 Halloween has come and gone and My Big Day Marketing & Events, along with Thompson Education Foundation are thrilled with the turnout of NoCo’s Greatest Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience! This year it was held at the Thompson School District Building in their parking lot. With 40 staff and volunteers and many amazing sponsors and booth vendors, 3,000 attendees were able to enjoy driving through the most festive parking lot this season!
Tickets were up for grabs for less than a week before selling out. Having tickets booked in advance ensured a safe event and that every kid would get candy, as the booth vendors knew how much to bring in advance. Parents and kids from all over Northern Colorado drove to the venue in full costume and stayed comfortably in their vehicles for the entire duration of the event keeping it a socially distanced and safe time for everyone involved.
A bright colored numbered paper was placed on the windshield of each car letting booth vendors know how many kids were trick-or-treating from that vehicle. TEF provided bags to hang on the mirrors on each side of the vehicle to help keep up the flow of the event. Some came in small cars with one or two children but others found it best to bring large vans packed full of trick- or-treaters. Smiling parents, kids, volunteers, and booth vendors was one of the many highlights of this event. The sun was out and smiling with everyone as they all celebrated the community and had fun dressing up and snacking on sweets! We were so fortunate to have fantastic Fall weather!  A HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors and booth vendors! This could not have happened this without your generosity and holiday spirit! Our supporters: Center for Advanced Dentistry, UCHealth, Aims Community College, Bank of Colorado, Foothills Credit Union, Perch Real Estate Loveland + South Lifestyle, Xfinity, No DUI Larimer, Toothzone, Tutoring Excellence Loveland, Conduct All Electric, Scheels, , Ascend Orthodontics, My Big Day LLC, Family Promise of Larimer County, Advance America, NOCO Style, Macaroni Kid Loveland CO, Loveland & South Magazine and Janice Ververs Remax Alliance Thank you also to Thompson School District, Loveland Barricade and Golf-N-Fun Carts for helping provide a venue and all the necessary means that it takes to get hundreds of vehicles safely through!  Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken - by Tiffany Dinsmore With another year ending, the fall and winter festivities are beginning! As always Halloween is kicking off our holiday season! Although there are a lot more events being held this year people are still being cautious and most events are being held outside. Christine Forster with My Big Day Events and Marketing along with Thompson Education Foundation created a way to celebrate Halloween in a safe and easy way with NoCo’s Greatest Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience. It was a huge success for 2020 and they are hoping for another successful event at the end of the October!  I have asked Christine to answer a series of questions to help give some insight on the second year of this event! How long have you been working with TEF? MBD has been working with Thompson Education Foundation for a couple years now. Although Christine and Kim go way back. "We met 17 years ago volunteering for the Downtown Loveland Association." What was your creative process when creating the Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Event last year? "The idea came about quickly and naturally, but when developing the concept, it was crucial to us that we evaluate who all may benefit from partnering with an event such as this, where might the drive-thru traffic be most appreciated, etc. We reached out to other entities to inform them of our concept and to invite others to join in to give families a safe Halloween."  The event must have been a success to do it again this year, what are the fundraising goals for 2021? "When we initially created this, we didn't have a fundraising goal. We wanted to cover expenses of course - but a safe trick-or-treating option for local families was our biggest goal. We were thrilled by the number of sponsors who supported the event last year and have already seen great response this year!" Is there a particular moment or memory from 2020’s event that stands out to you? "Being on the back end of management for the event, watching hundreds of tickets get snagged up in minutes was a real Ticketmaster moment. To know that we had 3,000 people attend the event and thousands more on the waiting list is our top memory for 2020."  Where is the event located this year and how will it be different from the 2020 event? "This year we are taking advantage of the generous access we have to the Thompson School District Administration building. This allows for plenty of space for booths, vendor parking, volunteer parking, regulated entrance/exit flow, and indoor facilities for our staff and volunteers. The event itself will be the same, with the exception of limitations by county and state. Last year we were limited to the number of people we could have 'gather' at an outdoor event, so our booths could only host 2 workers, and we had to limit volunteers and number of cars in attendance by timed interval." What is the biggest challenge that you are facing with putting this event together? "As with any outdoor event, one challenge can be weather. There is always a chance for snow at the end of October. This event will happen rain, shine, or snow. It will only cancel should there be an absolute blizzard. Also, as with any event right now, we are still dealing with a global pandemic. MBD has planned enough events during the pandemic to have plans and processes in place to offer guests, staff and volunteers a safe experience!"  The drive-thru trick-or-treat experience is just $5 per vehicle (no campers or busses). All guests will sign up for a 30 min window of time to arrive. All tickets will need to be purchased online in advance. Booths are available for businesses, non-profits and schools (and each booth comes with 1 free guaranteed entrance to the event). Thank you Christine for inventing such a unique Halloween experience!
