A Virtual Success: FedExFamilyHouse Raises More Than $880,000

Navigating the unexpected is always a key component of event planning, but the COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge for FedExFamilyHouse.

Concerns over attendee safety meant the nonprofit had to cancel its annual in-person gala and transition to a virtual event. Since the gala is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, FedExFamilyHouse needed an experience that still reflected the spirit of the organization and delivered the elegance attendees have come to expect.

As with any unexpected challenge, the most important thing is to adapt and turn the situation around to still ensure success – and the Gala@Home accomplished this goal. Although the event was transitioned to a virtual experience, FedExFamilyHouse still met their fundraising goals, raising more than $880,000. It also left attendees feeling energized and motivated to continue supporting this home-away-from-home for families of patients at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

As the team helped coordinate the switch, we used the familiar navy-and-gold theme to help connect the Gala@Home with previous galas. New messaging encouraged attendees to participate from the comfort of their own homes and included a checklist to help them make the most of the evening. The gala program even shared a special recipe for the Gala@Home signature cocktail, Duck Love.

Watch Party Kits helped attendees feel as though they were truly attending a gala instead of simply watching a screen. We created a branded cover for the kits to match the save-the-date card and gala program, and each kit included everything attendees would need to join in the fun: a bottle of wine, branded wine glasses, branded napkins, FedExFamilyHouse pins, copies of the program, light-up heart necklaces for Light Up the House, and delicious toffee for dessert.

We also had the pleasure of collaborating with Running Pony to create another heartwarming video for the gala that celebrated a decade of helping families feel at home. The video featured images and footage of families who have stayed at FedExFamilyHouse since the doors opened in 2010.

The inferno team even joined in on the evening’s festivities, hosting our own virtual watch party to support FedExFamilyHouse and see the successful event firsthand.

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