The Engage For Good Podcast

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163: Mary Kay Cosmetics: Don't Cover Up Domestic Abuse May 03, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Crayton Webb, Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR for Mary Kay, about the cosmetic giant's Don’t Look Away campaign which works to educate the public on recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship, how to take action and to raise awareness for support services.

To date, Mary Kay and The Mary Kay Foundation have given $50 million to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs in an effort to end the cycle of abuse.

On the show, Megan, Crayton and Joe discuss:

How Don't Look Away's mission to stop abuse got started 22 years ago with Mary Kay's founder.
How Mary Kay launched a video series to educate women about abusive relationships and how to get themselves or the people they love out of violent relationships.
The challenge companies have adopting causes that people don't like talking about.
How educated consumers are about authentic partnerships and want companies to be leaders on their chosen issue.
The business benefits of Don't Look Away. "If we're not making money, we can't give any money away."
How Mary Kay activates its salesforce around cause campaigns. One of those programs is Lobbying for Good, when sales people lobby their state legislatures for legislation and funding for violence prevention programs.
How Mary Kay is using cause marketing to stay current and relevant with Millennials and Gen Z.
How is the Don't Look Away program is executed in countries that have different attitudes about women and abuse.
How Mary Kay is measuring their impact and success.

Links & Notes

162: CITGO Fuels Tomorrow's Scientists with STEM Teaching Workshops Apr 26, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Steve Spangler — America's Science Teacher — about Fueling Education, a CITGO program in partnership with National School Supply, We Are Teachers, and Steve Spangler that offers educators a chance to win up to $5,000 in school supplies as well as STEM-teaching workshops.

On the show, Megan, Steve and Joe discuss:

How Steve got involved with CITGO's Fueling Education program. The focus is on professional development of teachers to make science fun (again!) for them and their students.
How most STEM education programs focus on students when teachers deserve as much or more attention!
The importance of STEM to CITGO - who needs a workforce of scientists and engineers.
How Fueling Education gives teachers what they want and need: time to learn, develop and recharge their love for teaching.
How other businesses (e.g. Pizza Hut, H&R Block) launch and use educational training in the classroom and how it could be enhanced with professional development for teachers.
How the Fueling Education program builds a connection between teachers and CITGO scientists - and Steve is the "science communicator" between the two.
The business benefit of Fueling Education to CITGO. Is CITGO teaching and grooming tomorrow's scientists and engineers?

Links & Notes

161: Planet Fitness Battles Bullying Outside Gyms with 'Judgement Free Generation' Apr 19, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to McCall Gosselin, Vice President of Public Relations at Planet Fitness, about the launch of its first national cause initiative. Building off its Judgment Free Zone policies, Planet Fitness created a pro-kindness, anti-bullying movement called The Judgement Free Generation through a partnership with STOMP Out Bullying and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

On the show, Megan, McCall and Joe discuss:

How The Judgement Free Generation got started. Planet fitness had supported local causes before, but never at a national level.
How Planet Fitness wants to extend its encouragement culture and no-intimidation policy to teens outside the gym.
How Planet Fitness plans to raise $1.3 million for STOMP and BGCA, and how they are working with the two charities on the gym-level.
How Planet Fitness is engaging employees and customers in the campaign - and how the fitness chain effectively communicates with stakeholders at 1,500 locations.
The business case for cause marketing. Does it drive memberships?
What Planet Fitness has learned from launching their very first cause marketing program. What could they do better?
What's next for Planet Fitness? Are they planning additional cause marketing programs?

Links & Notes

160: How Dominos Fights Fire with Box Toppers, Free Pizza Delivery Apr 12, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and I talk to Jenny Fouracre, Director, Public Relations and Charitable Giving, atDomino's Pizza about their longtime partnership with theNational Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

As part of Fire Prevention Week, Domino’s and NFPA are partnering to promote home fire safety this spring using Domino’s box toppers to share electrical safety tips. Participating Domino’s stores will also work in conjunction with local fire departments to deliver pizzas in fire engines!