 The MBD Marketing & Events team supports a number of non-profits across the front range who serve families and children. Knowing that Halloween is just around the corner, and COVID is still here at full strength, we are getting tons of questions around event safety. While we are event experts, we are not the CDC. We follow our county, state and government recommendations closely so that we can help our clients make educated decisions. If you are wondering what you can do to safely enjoy Fall Festivities, this blog is for you!  Summer is almost over and with the Fall season right around the corner it is not too soon to start thinking about Halloween. In 2020 our entire world was rocked by the pandemic with most of our favorite events and activities canceled or closed. So for 2021 we are wondering, will we be able to check everything off our Autumn Bucket List in a way that is safe? 1. Outdoor Gatherings are the Safest We have all been told that being outdoors is the best way to be in larger groups of people. If we can keep our distance and we are outside, we do not even need to wear masks! According to an article from USA Today, experts said “that activities such as visiting a pumpkin patch, going apple picking and other outdoor events generally pose a lower risk for you and your family.”[1] Thank goodness for the AMAZING Fall weather we have in Colorado! Tons of outdoor time is possible here. [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/09/11/halloween-hayrides-experts-explain-covid-risks/8276516002/  2. Halloween Themed Masks are Fun and Safe! Wearing a mask on or around Halloween has been a popular thing to do long before COVID entered our lives. Luckily now your fun or spooky Halloween mask. Can also help protect you and others at Halloween events and parties! Prevention.com informs us that, “Halloween costumes actually originated from the ancient Celtic tradition of dressing up to ward off wandering spirits on October 31—so this might be the only year when doctors and druids alike agree that your costume is necessary to keep you safe.”[2] [2] https://www.prevention.com/health/g33584965/halloween-face-masks-covid-coronavirus/  3. Vaccinations We' are all aware of the available vaccine. And soon it could be available for children. According to a Forbes article “Vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 could potentially come as soon as October under a “best case scenario,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief who serves on Pfizer’s board.”[3] [3] https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/09/12/covid-vaccines-for-kids-could-be-approved-by-halloween-under-best-case-scenario-gottlieb-suggests/?sh=30260500378a  4. Find Alternative Ways to Stay Festive From Halloween movie marathons to decorating the house as spooky as you’d like, you can get creative with how you celebrate Fall and Halloween festivities. A fun way to celebrate with your neighbors and friends from a distance is “Boo-ing” them! Click here on more information on how to “BOO!” https://indywithkids.com/how-to-boo/[4] [4] https://indywithkids.com/how-to-boo/  5. Attend Noco’s Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat A socially distanced Halloween for families, with something for everyone. Picture a reverse parade! Kids can trick-or-treat safely from their car window. Families will slowly drive through a long series of Halloween scenes decorated by local businesses, schools and nonprofits. COVID safety measures will be in place. Last year this event sold out in just 5 minutes, so we recommend you follow the TEF FB event page to learn about ticket sale date/time. *This is a fundraiser for Thompson Education Foundation. Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/140202334926374?active_tab=about  A number of MBD Marketing & Events' clients are those that work with children and/or education. The global pandemic has had a significant impact on students and educators in the past year... and their families. Thompson Education Foundation is one of these clients.  School is almost out for the summer! It was not an easy school year for anyone, from going to full time remote learning to a blended learning and in some districts even back to full time in person (with limitations of how many students could gather and the mandatory wearing of masks). Teachers, parents, students and school staff members all had to learn how to adapt and succeed through a school year full of random and sudden changes.
