Switchback Creative started the TrailBlazer Fund to give a hand up to young entrepreneurs under 23 years old with a new business or idea. After working with the first two years of recipients we were proud and happy to see how we could help a young entrepreneur make a start with a dream. However, also we realized that we want to make a bigger impact with organizations and teams that were doing great things in the non-profit world. There are so many organizations trying to make something from very little. Taking the areas that they see need in the world and volunteering their sweat equity, to make it happen.

Therefore, in September we had decided to revamp the program and increase the fund donation per year to $10,000 and look for organizations that are doing really good work but have marketing, design and branding challenges. Therefore, for the 2018 season we launched our TRAILBLAZER PROGRAM FOR NON-PROFITS AND SOCIETIES.

We are proud to announce that our 2018 TRAILBLAZER FUND WINNER IS THE AIRDRIE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL SOCIETY.

We were on the look out for a new collaborative relationship that were going to be a great win-win for both parties. As we were getting all the background pieces together, we were approached about a new society that was being put together with a mission to Inspire Excellence In Children. After a compelling pitch from the Chair our new TrailBlazer format seemed to be exactly what they needed to help guide them into their inaugural event.

We are proud to announce that our 2018 TRAILBLAZER FUND WINNER IS THE AIRDRIE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL SOCIETY. Their purpose and passion is to enrich the lives of children and to help celebrate our culture of differences with an event in May that will include free entertainment, movie in the park, workshops, inspiration stations, and a children’s village.

They will receive the $10,000 fund to be put towards brand new branding, key messaging and website development. This will mean they can set their vision right from the get go and showcase all of the great ideas the team has for how they want this legacy event shared and experienced for those not just in Airdrie but all of Alberta.

“We could not be more pleased to be selected as the Trailblazer Award recipient by the Switchback Creative team. Having a creative and professional brand and web presence is so important, especially for us as a new society but what they are giving us is a way more than just a logo and a website. Their generosity with this award provides us with a foundation for success, to get our message out and allows us to do far more than we could ever afford to do on our own. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” – Pete Lewis, Chair of ACFS

In case you are wondering here is what we provide through this award…

Free access to our marketing expertise, exposing recipients to our quality branding, design and web development services that will take their organization to the next level. We work with them to present their brand in the best light possible and provide strategic marketing assistance. We will help them blaze a trail to greater heights based on a foundation that has already been set or a vision taking shape.

Recipients also have the opportunity to gain insight into the operations of a full marketing and web agency, collaboration on creative briefs, brainstorming and approvals is important to have from your organization. They will be part of the process the whole way. We want to help educate and support their team the behind the scenes on how it all works.

We are tripling our Trailblazing contribution to these organizations and are hoping for long term relationship that start with the Trailblazer Fund and grow into lifelong collaborations.

We are already deep into branding development and will be starting the website development right away for the Airdrie Children’s Festival. We are so proud to see how this group will impact the community and children in wonderful ways.

Stay tuned to see more and don’t forget to follow their facebook page to see it all unfold.

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Let us know if you have questions or if you are looking to get involved in anyway. Stay tuned for more details to come on 2019 Trailblazer Fund Search.