David G. Wilkinson is president of The Wilkinson Group, a Toronto-based international event marketing, education and strategic planning company.
Donna LeBlanc is research co-ordinator for the Event Marketing column, which appears in each issue. Contributions, ideas, media releases and feedback should be directed to Donna at (416) 510-1692, or fax (416) 510-1694.
Queen’s Park becomes an in-line skating rink when the Toronto In-Line Skating Festival takes place on July 25.
More than 1,000 skaters are expected to tackle the 10-kilometre course, at the site of the Ontario Legislature, and all pledge money collected goes directly to the United Way of Greater Toronto.
After the recreational skate, participants will be treated to a demonstration of in-line Hip Hop dancing (courtesy of skate force), a media celebrity in-line hockey game and a competitive 10K race.
Larger than the tennis industry in hard good sales, and attracting an active, affluent and educated consumer, the use of in-line skates has become a chosen recreational pursuit for more than 10 million North Americans.
Categories available for sponsorship are associate ($25,000), title ($75,000) and official supplier status ($10,000.)
Benefits can include the right to conduct promotions in conjunction with the event, use of sign boards with corporate name/logo on the route, corporate name/logo on T-shirts, and right to insert product in participant’s kit.
The festival is presented by Wilkinson Sword, in association with Lever 2000, Bauer Precision In-Line Skates, Ready to Roll, Spring Valley Water and Sam the Record Man.
Media sponsors are Toronto radio station chum fm and the free entertainment newspaper, Eye Weekly.
For more information, contact Sharon Podatt of The Landmark Group at (416) 593-1991.
High tech golf
Canadian high technology companies are once again teeing up for charity in the 9th Annual Canadian Computer Charity Golf Classic on Aug. 11 at the Spring Lakes Golf & Country Club in Stouffville, Ont.
One of the largest fund-raising tournaments in southern Ontario, the Classic has set a goal to raise $100,000 for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and Easter Seals.
In 1992, more than 430 golfers participated and raised $89,000 for the two charities.
High tech companies are asked for $500 to sponsor a hole, a $500 item for the evening auction.
In the past, SkyDome Skyboxes, full computer systems and airline tickets to exotic locales have been among the items donated for the auction.
Alfa Romeo, along with Marino’s Fine Cars, has donated an Alfa Romeo for the winner of a hole-in-one.
In addition, a ‘host’ is asked to oversee the event. ATI Technologies has accepted the challenge and will be responsible for emceeing as well as providing gifts to each participant.
Sponsors can have their corporate name/logo displayed in large banners throughout the green, as well as being mentioned in a video produced during the day and screened during the evening festivities.
Compaq, ibm, Kodak, Computer Brokers of Canada, Lotus, Microsoft and Fujitsu are a sample of the many companies which have donated their money and product for the 1993 event.
For more information, contact George Soltys of Plesman Publications at (416) 497-9562 (ext. 309.)
