Canine Companions Tales & Tails Gala
Expanding and enhancing the Canine Companions’ annual gala to make it the foremost fundraising platform for Canine Companions nationally.
The Brief
In 1996, the inaugural Tales & Tails gala took place at SeaWorld Orlando. Over time, it had grown stagnant and was in need of a rejuvenation. Canine Companions Southeast Region then reached out to MLB Creative to assist in revitalizing, expanding, and boosting the annual gala’s revenue.
The work
Event Theming
Logo Design
Advertising
Direct Mail
Event Landing Page UI/UX
Social Content Creation
Video
THE work
There’s a lot of it (and it’s not all shown here). Click on the thumbnails below to bounce down to each of the Gala sections.
2014 The Music City Experience
MLB Creative successfully revitalized an 18-year-old fundraising event by implementing fresh branding and messaging. We created an engaging “Music City Experience” theme centered around Nashville-based Blue Sky Riders, capturing the attention of both previous attendees and new supporters. The results were remarkable, as the event surpassed its ambitious fundraising target by an impressive 125%.
COLLATORAL
MLB seized the opportunity to infuse a music festival ambiance into the invitation, website, and other materials, setting them apart from the usual conventions.
2015 The Great American Road Trip
Inspired by the freedom of the open road and the Independence that Canine Companions brings too so many people, we brought the house down with an amazing performance by Bruce Hornsby. We once again exceeded the fundraising amount of the previous year and achieved the highest attendance in the history of the event.
COLLATORAL
MLB excels at telling an organization’s story. Leveraging the theme of a road trip, we conveyed the tale of Canine Companions in a powerful and unforgettable manner. At the event, Old-time billboards, classic gas tanks and cars were employed as props. Adding to the charm, Canine Companions’ Biker puppy trainers made a special appearance, making this road trip truly memorable.
2016 Star Spangled Celebration
Celebrating Canine Companions 20th anniversary meant that we had to go big. And big we went, drawing a record-setting 735 attendees and surpassing our fundraising goals by 18 percent. Not too bad for an event that started at SeaWorld Orlando in 1996 with 80 people.
CAMPAIGN ELEMENTS
The significant anniversary became a jubilant tribute, featuring the colors of red, blue, and (of course) yellow, with a strong patriotic theme that embraced the concept of “independence Day.” The focus was on how these remarkable dogs contribute to making “Everyday Independence Day” possible for those in need. Social media played a crucial role in powerfully narrating their stories. The heartfelt tales of people and their extraordinary canine companions turned this anniversary into an unforgettable and cherished occasion.
2017 Southern Pawspitality
Inspired by the freedom of the open road and the Independence that Canine Companions brings too so many people, we brought the house down with an amazing performance by Bruce Hornsby. We once again exceeded the fundraising amount of the previous year and achieved the highest attendance in the history of the event.
COLLATERAL
Every chapter received a location-specific invitation tailored to their region. The invitation was uniquely designed with a special fold and style, setting the tone for a warm and friendly welcome, while also building expectations for the event.
2018 It’s The Great Gala Charlie Brown
We were incredibly fortunate to collaborate with Jean Schulz and the esteemed legacy of Charles Schulz’s PEANUTS characters. Ms. Schulz, who has been involved with Canine Companions since 1986 and served as a former President and Secretary of the Board, generously allowed us to utilize the PEANUTS Characters for the 2018 event. The timing was perfect as the gala always is held in October every year, just before Halloween. Ms. Schulz flew to Orlando to join us, making the gala an extraordinary and unforgettable occasion.
EVENT FEATURE
Staying true to the theme, MLB skillfully carved sponsor logos into pumpkins, which were then arranged on crates within a faux pumpkin patch. These illuminated pumpkins added a delightful glow to the event and served as a distinctive and creative homage to our valued sponsors.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook was truly a blast this year. We incorporated fun and engaging comic strips, an adventurous pumpkin named Gordy and all things festive and fall.
2019 The Indies
Inspired by smaller independent film awards, our gala theme took a similar scrappy, underdog approach to award those who promote independence.
ADVERTISING
In the spirit of the event, MLB crafted posters that playfully parodied older films while showcasing the services, mission and benefits of Canine Companions for grassroots advertising. Facebook, once again, played a significant role in promoting the event and setting the anticipated ambiance for this year’s gala. The theme continued to shine during the event itself, with marquees, posters, popcorn machines, and even film movie-inspired auction items..
2020 The Wonderful Land of Paws
Although 2020 didn’t turn out to be the most “wonderful” year. We didn’t skip a beat with this year’s theme. Although everything went virtual we were able to still meet our goals, have some fun and remind people that it takes heart, brains and courage to pave the way to Independence.
2021 Twenty Fifth Anniversary
This year’s event revolved around the theme of the 25th anniversary, a celebration filled with all the glitters and shines to honor this significant milestone.
2022 Journey To Independence
The primary objective of Canine Companions is to provide individuals with disabilities with service dogs, empowering them to live more independently. The “Journey to Independence” conveyed the core of the organization through visual elements and stories that portrayed this life-changing journey.
INVITATIONS
Annually, we design two types of invitations: one intended for sponsors (displayed above), and another for the general public (displayed below). The general invitation took the form of a compact journal, with each page featuring journal-style graphics, narratives, and images, all aimed at captivating and inviting the audience. To explore the complete invitation, please play the video.
2023 Sit. Stay Sparkle.
This sparkling theme was brought to us from the Canine Companions California team. Our job was to adapt it to the Tales & Tails Gala format. We did so by infusing a little love into this sparkling theme. As we wrap up our ninth year of partnership on the gala, MLB is going out on a high note. It was a year that shattered records, and we are delighted to share that Canine Companions is now well-equipped with the tools they need to guarantee the gala’s success in the years ahead.
