event planning tips

5 Unique Event Planning Tips and Tricks

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Event Planning isn’t for the faint of heart. You need to be fearless and passionate about your project and willing to put in the effort and the hours to make it happen! My name is Kelsey Stewart and I’m the lead event planner with Hope’s Home and have brought you events like Swinging with the Stars and the Speakeasy Soiree! As a non-profit, our events and fundraisers are integral to the operations of our organization; and therefore each event is planned with attention to detail and a ton of heart.

From large scale galas, to golf tournaments, to more intimate events, I have a bit of experience in everything! Throughout the years, I have learned many ideas and secrets of what can bring your event to the next level! Whether you are planning a fundraiser or a corporate event, I can guarantee that these 5 unique event planning tips and tricks will help your event surpass everyone’s expectations.

1. Give Early Bird Incentives.

    • Making special pricing for early bird tickets is a great way to get tickets sold fast! You can get a good idea of the “hype” behind your event if people want to buy tickets early. Ensure that the incentives you are providing are significant enough to convince your audience that it is worth it. And make sure that you are prepared to sell-out at that lowered price. You don’t want to undervalue your event at the early bird price and then end up selling-out and not hitting your targeted revenues for ticket sales! Balance is key.

2. Sell, Sell, Sell!event planning - theme ideas for fundraisers 1

    • Sell your target audience on why they should show up! You need to define what you are doing at the event that sets you apart and sells your tickets. Make sure in your promotional posts that you sell all that your event has to offer. Include information about unique features, added benefits to sponsorship levels, what comes with the ticket, etc.

3. Get Creative.

    •  You have to put time and effort into every little piece of your event. Experience matters!! Do some research in the sector and find out what is up and coming in the industry. Make it happen! Get away from the same old, same old. Find things that set your event apart from the rest! It could be in the food you serve, in the entertainment you book, or in the theme you choose for your event. There are so many opportunities for you to challenge your creativity – so get to it!

4. Pics, or it Didn’t Happen.

    • One of the best ways to measure the success of your event is if people want to share it! Make an event hashtag and use it to promote your event. Make sure that you repost any shares that use the hashtag to encourage more people to share their event photos!
    • Design your event so that it encourages interaction on social media. This could be by using a photo-booth, putting the hashtag on the event program, or a live twitter feed on a TV or screen!
    • Make sure your event is beautiful and unique. You need to create visual eye candy for your attendees. Little pieces of the event that are “shareable” will make your audience want to share it with their following!

event planning tips - table setup

5. Trust Your Vendors and Let Them do Their Thing!

    • These are the experts in the field! So lean on them. I love to meet with my vendors, tell them my vision for the event and then ask what crazy ideas they may have! They may be more up to date on industry trends, up and coming technology or maybe they just have a unique idea! This could be your decor rentals, entertainment or chef. It doesn’t matter what vendor it is – make sure you ask what they think and what ideas they have! It could take your event to the next level.
    • For my Regina readers, here are a couple vendors that I would trust with my life!

And there you have it! 5 event planning tips and tricks that are sure to elevate your fundraising or corporate event planning game. At the end of the day, it really comes down to having trust in the people you’re working with, letting your ideas run wild, and understanding that every detail is important. It’s been a weird time for event planners with  COVID-19 cancelling everything. But I am so excited for life to open up again so I can go all out on my next event for Hope’s Home.

Do you have any other tips you have found helpful in your event planning? Have any questions for me? I would love to hear it! Leave a comment down below or send us a message on Instagram!

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frequently asked questions about hope's home

5 Frequently Asked Questions about Hope’s Home

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Since Hope’s Home is the first medically integrated daycare in Canada, we often get a lot of questions.

We frequently get asked questions about our organization and exactly how it works. To makes things easier, we have compiled a list of 5 frequently asked questions so the answers are all in one place! Here we go:

1. How do we classify as a non-profit even though we charge daycare fees?

Developmental worker at Hope's Home

This is one of the number one questions we get asked! Although we charge daycare fees (which are competitive to every other childcare centre), they don’t begin to fully cover our costs. Since we provide integrated and inclusive childcare, this requires more staff than a typical daycare. On top of hiring Early Childhood Educators, we also hire Developmental Workers, Nurses, Physical Development Consultants, Administrative Staff, and Nutrition Specialists. Therefore, in order to cover costs, we need help from donors, partners, and the Government to fund our programs.

2. Is there a complex medical or developmental need that is beyond our staff’s scope of practice or capability?

We pride ourselves in having trained nursing staff on the floor at all times. However, most of the time, these children require additional special care. This question is decided upon on a case by case basis. Below are two examples:

  • If the child had a very complex condition that required direct one-on-one care, it would depend on if we can fund the proper staffing for him/her and get additional funding from the Ministry of Education.
  • If a child had a form of autism, we would do an assessment to see if our environment is a good match for him/her. Children with autism often find the daycare environment over-stimulating. This would be a situation where we would see if attending our Early Learning & Childcare centre was in the best interest of the child.

However, we do our absolute best to accommodate all children who want to attend our centres and we will go above and beyond to find the right way to acclimate your child to his/her new environment.

complex medical needs - inclusive childcare regina

3. Does my child have to have a complex medical or developmental need to attend the daycare centre?

Of course not! That’s what makes Hope’s Home so special – our integrated and inclusive daycare model. Children with complex medical or developmental needs get to interact, play, and have the same opportunities as typically developing children.

However, we often have a waitlist for our centres. And since there aren’t other childcare options for children with complex medical or developmental needs, they do have priority admission.

4. What if my child needs extra support?

If a child has a developmental need and requires a little extra love and support, Hope’s Home can help the family apply for an EA Grant (Enhanced Accessibility Grant). This is provided through the Ministry of Education that helps us fund an extra staff member, specifically for your child!

5. I’m interested in volunteering for your organization, where do I sign up?

Unfortunately, due to the complexity of some of our children and the specialized training our staff get to properly care for them, we don’t take volunteers to come directly volunteer with our children. However, there will be times when we need help and we will put a call out on social media for volunteers then. So make sure you’re following us on Instagram or Facebook so you don’t miss an opportunity! Some examples of volunteers we have needed in the past include:

  • Help cleaning up our backyard play area
  • Working a bbq or bottle drive to help raise funds
  • Painting/Renovations at our homes

 

Have more questions about Hope’s Home? Comment down below!

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Child of the Year 2020 (1)

Celebrating Developmental Milestones

Each year we take a moment to recognize the strength and determination in the kids we care for across the province. 

Each location nominates children in their room that they think are deserving of the Child of the Year title. Staff choose children who have overcome barriers, hardships, shown determination to accomplish their goals, etc. The staff then vote on the nominated children in their location.

This year Hope’s Home had some absolutely inspiring children win Child of the Year. And although we would love to brag about each and every child, there are privacy restrictions we have to respect.

Brody was one of the winners of Child of the Year 2020. Coming to daycare was a hard adjustment for Brody when he first started last fall. The loud noises and busy kids were too much and overstimulating. With it being his first time at daycare and his first time trusting people other than this family, it was a huge learning curve to figure out the right strategies and approaches that would be best for him.

Over time and through trial and error, our staff worked together and found the best ways to communicate with him and integrate him into the classroom.

Today, Brody enjoys music and floor time, can sit through the craziness of a toddler classroom, and is no longer scared of the physical touch of his aunties and uncles. He’s overcome so much since he started in our care, and we are so proud of him and everything he has accomplished.

early childhood education activtities - privacy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are also incredibly grateful for our hardworking staff members who went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure Brody enjoyed his time at Hope’s Home.

Congratulations Brody, we love you.

 

 

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