A wristed development fad continues to "LIVESTRONG" for many nonprofits.The outcome of attempting to match the Lance Armstrong Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist. He won the Tour de France—cycling's most prestigious race—seven consecutive times, from 1999 to 2005. Foundation's $50 million-plus sales of its LIVESTRONG wristband The Livestrong wristband is a yellow silicone wristband (a gel bracelet) launched in May of 2004 as a fund-raising item for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. is about as attainable as wresting the yellow jersey from Armstrong himself in the Pyrenees. The Austin, Texas-based foundation's yellow band is everywhere you look, but during the past six months nonprofits have been adding more color to the wristband wristband An identifying bracelet attached to a Pt's wrist at the time of admission to a health care facility, which may be the only identifier used during a person's stay in a hospital rainbow. What has been considered by many to be the current youth fad has fueled fundraising and awareness campaigns for numerous charities. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) is a non-profit organization in the United States established to provide the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis. The Foundation provides information about cystic fibrosis (CF) and finances CF research that aims to improve the (CFF See Compensatory Financing Facility. ) in Bethesda, Md. moved ahead with its wristband after children with the disease asked the organization to produce the item. What began as an awareness item has resulted in 300,000 units sold and approximately $500,000 in funds raised. "We represent a patient population of just 30,000 people and our goal had been to sell 30,000. So, we're very happy with the numbers," explained Ann Palmer, vice president of field management at CFE CFE Conventional Forces in Europe (treaty) CFE Cash Flow to Equity (finance/accounting) CFE Comisión Federal de Electricidad (México) CFE Certified Fraud Examiner . "But we didn't start in with big cause-related marketing. It was mostly internal. Our children with CF wanted us to do it, so we did it and it has performed beyond our expectations. They're happy and I'm happy to also be able to generate that kind of revenue from something we thought would really just be an awareness campaign." The organization's demographics are comprised primarily of family members who have a connection to the disease. More than 90 percent of its wristbands have been distributed to mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles who order them, Palmer said. CFF managers are contemplating producing a different version of the wristband with design suggestions supplied by children.Whether or not the plan goes forward, Palmer said that one of the keys for success in the wristband market is to stay focused on your target audience. "We've done it to make our constituents happy and that has succeeded," Palmer said. "Do I think that we've made any kind of impact like Lance Armstrong? No." Much like the Tour de France Tour de France World's most prestigious and difficult bicycle race. Staged for three weeks each July—usually in some 20 daylong stages—the Tour typically comprises 20 professional teams of nine riders each and covers some 3,600 km (2,235 miles) of flat and , having Armstrong lead the pack helped to increase interest as a whole. For the March of Dimes
tr.v. in·di·vid·u·al·ized, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·ing, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·es 1. To give individuality to. 2. To consider or treat individually; particularize. 3. the band, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kathy Farrey, director of national promotions at MoD in White Plains, N.Y. That mission was accomplished with the release of the pink and blue tie-dye design that exclusively identifies MoD. "There is the craze for them out there but we weren't really sure," Farrey explained. "In the beginning we were thinking maybe 50,000 would sell in the first month and that amount was gone in two weeks. And we were on the fence with a 'should we or shouldn't we do this' kind of discussion." MoD did "do this" and has sold more than 400,000 bands while raising $200,000 since the item went on sale in February. The nonprofit produces the bands in both youth and adult sizes, and a "significant amount" of youth-sized bands have been being ordered. Farrey is looking forward to November, which is Prematurity Awareness Month, when she believes there will be another surge in sales for all things pink and blue tie-dye. MoD will keep its wristbands on the market as long as the demand exists and that should be at least through the end of 2005, she added. Thus far, demand for the LIVESTRONG wristbands have reached across the globe. The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF LAF Lance Armstrong Foundation (non-profit cancer organization) LAF Look and Feel LAF Laugh LAF Lebanese Armed Forces LAF Liquidity Adjustment Facility LAF Lost And Found LAF Laminar Air Flow ) has sold wristbands in every state in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , in 60 countries and on every continent, according to LAF Spokesperson Jennifer Halpin. The organization sells 100,000 bands per day from its Web site, www.livestrong.org. Nike and Discovery Channel stores are stocked with Adj. 1. stocked with - furnished with more than enough; "rivers well stocked with fish"; "a well-stocked store" stocked furnished, equipped - provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority); "a furnished apartment"; authentic bands as well. "We never