Success Stories
Denver Health Foundation: Open Your Hearts to Newborns in Need
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The Opportunity:
Galloway Group began working with Denver Health Foundation in 2003, in an effort to meet a pressing community need, align corporate partnerships and increase the profile of the Foundation’s mission in the Denver metro area. The original intent was to create a concept that involved the local community in innovative ways, asking for support not just in the form of dollars, but also in donations. With over 4,000 babies born at Denver Health each year and over 80% of which are born into low-income families, there was an opportunity to address the issue of providing every child with a fair and healthy start on life.
The Approach:
The concept of Open Your Hearts to Newborns in Need was created to address the growing number of babies born to low-income families or into high-risk, early life situations. Galloway Group established a public service drive that was fueled by media support and benefitted from private charity baby showers, public donations and corporate drives all held in a single month. Charitable individuals, businesses and community groups were asked to donate new baby items, including clothing, blankets, car seats, strollers, etc., to support the thousands of babies born each year at Denver Health. Two media partners were secured and aided in the awareness raising objective of the initiative and a partnership with King Soopers was developed to serve as a drop-off location for public donations and aid in fundraising for the effort.
As the initiative evolved, Galloway Group provided leadership and consultation that expanded the program to a year-round effort, emulating the Newborns in Need mission and encouraging public donations and support 365 days of the year. In 2009, Newborns in Need was enhanced by engaging the public in a larger and more interactive way. A volunteer advisory committee was created and managed by Galloway Group that included over 20 women, all dedicated to community service and with varied experience in organizing large events for community benefit. A primary charge of the Newborns in Need Advisory Committee was to initiate “Denver Throws a Baby Shower” – the largest public baby shower in the city of Denver – and to help raise awareness via grassroots methods of the need for support throughout the year.
The Results:
In addition to securing over $125,000 in free media coverage without the aid of a media partner for the 2009 effort, Galloway Group guided the Advisory Committee in engaging the local community and bringing in enough items to support thousands of newborns and their families in need of support. New partnerships were developed and cultivated with local businesses and high profile individuals in the Denver community, including a relationship between Newborns in Need and the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau, increasing corporate in-kind donations and volunteer support.
From January to July 2009, public donations, corporate drives and a record number of 62 charity baby showers allowed the Newborns in Need program to provide over $190,000 in donated new baby items to Denver Health’s newborns and families in need – making 2009 the most successful year in Newborns in Need history.
With the ongoing support of Galloway Group, Denver Health Foundation plans to continue to grow the Newborns in Need program well into the future.
“Galloway Group’s guidance and continued involvement has allowed us to grow the Newborns in Need program from a month-long drive to a multi-faceted effort with a 365-day-a-year focus. As the program continues to evolve, we look forward to Galloway Group’s experience in the charitable sector to provide professional and creative leadership as we support thousands of vulnerable newborns and their families each year.” – Robin Engleberg, Program Manager, Denver Health Foundation