On the show, Megan, Jenny and I discuss:

How Domino's got involved with NFPA. It started with one store!
How Domino's uses box toppers and free pizza deliveries to educate homeowners on fire prevention in the fall and the spring.
How local stores work with their fire departments to arrange deliveries to customers.
How Domino's corporate encourage franchise owners to participate in the program.
How Domino's corporate works with local stores and fire departments to secure media coverage.
The value of working with first responders and Domino's long history working with firefighters.
Other charitable campaigns Domino's participates in, like St. Jude's Thanks & Giving, which has raised $30 million over 12 years.
Why the pizza industry in general is so engaged in cause marketing. Pizza is the perfect social good food!
How Domino's motivates and rewards employee participation with.... chicken pins??

Links & Notes

159: HBO, Game of Thrones & Omaze Launch #RealmToTheRescue to Raise $1M for Refugees Apr 05, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe have back-to-back guests to discuss a new cause initiative launched by HBO, Game of Thrones, Omaze and the International Rescue Committee to raise $1 million for refugee services.

The goal of Rescue Has No Boundaries is to bring attention to the global refugee crisis and to raise emergency funds to help rescue the millions of people displaced by the war in the Middle East.

Our first guest is Dennis Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO.

Our second guest is Matt Pohlson, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Omaze, a cause marketplace that raises money and awareness for charity by offering the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

On the show, Megan, Dennis, Matt and Joe discuss:

With Dennis Williams:

How the campaign got started and why HBO decided to leverage its most popular show to help refugees around the world.
How Rescue Has No Boundaries is focused on both raising money and building awareness.
How this is the first time that HBO has tied one of its shows to a major issue.
Why HBO decided to partner with Omaze to raise funds. HBO has had success with the program in the past!

With Matt Pohlson:

Matt Pohlson explains how Omaze is an online charity raffle of unique experiences.
Matt's background in cause-content and producing documentaries, and how an encounter with Magic Johnson motivated him and co-founder Ryan Cummins to start Omaze.
How Omaze gets access to celebrities, and Matt's early struggles to establish the platform.
The biggest lessons Omaze has learned since their first success in 2013. It's all about storytelling!
The value Omaze brings to its charity partners: a new audience.
Why do people go to Omaze, for the cause or the experience?
Joe tries to bribe Matt to win the Game of Thrones experience. No chance!
How Omaze worked with HBO to develop Rescue Has to No Boundaries.

Links & Notes

158: This Chicago Law Firm Teaches Middle-Schoolers to Do the "Write" Thing Mar 29, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Robin Hulshizer, a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP and Chicago chairwoman of Do The Write Thing, an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence.

Each year, the program invites sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in the Chicago area to submit essays about the impact of youth violence on their communities. Students write about how violence has affected their lives, the causes of it and what that they can do to help reduce it.

On the show, Megan, Robin and Joe discuss:

How Robin's last name is a curse word in German. Really.
How Do the Write Thing is geared to middle-schoolers to help them address violence.
How Latham & Watkins LLP got involved with Do the Right Thing and the National Campaign to Stop Violence in 2008.
How Latham & Watkins LLP views community involvement as a business objective.
How the program works and begins with outreach to Chicago teachers every fall.
How Robin plans to grow the program with improved educational resources and partnerships.
How Latham & Watkins employees get involved with the program.
How the legal industry is embracing cause initiatives and why it's so important.
How Latham & Watkins communicates with clients about their purpose initiatives.

Links & Notes

157: Pizza Hut's Cause Marketing Brings in the Dough for Young Readers Mar 15, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe are talking to Natasha Collins, BOOK IT! Program Administrator at Pizza Hut. BOOK IT! is a free program designed to encourage students in grades K–6 to read more by earning a reading award certificate for a free, one-topping personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Talk about early adopters: Pizza Hut launched the BOOK IT! program in 1984!

On the show, Megan, Natasha and I discuss:

How BOOK IT! got started way back in 1984 by a former president who wanted his son to read more!
How the program works with reading teachers, students and local Pizza Hut restaurants.
How simplicity, commitment and community engagement have kept the program running so long.
How the program benefits Pizza Hut by creating a strong, literate workforce.
How Natasha manages the BOOK IT! program with a six-person team and a year-long calendar of promotion, enrollment and participation.
How the program has evolved over the years and what BOOK IT! has done to keep the program fresh. This year, BOOK IT! has involved children's author Kate DiCamillo.
How and why Natasha to BOOK IT! after a successful career at public relations giant FleishmanHillard.
How the BOOK IT! program fits into the overall structure of Pizza Huts' CSR efforts within the YUM! brand, which is their parent company.

