here - Healthy Cities Illawarra

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for your breakfast
program. Developing a relationship will help your
proposal to stand out from the many others they
will receive. Mention in your funding submission
that you have discussed the breakfast program
with the manager of the local branch or club,
using their name, and how they supported the
idea.
Sponsorship
Many successful breakfast programs in the
Illawarra and Shoalhaven are the product of
strong sponsorship, generally with community
not-for-profit groups. Usually, such sponsorship
comes about as a result of the shared aims of
wanting to improve the health and educational
outcomes of local children, and of promoting
same. There are numerous benefits to seeking
support of this nature for your breakfast program,
particularly as funding bodies tend to look very
favourably on community partnerships, regarding
such collaboration an effective use of resources,
and a key to sustainability.
On occasion, local business will enter into a
sponsorship relationship in return for agreed
marketing benefits such as the promotion of
their business and its much valued support of
the breakfast program, in the school newsletter;
advertising their service/products but also
generating goodwill and a sense of community
responsibility and belonging. It is therefore
very worthwhile to think not only of community
organisations with a strong profile in your
community, but also of business which may
be interested in sponsorship of the breakfast
program as a ‘business decision’. Think about
what you can offer them in terms of endorsement
of their goods and/or services, and their promotion
in a competitive local market – then sell this as
a valuable marketing opportunity. Approach
sponsorship in commercial terms as much as a
charitable arrangement eg. if you provide this,
we will provide that. Provide potential sponsors
with measurable benefit. Chapter 12, Promoting
the Breakfast Club, provides more information
on marketing and promoting breakfast programs.
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Importantly, once you have secured sponsorship,
make an effort to keep them engaged with
certificates of appreciation, photographs, thank
you cards and drawings from the children,
copies of school newsletters where they are
acknowledged, even phone calls and personal
visits demonstrating your and the children’s
appreciation. Many breakfast programs in the
region invite sponsors to special breakfasts, often
at the end of the school year, offering a glimpse
of the club in action, and providing an opportunity
to meet volunteers and children. Sponsors like
to know their involvement is valued, and making
a difference in their community.
Donations
Businesses which are not in a position to make
long term financial commitment may consider
making a donation to the breakfast program.
Think about the businesses in your local area
and what they could provide. Business may be
able to make a one-off financial donation, but
it is more likely they would consider donations
of goods and foodstuffs. Make a list of the
equipment you need for the breakfast program
and which organisations supply them. Electrical
stores may be able to assist with toasters or
even the fridge (you won’t know if you don’t
ask!), and larger stores often have community
assistance schemes of some description. If they
can’t make out-right donations, ask them if they
could subsidise the costs of items you require.
List the businesses in your local community
who supply the foods you need for your
breakfast program. Consider, particularly, those
businesses selling produce with a short ‘use by
date’, such as bakeries, green grocers, dairy
suppliers, cafes, and corner shops. Again if
they are not in a position to donate, they may
consider solid discounts. How you promote your
breakfast program and its potential impact on
the lives of local school children, will be crucial
to the degree of support you can secure in the
community. Chapter 12, Promoting the Breakfast
Club, provides ideas and arguments to use to