The Swisher Family Foundation was at a crossroads. To raise funds to endow more children in need with medical care, education, recreational activities and support programs, the non-profit needed to host a large-scale event.
While bowling nights and donor recognition dinners are the default for many foundations in this situation, the Swishers wanted to provide their donors with a unique and memorable experience. Calling on Nick Swisher’s affiliation with the Cleveland Indians, The Swisher Family Foundation decided to work with cityHUNT to organize an experiential adventure at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.
To make sure that such the event would live up to its expectations, planning began months in advance. Drawing on cityHUNT’s experience with gamification, specifically the engagement of hunt participants through a backstory, it was decided to incorporate as many baseball elements as possible.
Thus the cityHUNT was determined to begin with an objective for each participating team: the manager of the Indians had been ‘kidnapped’ by a rival franchise, and all teams were tasked with solving challenges and finding clues on the way to set him free.
These tasks would take teams through the entire stadium, from the batting cages to the skybox. Furthermore, every one of the 13 teams would be captained by a professional baseball player, granting fans and donors the event of a lifetime.
Next to a good time, The Swisher Family Foundation wanted to ensure that the cityHUNT would serve to raise awareness and funds for its initiatives.
Therefore, the game included an opportunity for company sponsors to signal their support and to advertise, both by including their names in game clues and challenges, and by featuring their names and logos on the scoreboard for the duration of the event.
When the gates to Progressive Field opened on July 28, more than 120 people got ready for a fun-packed four hours of competition and festivities. From hitting a baseball at the batting cages, to line dancing . The top two teams finished within six minutes of each other!
And the manager? He was saved…twice, actually (who wants to be saved only once?). With the participation of sponsors and attendees, The Swisher Family Foundation was able to raise more than $60,000 to support its initiatives, making the hunt a huge success!
Need more info? | Ben Hoffman | Tel: 1-877-768-9193 | [email protected] | www.cityhunt.com