anticipated that the wristband campaign would take off the way that it has," Halpin said. "The LIVESTRONG wristband campaign actually originated with Nike. It was their idea. They came to us and put tremendous resources behind it. The original goal was to sell 5 million at $1 each and then Nike would donate an additional $1 million. That would total $6 million that would coincide with Lance's attempt to win his sixth straight Tour de France." The LIVESTRONG band was launched in May 2004 and the original goal of 5 million sold was reached before the end of July. An internal survey of wristband purchasers on LAF's Web site revealed that approximately 83 percent of people buying and wearing wristbands are doing so either to show support for someone living with cancer or because they want to support the LAF, according to Halpin. LAF "doesn't focus on the other wristbands out there," but other nonprofits are considering LAF before adding wristbands to the rapidly expanding market, Halpin said. "For the past six months or so, we had consumers calling us and asking if we would consider selling them," said Judith O'Toole, managing editor at the Epilepsy Foundation in Landover, Md. "We kind of hesitated not knowing if it would last for long with the whole LIVESTRONG craze out there. But there was such a demand in our community for them that we decided to start selling them." Since May 1, 2005, the Epilepsy Foundation has sold 100,000 of its bands, resulting in $100,000. When it began its wristband program in February, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA BIAA Brain Injury Association of Alberta BIAA Brain Injury Association of Arkansas ) only knew of Armstrong's wristband. The BIAA saw it as a fad and thought, why not jump on the bandwagon, admitted Catherine Sebold, communications specialist at the McLean,Va.-headquartered nonprofit. Sebold would not disclose the organization's sales figures sales figures npl → cifras fpl de ventas but said sales were "very good." It has counted rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. facilities and health professionals who work with people with brain injuries as its loyal customers. Family members who want to raise funds to cover medical costs have also purchased the bands and sold them at a profit, Sebold added. The only roadblocks have been the wristband size and receiving the bands from the manufacturer. The BIAA ordered one size, the standard size for women and children. Due to a healthy number of orders placed for adult males, a larger size for adults was needed. One BIAA employee even said the original size band was so tight it pulled the hair out of his wrists, recounted Sebold. "They're only made in China so you have to wait forever for them to get here," Sebold said. "The first order, it took several weeks, but they moved oft the shelf really quickly. So we had to order more but there was a backlog where people were waiting. I think took like six weeks for them to arrive." The BIAA consistently holds discussions regarding future orders since it is unsure when the craze might die out. "Are we going to be stuck with an order because people stop buying them? We just don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. ," Sebold said. Jefferson, Mo.-based Missouri Right to Life is taking a wait-and-see approach to its wristband program, which began in May. The organization took over the project from the Diocese of St. Louis and instituted a different distribution process, shipping the bands to those of its 45 chapters that were interested. Thus far, sales seem to be "OK," according to Patricia Skain, executive director, although how many of the chapters that will get on board remains to be seen. Stretching out The GOT GUTS double entendre double entendre Noun a word or phrase with two interpretations, esp. with one meaning that is rude [obsolete French] Noun 1. has proven a strong enough slogan to drum up nearly $400,000 in wristband sales for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA CCFA Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America CCFA Comité des Constructeurs Français d'Automobiles (French Automobile Manufacturers Committee) CCFA China Chain Store & Franchise Association CCFA Chambre de Commerce Franco-Arabe ) in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Its expectations were to sell 20,000 to 30,000 units, but the plan was scuttled after the first week when 100,000 wristbands were ordered. It took the organization five months to catch up with the demand, said Roger Koman, vice president of new business development at CCFA. A second revelation came as CCFA prepared to sell its GOT GUTS wristbands to primarily kids. Koman estimated that sales to kids would outnumber out·num·ber tr.v. out·num·bered, out·num·ber·ing, out·num·bers To exceed the number of; be more numerous than. outnumber Verb to exceed in number: adults 2 to 1 but when the bands started moving, the organization was surprised to find that adults were outsellhag kids at a 3-to-1 clip. In addition, 70 percent of people who bought wristbands were not CCFA members. The wristband marketplace has provided thousands of names for which the organization plans to contact and attempt to build a bridge to a stronger relationship, Korean said. The nonprofit utilized a multiple approach to moving its product. A portion of the stock was allocated for consumers, another segment was sold through local chapters at events, and others have been shipped to related organizations such as the United Ostomy ostomy Surgical opening in the body, or the operation creating it, usually to allow discharge of wastes through the abdominal wall. It may be temporary, to