David G. Wilkinson is president of The Wilkinson Group, a Toronto-based international event marketing, education and strategic planning company.
Angela R. McKenzie is the primary researcher for the Event Marketing column. Contributions, ideas, media releases and feedback should be directed to Angela at (416) 510-1692 or (416) 923-9446. Fax (416) 510-1694.
Ontario’s lovable pachyderm, Elmer the Safety Elephant, has been an authority on children’s safety issues for many years now.
However, in this modern age of far-reaching, electronic, high-tech heroes, it has become a challenge for Elmer to find the financing to deliver his safety messages to children.
The Ontario Safety League’s Road Safety Show, featuring Elmer the Safety Elephant, is looking for a sponsor.
The Road Safety Show gives Ontario children an understanding of road safety through an entertaining 40-minute play involving about 250 Ontario schools.
The show has an audience of close to 50,000 students between the ages of five and eight.
Sponsors can be identified in all correspondence and program materials, including posters, coloring books, work sheets, buttons and teaching guides.
It started the Road Safety Show in 1977, and the program now costs about $90,000 a year. It is seeking a sponsor to pick up part or all of these costs.
For more information, call John Sharpe or Terry Thompson at (416) 620-1720.
Honda takes the cure
When it comes to women’s health issues, Honda Canada is putting its money where its corporate heart is.
The car maker is helping the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to present Canada’s first breast cancer ‘Run for the Cure’ event.
‘Run for the Cure,’ which includes a choice of either a five-kilometre run or a one-kilometre walk, will take place in Toronto’s High Park on Oct. 25.
Together, Honda and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation are supplying the financial and organizational assistance to help ‘Run for the Cure’ create awareness of, and raise funds for, breast cancer research.
For more information, contact Rosanne O’Neill of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation at (416) 927-9354, or Andrea Thomas, race director, at (416) 968-2668. The ‘Run for the Cure’ hotline is (416) 323-1311.
Fido Dido
ytv and United Media Canada start a nationwide tv promotion today, which features the popular Fido Dido personality promoting a ‘self-confidence’ message to children.
The four-week campaign will occur during the ytv pj After School Zone time-period, and will reinforce the Fido Dido philosophy, which encourages children and teens to be themselves, to be wise but not judgmental, and to always try to maintain a sense of humor.
The promotion will serve to heighten knowledge and build awareness of the Fido Dido philosophy and merchandise line, while providing viewers with a positive ‘self-image’ message.
The promotion will be supported with an exclusive ytv media campaign, and with additional product exposure on ytv’s teen-oriented programs such as Hit List and Rock ‘N’ Talk.
If your organization would like more information on how to contribute to the Fido Dido philosophy promotion, contact Lois Lemire at United Media Canada (416) 821-0661, or Terri Perras/Dorit Leo at ytv (416) 534-1991.
Kids Help Phone benefit
ytv’s Festival of Friends Kids Help Phone Benefit Concert is an energetic 75-minute video, taped on location at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto.
Produced by ytv, the Festival of Friends videotape is being distributed by all Jumbo Video locations nationwide at a cost of $9.99.
Net proceeds from the sales will go directly to Kids Help Phone. Included with each videotape will be $10 worth of Jumbo Video coupons.
Co-ordinated by the Canadian Children’s Foundation, the Kids Help Phone provides a national, toll-free, bilingual help line for troubled and abused children.
For more information, contact Miriam Telem, CCF, at (416) 920-5437, Ruth Dyer, YTV, at (416) 534-1191, or Jill Karasiuk, Jumbo Video at (416) 847-7212.
