Quality Forward’s - Earth Day Asheville 2008

Quality Forward’s Earth Day Asheville Concert

Background:

Asheville has become an environmentally conscious community. There are sweeping efforts to support “green” building and preservation of our areas’ natural beauty. Mayor Terry Bellamy, in her “State of Asheville” address, stated that the top two goals for the city were #1: Clean and #2: Green.

Quality Forward is a volunteer-based organization and affiliate of Keep America Beautiful that for 35 years has been working to achieve a Clean and Green Asheville and Buncombe County through community organizing, education and environmental stewardship.

Walk down any street in downtown Asheville, drive on our major thoroughfares or enter any of the city’s gateways and you will take in the beauty of the trees and landscaping Quality Forward has planted over the years. In fact, Asheville has been recognized as Tree City USA for 27 consecutive years as a result of these labors. Signs of the organization’s efforts can be seen in virtually every neighborhood in Buncombe County. Thousands of trees have been planted, miles of streets have been adopted and kept clean, common areas have been beautified, and families have been strengthened through neighborhood playgrounds and green spaces.

Event Concept:

Asheville is known for its cultural “scene” and the plethora of excellent singer/songwriters and musicians is appreciated throughout the area. The cultural arts community is also environmentally conscious and becoming more active.

To bring community focus to sound “green” practices and environmental stewardship, Quality Forward has chosen Earth Day (April 22) as the date for its first annual Earth Day Asheville music showcase to be held at the Orange Peel. The event will feature the winners in six music genres, including Jazz/Blues; Bluegrass/Old-time; Americana/Country; Latin/World/Reggae; Rock/Funk/Dance; and Electronic. Cash awards will be presented to the winners in each genre.

Between music sets there will be a fashion show featuring local designers.

Proceeds will be used to launch Quality Forward’s 35^th anniversary Asheville Litter Free/Asheville Green Pride campaign, a community-wide education, awareness and community action initiative.

Target Audiences:

The event will appeal to a wide range of individuals who are interested in the cultural arts in Asheville. A pre-concert reception for VIPs will appeal to a more affluent audience; the concert general admission will be affordable for all audiences; and a post-concert dance party is targeted at the GenY audience.

Event Promotion:

This will be a media and web-driven promotional campaign that will begin with the announcement of the event in late January and continue through the competition and up to the event. The competition will be announced via electronic and print media sponsors, web-based community event calendars and an email blast. The community will be driven to the Earth Day Asheville website to vote. Flyers will be posted by “street teams” at music venues and community bulletin boards. Bands will enter the competition and will assist in promoting it by enlisting their fans to spread the word and encourage voting. The event web page, flyers and media sponsors will announce the entries and their appearance schedules so that voters can experience their music live prior to the final vote. A weekly announcement will go out listing the contestants’ rankings to continue the buzz about the event.

Sponsorship Levels and Benefits:

Earth Fare is our 2008– Earth Champion -

$1000 Band Sponsor – stage sign during sponsored band’s erformance (your choice of one of six genres) and announcement of sponsorship at event; company name on all promotional materials (ads, web site, flyers, etc.) and link to company website on Earth Day Asheville site; four VIP passes (includes reception, concert seating, invitation to all pre-event activities) and opportunity to meet sponsored band members.

$1000 Earth Advocate- company name on all promotional materials (ads, web site, flyers, etc.) and link to company website on Earth Day Asheville site; event signage; four VIP passes (includes reception, concert seating, invitation to all pre-event activities)

$500 Earth Steward- company name on all promotional materials (ads, web site, flyers, etc.) and listing on Earth Day Asheville website; event signage; two VIP passes(includes reception, concert seating, invitation to all pre-event activities)

$250 Earth Friend – listing on Earth Day Asheville website; event signage; one VIP pass (includes reception, concert seating, invitation to all pre-event activities)

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SECURE YOUR SPONSORSHIP POSITION, CALL LYNDAJOY STORER AT 828-254-1776 OR 808-3808 OR EMAIL lyndajoy@qualityforward.org

THANK YOU!