Cooperative database firm I-Behavior, Harrison, NY, will forgo the traditional cocktail party at this year's catalog conference in favor of a charity event benefiting Habitat for Humanity.
The event takes place Sunday, May 22, the day before the start of the Direct Marketing Association's 22nd Annual Catalog Conference in Orlando, FL. I-Behavior invites attendees to join it for a “Blitz Build” for Habitat for Humanity of Osceola County, where the goal is to complete the frame for a single-family home in one day.
I-Behavior president/CEO Lynn Wunderman said the idea arose while deciding what kind of client event the company would have during the conference.
“We were saying that it was hard to think about throwing cocktail parties when the world is going through the aftermath of the tsunami,” she said.
That was when a suggestion came from Sam Cardonsky, I-Behavior's vice president of membership development, who along with his son works on the weekends with his local Habitat for Humanity.
“We pitched it to Habitat, and they latched onto it,” Wunderman said. “Particularly given the bad press the industry has had in Orlando, I would like to think that it would be a redeeming event for direct marketers.”
Wunderman said she has received incredible feedback and has even had competitors who cannot attend send checks. The goal is to get about 200 volunteers. Though I-Behavior hasn't done a big push for registrants yet, Wunderman said she is optimistic about having ample helpers.
“We had 300-350 people show up at our party last year, so we don't feel that is an insurmountable goal,” she said.
Aside from the 20 I-Behavior employees who will participate, there will be people from the community as well as some professionals. The Metro Orlando Homebuilders Association is having an event that week and will send local builders to lend a hand, Wunderman said.
The site for the build is 10 minutes from Gaylord Palms Resort, where the conference will be held. I-Behavior will provide shuttle bus service to and from the site, meals and equipment including hardhats and sunblock.
The project will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but full-day participation is not required. A registration form is available at www.i-behavior.com/habitat_reg.htm.
Kristen Bremner covers list news, insert media, privacy and fundraising for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
