Being a sponsor for the Access Press Charlie Smith Award Banquet is one great way for a business or nonprofit group to enhance its visibility in Minnesota’s disability community. Giving to the
banquet’s annual silent auction and “pick your prize” raffle is another.

Sponsorship level names reflect past and present newsroom titles. AccraCare and UCare are the 2015 event’s first sponsors, at the Editor-in-Chief level.

 

Keyliners Level:

The first level is the Keyliners Level, at $200. In the pre-desktop publishing days, keyliners put the paper together. The keyliner sponsor logo will be displayed on special table signs and the organization/company name will be listed in the 2015 Charlie Smith Award Banquet program. The sponsoring organization/company will be recognized in the November and December 2015 issues of Access Press with a special ad. Sponsors will receive one free website ad during the month of choice, a value of $100.

 

Proofreaders Level:

The second level is the Proofreaders Level, at $300. Proofreaders make sure all of the copy is correct before the newspaper goes to press. The sponsor logo will be displayed on special table signs and the organization/company name will be listed in the 2015 Charlie Smith Award Banquet program. The sponsoring organization/company will be recognized in the November and December 2015 issues of Access Press. Sponsors will receive two free rotating website ads during the months of choice, a value of $200. Proofreader sponsors will be listed on a special banner displayed at the banquet.

 

Editor-in-Chief Level

The third level for sponsors is the Editor-in-Chief Level, at $400. This title reflects the highest position in a newsroom. The sponsor logo will be displayed on special table signs and the organization/company name will be listed in the 2015 Charlie Smith Award Banquet program. The sponsoring organization/company will be recognized in the November and December 2015 issues of Access Press Sponsors will receive two free rotating website ads during the months of choice, a value of $200. Editor-in-chief sponsors will be listed on a special banner displayed at the banquet. The sponsoring organization/company will be recognized by the emcee during the banquet. A table will be named in the sponsor’s honor the evening of the event. This sponsoring level also include free Access Press subscription, a value of $30 and one Directory of Organizations listing, good for one year, a value of $60.

The silent auction includes items put out for traditional written bids, as well as the “pick your prize” raffle. Items in the raffle could be won for as little as 50 cents – the price of one raffle ticket. Banquet attendees buy tickets and then put tickets in marked jars. Winners are drawn at the close of the dinner. The intent of the “pick your prize” raffle is to allow more people the chance to take home a prize. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance.

The raffle and silent auction have featured a wide variety of prizes and 2015 promises to be the same. Donations are needed to make the events a success.  Theater, concert and sports event tickets are always welcome. So are hand-made items, including throws, scarves, hats, soap, jewelry, wood carvings and more. Fine art and photography, gift and spa baskets, treats, certificates for goods and services, gift cards and one-of-a-kind items are always welcomed. Some of the most popular donations in recent years have included a stay at an accessible cabin, a portable ramp, an iPad and visits to area brewpubs.

For any questions, or interest in sponsorship or in making donations to the silent auction and pick your prize raffle, please contact Access Press Office Manager
Dawn Frederick at 651-644-2133, or by email at [email protected]