Sponsor sign-up for Charity Home Tour is underway
The 22nd annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour, set to occur this October 5, 6 and 7, has begun the march toward what is hoped will be another strong year of business and patron sponsorship.
Sponsorship Chairman Chris Bordeaux reports that the first 25 sponsors have already signed on in the early days of the campaign, including pacesetters in most sponsorship categories.
“But,” he’s quick to add, “we are still waiting for a Royal Sponsor to step forward. This is a unique marquis position that provides ultimate visibility in the SML Community. Centra was in that role last year but has opted to sponsor at the Diamond level for 2012. It is very important to the Tour’s success for one special business to participate at the $10,000 Royal Sponsor level.”
Joining Centra as a Diamond Sponsor, with a $5,000 contribution, is The Willard Companies, who are repeating their sponsorship role from 2011.
“We are pleased to be supporting the Home Tour again,” said Director of Marketing Christopher Finley. “The exposure our firm got last year reflected the Tour’s efforts to bring value to its sponsors, not just on Tour weekend, but for months leading up to the event. And we know how important the Tour’s contributions to the eight participating charities are to the work those organizations do in our community.”
Pacesetting sponsors in the Gold category ($2500) include Seven Oaks Landscape-Hardscape, Westlake Irrigation and Kroger. Womack Publishing, publishers of the Smith Mountain Eagle, and Laker Media, publishers of Laker Magazine and Laker Weekly, are also in-kind sponsors in the Gold category.
Silver Sponsors ($1,000) who have made commitments as of May 1 are Franklin Community Bank and JTC, Inc. Still Essence photography, the Tour’s official photographer, is an in-kind sponsor at the Silver level.
In addition, 16 additional area businesses have already signed on as Bronze sponsors.
“We are encouraged by how our Sponsorship Representatives are being received by the business community,” said Tour CEO Bill Piatt. “They will continue making the rounds during the next couple of months. But the earlier sponsors sign on, the more benefits of sponsorship they enjoy. Businesses that wish to jump-start process can contact Chris at 721-3438.”