Links & Notes

156: This Nonprofit Cleans Up with Turnkey Cause Marketing Program for Maid Services Mar 06, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Debbie Sardone, President and Founder of Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit that gives the gift of free house cleaning to women undergoing treatment of any type of cancer.

Cleaning for a Reason has worked with over 1,200 maid services to donate free housecleaning to women who are undergoing treatment for any kind of cancer. Since 2006, their partner maid services have volunteered their time to clean for over 20,000 women – valued at over $5,500,000.

On the show, Megan, Debbie and Joe discuss:

How “Clean homes make people feel good.” Amen! Cleaning for a Reason is free service to women battling cancer.
How Cleaning for a Reason partners with maid services all over the country to help the community.
How maid services benefit from Cleaning for a Reason in communications training and support soliciting local and national media coverage.
How Debbie, the owner of a cleaning business of her own, developed the idea of Cleaning for a Reason by talking to people in the cleaning industry.
The national exposure Cleaning for a Reason has received from The Ellen Show, People Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Buzzfeed and many others!
How Debbie’s whole world is cleaning and founding Cleaning for a Reason was a natural extension of her brand that helped her business, other cleaning companies and the community.
What maid services pay to be involved in Cleaning for a Reason, how much goes back to the charity and the firewall between Debbie’s business and her nonprofit.
How starting a nonprofit has contributed to Debbie’s success and her bottom-line.

Show Notes

155: How One Sub Sandwich Chain Raised $8M for 180 Charities Mar 01, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Dave Altmann, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Jersey Mike’s, a sub sandwich franchise with 1,500 stores open and under development nationwide.

In March 2015, Jersey Mike’s celebrated its 5th Annual Month of Giving, a national fundraising campaign, raising more than $3 million for 180 local charities. Since the program started five years ago, Jersey Mike’s and its generous customers have raised more than $8 million. They’ll be adding to this number next month!

On the show, Megan, Dave and Joe discuss:

How Mike’s started their Month of Giving Program. Giving back is built into the company’s culture and from its founding.
How the month of giving peaks with a Day of Giving when ALL the dollars from all sales go to charity. This generates more than 50 percent of the dollars raised in March.
How customers can support the program either via an ask at the register or a donation box.
How friendly competitions between stores keeps motivation high!
How Mike’s corporate office guides new franchisees through the Month of Giving program and choosing a charity.
How Mike’s deals with store owners who want to support controversial causes.
How much does cause contribute to the success of Jersey Mike’s.
How Mike’s uses cause marketing to find the right franchisee partners. If they don’t support giving back, they may not make a good partner.
How charity partners participate in the program.
How Mike’s educates a large group of franchise owners about the Month of Giving.
How Mike’s uses incentives with franchise owners and customers to boost involvement.

Links & Notes

154: A Cause Marketing Vet Dishes on Social Good at Big Agencies Feb 21, 2016

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to a true cause marketing superstar: Scott Beaudoin. Scott is a veteran of many top cause campaigns and agencies and was recently named the chief strategy officer and executive managing director of corporate and brand purpose at RF|Binder, a full-service public relations agency in New York City.

On today’s show, Megan, Scott and Joe discuss:

How Scott got his cause marketing start with Carol Cone, but his roots were in TV reporting.
While Scott has worked at some larger agencies - like MSLGROUP, the fourth largest PR conglomerate in the world - his new position is with a smaller agency that prizes the central role purpose plays for every organization.
The business case for working with agencies focused on social good. While many agencies have touched some part of cause marketing, only a few know how to work at the c-suite and use purpose to drive business innovation.
How slow growth at most agencies is squeezing talent and resources and hampering social good strategy.
How Millennials are leading the purpose revolution.
Is “Cause Marketing” the right term for what purpose professionals do? Does it need to be retired?
Scott’s advice for nonprofits who want to build win-win partnerships. The right mindset is critical!

Links & Notes

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