On a happier note some students have found that remote learning is right up their alley! The Denver Post interviewed a student from West Early College in Denver and she has noticed a change in her younger sibling “All the sudden she’s an independent learner and she’s taken charge of her education in a new way that wasn’t possible under the old regime,” St. Marie said.[1] Remote learning has given students the opportunity to do their school work on their own schedule giving a lot of freedom to them. Edutopia interviewed at student who stated, “The reason I enjoy online learning is because of the opportunity to structure my day efficiently,” wrote a 10th grade student in English teacher Katie Burrows-Stone’s class survey. “I am able to workout, relax, and complete the work in a timely manner, with no distractions.”[2] “Thompson Education Foundation (TEF) and the Literacy Committee of Loveland Rotary Club each committed $10,000 ($20,000 total) to support remote learning for students. The first acquisition was 5,000 books for students who were participating in TSD’s emergency food distribution program. The books were purchased for all grade levels, PreK-12 and were available to students. In addition, Thompson Education Foundation supplied 500 school supply kits to supplement at-home learning for elementary and secondary students without access to supply resources at home. Since forming in 1989, Thompson Education Foundation has been contributing to ensure student opportunities and success for Thompson School District students.”[3] If you would like to help this effort, please use our "Donate" link to help those impacted in our TSD community. https://www.thompsontef.org/donate [1] https://www.denverpost.com/2021/01/01/colorado-covid-education-changed-schools-teacher/ [2] https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-are-some-kids-thriving-during-remote-learning [3] https://www.facebook.com/ThompsonEducationFoundation  Overall, everyone experienced their own ups and downs over the course of this school year. Hopefully summer will help refresh and clear up some of the mass chaos we all had to go through together. Luckily we have foundations like TEF to join with our community to help take care of those who were lacking the resources they needed to make it through the school year.
Looking forward a new school year where even though things will still be different than before the pandemic, we can all be prepared and ready and know that we can get through anything as long as we stick together!  April 8th 2021 was the first annual Trailblazing Thompson, A Salute to Excellence event! TEF, DLR Group and MBD Marketing and Events along with a long list of amazing sponsors came together to make this amazing event happen! But what is Trailblazing Thompson? “A virtual event highlighting Thompson Education Foundation's programs and recognizing excellence in Thompson School District. This annual community event is TEF's Educator of the Year celebration and the features the announcement of the 2021 Educator of the Year recipients. The annual Educators of the Year awards are supported by King Buick GMC. Educator of the Year sponsor, King Buick GMC, feels the best way to give back to the community is through education support: building strong programs that will produce a highly trained workforce that can increase innovation and energy for American manufacturing. To honor Thompson School District educators, King Buick GMC provides car leases for 60 days to educator of the year winner in each categories and a 24 month car lease to the overall TEF Educator of the Year winner.” This year TEF had 79 Thompson School District teachers, principals and staff members nominated for these awards. Only a handful of those can win awards and only one can be named 2021’s TEF Educator of the Year!  After many hours of tough decision making the TEF board members finalized these amazing TSD teachers, principals and staff members as 2021 winners! 2021 Educator of the Year award recipients TEF Educator of the Year Barb Hartman, TSD Health Services Coordinator Elementary Educator Karen Shumate, Mary Blair Elementary School Secondary Educator Ericka Griess, Mountain View High School Principal Deon Davis, Coyote Ridge Elementary School Principal Ian Stout, Loveland Classical Schools TSD Staff Jordan Jennings, Berthoud High School As COVID has affected us all it has changed the way that we do events. This event, normally held in person with up to 400 people attending was unfortunately too large to accommodate at this time making it a live streaming virtual event! A lot goes into the behind the scenes when it comes to these types of events. Technical issues are always close by and it is hard for people to have the same confidence speaking in front of a camera with a mask on, rather than speaking to people who are physically there and that they can interact with.