relieve strain on damaged organs, or permanent, to replace normal channels congenitally missing or surgically removed Association. The initial success has led Korean and CCFA to the next stage. "We are moving to a second phase where we are personalizing the bracelets," Koman explained. "We've begun building relationships with organizations that want to support us because they have a relationship with the disease. For example, there is a music label in Tennessee that represents some big country music artists. Some of those artists have a relationship with the disease. So there are these big, outdoor country fairs and the label, MuzikMafia, has sold 25,000 bracelets in a different color, black, that says, 'Muzik-Mafia GOT GUTS.' We're working with three or four other organizations, some of them in the sports field, where someone with a relationship to the disease in a show of support would agree to do a joint promotion." A more personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. touch was a goal of the M.I.S.S. Foundation when it designed two wristbands for public purchase. The first, a black band inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. with the words, "In Mourning," is intended for people who have children who recently passed away. The second band, the white "One Who Soars," signifies hope and healing following a death experience. The Peoria, Ariz.-based foundation began selling the bands in May and has seen orders from funeral homes, individuals and other nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. . It hopes that the bands become symbols that affect a more compassionate response in people. "We see this as something that will survive the trendiness of the wristband," said Joanne Cacciatore-Garard, founder of the M.I.S.S. Foundation. "We really don't have a way of saying, 'I'm in mourning.' This will hopefully catch on with the general public and the general public will soon be able to recognize these bands and know that someone has just lost a child. Hopefully they would then be a little gentler with the way that they treat them. In everything we do we need to be more gentle with people who are grieving grieving Mourning, see there ." If a person is sporting a wristband, chances are good it represents either a physical or mental health-related nonprofit. But health organizations are not the only charities benefiting from the band. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF NWF National Wildlife Federation NWF National Wrestling Federation (Lake Villa, Illinois) NWF Nonsense Word Fluency NWF Numerical Weather Forecasting NWF Native Warez Forum ) produced an environment-friendly, evergreen-colored band that is decorated with imprints of a bear, wolf, buffalo and songbird songbird Any oscine passerine (suborder Passere), all of which have a complex vocal organ, the syrinx. Some species (e.g., thrushes) produce melodious songs; others (e.g., crows) have a harsh voice; and some do little or no singing. See also birdsong. . Keeping the band in line with its mission was a bit trickier than producing the run-of-the-mill silicon bands. "We decided to go with a wristband that is made from a natural silico, which is not a silicon-based product," explained Greg Griffith, director of cause marketing at the Reston, Va.-based NWF. "We tried to find a recycled silico but it kept breaking. It took us a little longer to get to market because of that. We may have missed the top of the market, but it's more environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] than most of the other wristbands out there and it has been a positive for us." The NWF has raised $10,000 through sales but has also distributed bands, free of charge, to employees, volunteers, AmeriCorps members and to the public during events. The practice has been cost-effective since NWF's corporate partners agreed to make the bands and have NWF pay for them on a consignment basis. As the publisher of youth magazines including Ranger Rick Ranger Rick is a children's nature magazine published in the United States by the Education Department of the National Wildlife Federation[1] Its first issue was published in January, 1967. and Your Big Backyard, it has come as no surprise to Griffith that approximately 75 percent of the wristbands have been going to kids. Griffith pegged the main demographic as "Ranger Rick-age," which is 7 and up. At least one nonprofit has proven that trade shows can corral corral a small fenced-in enclosure with high, wooden fences, suitable for holding cattle or horses. corral system a management system in which range cattle are put into corrals and fed hay for a period when the environment is most a demographic as well as a targeted publication. Encinitas, Calif.-headquartered SurfAid International wanted to raise additional funds for its tsunami relief fund when the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association and Action Sports Retailer trade show approached it with the idea of selling wristbands. After $100,000 in sales, the bands have evolved into a general fundraiser for the organization. Because the bands appeal to and involve the less wealthy, it was a hook for SurfAid, which also counted the potential benefits of attracting younger demographics. The wristband program only takes $5 to get involved where being a member of many organizations can cost a minimum of $25-$30, said Chris Lacy, special projects manager at SurfAid. "The fact that there was already a prominent organization doing it was a two-edged sword and we saw the pros and cons pros and cons Noun, pl the advantages and disadvantages of a situation [Latin pro for + con(tra) against] ," said