival are able to recall sponsors of the event.
• The OICF provides an uncluttered environment where patrons notice sponsors.
• The Ottawa International Children’s Festival has over 20 corporate sponsors and partners.
• Some of our partners have been with the festival for several years.
• We strive to foster strong relationships with our sponsors, recognizing that these relationships are vital to the success of our festival – especially considering the growing demand for access to the performing arts for children.
• Our festival will flourish as long as we continue to receive support from organizations and sponsors whose image, values, and objectives reflect our own.
• There are many levels of sponsorship or we can tailor a sponsorship to meet each partner’s needs (*see below for levels)
Available Sponsorship Opportunities
• Title Sponsor $65,000
• Presenting Sponsor $40,000
• Associate Sponsor $25,000
• Sustaining Sponsor $20,000
• Show, Concert or Series Sponsor $5,000 – $40,000 (depending on event)
• Imagination Station $7,500
• Volunteer Appreciation $5,000
• Adopt-A-School Program $5,000
• Official Supplier : Become the official supplier of key festival services and gain visibility on all festival marketing and promotional materials as well as park signage. (Cost according to product or service provided.)
Adopt A School Sponsorship
The Adopt-A-School program helps students from Beacon Schools (schools designated by the Board of Education as special needs schools – either economically, socially, or learning challenged, and often all three) across the Ottawa region experience the arts at no cost to the children, their families, or their school. Since 2004, more than 4,500 children from 18 schools attended the festival at no cost as part of this program.
Our Adopt-A-School for 2008 were The French Catholic School Board, Adobe, Bank of America, and the A-Channel Ottawa. The very important Adopt a School program allows children in financially challenged areas to attend the festival free of charge. These children would not normally have the opportunity to attend a festival or be exposed to the arts so this is program we hope many community corporations support.
As an Adopt a School partner, the local businesses who become involved not only give back to the community, they affect children directly. The investment in our youth is very important and becoming an Adopt a School sponsor is one way you can have a direct impact on our community’s kids and their access to arts and culture.
The process of becoming an Adopt a School sponsor is:
• All potential corporate sponsors are asked to fill out the corporate registration form available on the festival website.
• Each donation will be assigned to a registered class as soon as it is received.
• Once the sponsor/class partnership is assigned and confirmed, the sponsor will receive a letter with information about their adopted class.
• Sponsors are encouraged to participate in the festival – for example, an employee can volunteer to greet the adopted class as they arrive at the festival by bus.
• Each corporate sponsor will receive feedback and letters of thanks from the children of the adopted class after the festival.
Benefits of Sponsorship
• Corporate branding of event
• Corporate logo in our official program
• Corporate logo on our official website
• Corporate logo in grid section of our brochure
• Corporate logo on outdoor festival signage
• VIP Opening night invitations
• Complimentary festival tickets or passes
• Audiences are more likely to do business with or have business relationships with a company involved in the community
• The consumer views the companies associated with our festival in a positive light, understanding that the sponsor demonstrates commitment to improving quality of life in its community.