  Thank you Easter Keg Hunt teams for joining us for a wicked windy event this year! We are so hopeful that next year we can give you our traditional private kick-off and restaurant ending point. There is just something so special about that ending point communal celebration as teams come in, that isn't the same during a global pandemic. Early photos have been released from our photographer, Jen West Photography. You will see additional photos from her yet this week, as well as photos posted to our social media. Thank you for your SPIRIT, positive attitudes, and ENERGY! As always, MBD Marketing & Events proudly supports a non-profit in Northern Colorado with each and every signature event we plan. The NoCo Easter Keg Hunt benefits Animal Friends Alliance. Thank you supporting us as we support the charities we love - and 'keeping adults young' in Northern Colorado with FUN events! Learn more about our pet-loving friends: https://www.savinganimalstoday.org/ www.savinganimalstoday.org/ Finally, this event would not be what it is without the local businesses who participate. Thank you to our participating 2021 NoCo Easter Keg Hunt businesses: FoCo Do Co, Old Town Churn, Pour Brothers, On the Rocks Mobile Bar, Salus, Wolverine Farm, CopperMuse Distillery, B Sweet Cupcakes Food Truck, Akinz, Pinball Jones, Stuft Burger Bar, Turtle Mountain Fermentery  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken   Cause partnerships – when businesses and nonprofits work together toward a mutually beneficial goal – are a company’s values put into action. MBD Marketing and Events values creativity and fun, trust, authenticity, visionary ideas, and partnerships, and we manifest each of those company values every time we are hired to collaborate with a nonprofit organization. We love working with clients with similar values and goals for our community. We believe we have a social responsibility to the northern Colorado communities we live and work in. Below are just some of the businesses and nonprofits we have worked with and the services they provide to better the lives of our NoCo neighbors  The Family Center/La Familia The Family Center/La Familia (TFC/LF) supports families in the Fort Collins area by providing affordable childcare, health education, adult education, and emergency assistance funding. TFC is proud to serve culturally diverse families and offers bilingual (English and Spanish) community based education, and we are proud to support The Family Center!  Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center Childcare in Colorado is notoriously unaffordable; infant care for just one child would take up 21% of a median family’s income in our state. The Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center offers quality, affordable childcare and early education to culturally and socioeconomically diverse Colorado families, with an emphasis on child development before the crucial age of five.  SummitStone Health Partners SummitStone Health Partners provides mental health support and addiction services in Larimer County, with locations in Fort Collins and Loveland. SummitStone is the largest behavioral health provider of Medicaid in Larimer County, providing care that would otherwise be unattainable for many in our community.  Realities for Children Founded by a former child protection case manager for Larimer County, Realities for Children provides for the unmet needs of children in northern Colorado who have been abused, neglected, or are at-risk. The organization provides emergency funding, youth activities, critical supplies distributions and collaboration with other child welfare agencies. Realities for Children exists to serve and empower children through immediate support, community education, and collaboration with other agencies.  Blue Federal Credit Union Blue Federal Credit Union (Blue FCU) was founded in Cheyenne, WY, and has a large presence in northern Colorado. Blue FCU builds company culture with their Do Good program, encouraging employees to volunteer on their own time and on behalf of Blue FCU at official events. MBD employees have spent time alongside Blue FCU employees building homes and working in thrift stores for Habitat for Humanity, and we recognize Blue FCU’s strong commitment to Realities for Children – this year, Blue FCU served as the presenting sponsor for the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser, Realities for Children NightLights.  Thompson Education Foundation Thompson Education Foundation (TEF) is a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for Thompson School District students and educators. TEF removes barriers and supports experiences students need to engage in their academic environment. My Big Day has enthusiastically partnered with TEF to bring unique events to the community and creative ways to fundraise during a global pandemic. We love being their Marketing & Events partner!  Partners Partners has been a nonprofit serving our community for over 40 years. Their mission is to empower youth and community members to achieve their full potential through mentoring, prevention education, and strategic partnership. Not only is MBD's owner, Christine, a former mentor with Partners, we are thrilled to be the planning team for their annual feature community event! Do you have a cause you want us to get behind? EMAIL US!  MBD Marketing and Events have been working with Thompson Education Foundation for a couple of years now. From fundraisers to maintaining their social media MBD has been happy to partner with TEF. But who is TEF and what do they do for the Thompson School District and the community surrounding it? “Thompson Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional educational opportunities for students and teachers in Thompson School District. Since 1989, TEF has been focused on student success. The foundation supports over 60 programs, activities, and scholarships in partnership with Thompson School District, serving students in Loveland, Berthoud, south Fort Collins and outlying communities.”