Lacy. "The pros are that it was already a proven formula where people were participating. The downside was that there was already a very successful model and maybe people have hooked up with that one and don't want to support others. We just chose to look at the bright side and ignore the potential negative." Fad or fiction? Is the wristband destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. to join the fad graveyard, buried alongside the Garbage Pail Kids Garbage Pail Kids is a series of trading cards produced by the Topps Company, originally released in 1985 and designed to parody the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls created by Xavier Roberts, which were immensely popular at the time. , pet rocks, Rubik's Cube Rubik's Cube (commonly misspelled rubix, rubick's or rubicscube) is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974[1] by the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. and M.C. Hammer? Many seem to think the item's headstone will be carved in the near future. People have purchased National Autism Association The National Autism Association (NAA) is a non-profit advocacy organization founded to educate and empower families affected by autism and other neurological disorders. Research bands for wedding favors Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception. The tradition of distributing wedding favors is a very old one. and for handing out at birthdays and other events, according to Jo Pike, president of the Marion, S.C.-based nonprofit. Despite raising $120,000 thus far, Pike sees the bands as a phase and the organization's sales are "already going down," she said. The National Wildlife Federation's Greg Griffith also believes the wristband is in its dying phase but added that the organization will continue to examine trends and if it makes sense, create environment-safe products that would benefit the mission of NWF. "I personally think that this is a trend," said Judith O'Toole of the Epilepsy Foundation. "Kids seem to be driving the whole wristband thing. As with most fads, I think it would go out of style. But hopefully it won't." Peter Cleary, national director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. International in New York City, is more optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op . Its national office has shipped 750,000 wristbands to more than 80 chapters across the country and interest continues to be strong. Cleary said he would be surprised if the item was not in demand "a year from now." Lacy of SurfAid International would only go as far to "suspect" that the wristband is a passing trend. According to Lacy, in a discussion with another charity official, the life span of bracelets was discussed. "He said, 'Are bumper stickers short-term? Are buttons a short-term item? Why, just because this is new, do we have to think it is short-term?' It's a reasonable marketing medium. Why does it have to be just a flash in the pan or the latest fad of young people?" Tour de Lance--How other nonprofits have followed the leader of wristband sales. Organization: Lance Armstrong Foundation Color: Yellow Message: LIVESTRONG Wristbands Distributed: 50 million Dollars raised: $50 million Available: www.livstrong.org, Nike stores, Discovery Channel stores Organization: Brain Injury Association of America Color: Green Message: Mind Matters! Wristbands Distributed: Would not disclose Dollars raised: Would not disclose Available: www.biausa.org Organization: Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America Color: CCFA blue Message: GOT GUTS Wristbands Distributed: 260,000 shipped Dollars raised: $394,000 Available: www.ccfa.org Organization: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Color: Blue Message: Breathe Wristbands Distributed: 300,000 Dollars raised: $500,000 Available: www.cff.org Organization: Epilepsy Foundation Color: Two-toned, red & blue Message: Think Positive Wristbands Distributed: 100,000 Dollars raised: $100,000 Available: www.epilepsyfoundation.org Organization: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Color: Orange Message: MAX-LIFE Wristbands Distributed: 750,000 (shipped from national to local chapters) Dollars raised: Figures not available Available: Local chapter Web sites Organization: March of Dimes Color: Pink and Blue tye dye Message: SAVING BABIES Wristbands Distributed: 400,000 Dollars raised: $200,000 Available: www.marchofdimes.com Organization: The M.I.S.S. Foundation Color: Black or White Message: In Mourning (black); One Who Soars (white) Wristbands Distributed: Launched in May, figures not available Dollars raised: Figures not available Available: www.inmourningband.org, www.missfoundation.org Organization: Missouri Right to Life Color: Blue Message: PROLIFE Wristbands Distributed: New campaign--Statistics not available. Dollars raised: New campaign- Statistics not available. Available: www.missourilife.org Organization: National Autism Association Color: Blue Message: Think Autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. .Think Cure. Wristbands Distributed: 51,500 Dollars raised: $120,000 Available: www.nationalautismassociation.org. National Autism Association store at its headquarters in S.C. Organization: National Wildlife Federation Color: Evergreen Message: Green at Heart Wristbands Distributed: 20,000 Dollars raised: $10,000 Available: www.nwf.org Organization: SuffAid International Color: Light Blue Message: SuffAid Wristband Distributed: Between 20,000 and 30,000 Dollars raised: $35,000 Available: www.surfaidinternational.org, www.swell.com, www.wetsand.com, surf shops |
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