So where does your money go when you donate to TEF or participate in one of their many fundraisers throughout the year? Thompson Education Foundation Facts:
We are so blessed to get to work side-by-side this amazing organization! Follow TEF on Facebook to keep up with their efforts to help the community and for some amazing event opportunities! Want to Donate? Click this link to be a part of something spectacular! TEF Pinterest is full of fun ideas for parents looking to entertain their kids! https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/  After over 20 years in the industry, we have noticed a trend... coaching is a vital ingredient to success. MBD Marketing & Events was thrilled when we met Katie. Her years of experience and incredible education is both a benefit to our team and to our clients. Katie works with clients both privately, and as part of overall service packages with MBD. Please inquire to learn more! 
Meet Coach Katie Katie has over 10 years of experience working with non-profits, for-profits and government agencies to create and support teams that focus on the whole person to achieve the highest results. She strategically approaches problems with a focus on solution-based ideas that fix the true problem not simply create another short-term solution. She brings this approach to her coaching by creating an environment for clients to bring their whole selves and their deepest desires for the life they want, while asking bold questions, listening deeply, and supporting compassionately. She truly wants clients to live the adventure that is their life. Katie has her master’s degree in organizational leadership and is obtaining her certification in professional coaching. Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken * A blog dedicated to our non-profit client, Thompson Education Foundation COVID-19 has forced schools to do what’s being referred to “remote” or “distance” learning this year, and some say it could continue into 2021 as well. This has been a difficult process for parents, students and teachers to adjust to. Just know, you are not alone! Many parents and teachers have been experimenting with what works best for their students during this time. I have gathered the top 5 most helpful tips on how to be successful with remote learning! 1. Make a schedule. Having a consistent daily schedule can allow everyone to feel prepared and ready for their day. Organizing their schedule around your schedule as a parent can ease some stress of working at home and having your kids schooling at home. Consistency is key! For example, if you have math first one day, math should be first every day. Visualize your schedule by printing it out, writing it on a dry erase or chalk board, or making a clickable schedule on their laptop. Set alarms for zoom classes to keep everyone on schedule without having to have it all memorized.  2. Take a typing class. Younger kids who have not had a lot of school experience are feeling overwhelmed. Not only do they have to sit in front of a computer all day, they also must know how to use one! Getting your student typing classes can help teach kids the basics of typing properly with exercises on what all of the keys mean and how to use them. Typing Club offers free classes and exercises to help get your child prepped for remote learning! https://www.typingclub.com  3. Give lots of Breaks. Breaking up the schedule can help your student focus better and be ready to learn. Everyone need breaks throughout their day, whether it’s for snacks, exercise or just to rest their eyes from the screen breaks can help kids feel more independent in remote learning as long as there is consistency. Students thrive on consistency! One tip from a parent was to have activity kits ready for when your child is in between classes and you do not have the time to get them started on something. If the child has activities at their workspace it can help keep them focused and entertained until you can get around to helping them.  4. Give kids an outlet to discuss emotions. One of things to not lose sight on is that you are still their parent, not just their new teacher, or helper with school assignments. By having kids write in a journal they can process their feelings in this uncertain time. A nice addition to your daily schedule is to set aside time to talk as a family about how everyone is feeling and coping with everything.  4. Optimizing the Learning Space. Having a learning space free of distractions, noise, tv and other forms of entertainment can optimize the student’s learning process. Having access to all supplies at their space, within reach that is well organized can also help kids with becoming distracted from needing to leave their learning space to go elsewhere in the home. For even more tips and ideas on how to deal with remote learning visit our Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/ In response to COVID-19 and Thompson School District’s decision to continue remote learning in schools, Thompson Education Foundation (TEF) and the Literacy Committee of Loveland Rotary Club each committed $10,000 ($20,000 total) to support remote learning for students in 2020. The first purchase was for 5,000 books for students who are participating in TSD’s emergency food distribution program. The books were purchased for all grade levels, PreK-12. In addition, Thompson Education Foundation supplied 500 school supply kits to supplement at-home learning for elementary and secondary students without access to supply resources at home. Donate to TEF and their efforts to help families during these times here. https://www.thompsontef.org/donate  |
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970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 EMAIL US
We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken
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