moralesBcause: we believe in cause marketing!

I was invited to give a presentation about Cause Marketing to a group of business people recently.  Cause Marketing is personal for us due to the history in our families of heart disease and stroke.  Our personal cause, 'moralesBcause' is our way of giving back. Below is the text of the presentation.

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My wife Sally and I live and work in Southern Georgian Bay.  It affords us a great lifestyle:  run, cycle, ski all along the shores of Southern Georgian Bay.

Happily married to Sally with 4 kids...make that 5: Tia the 4 lb tiny Yorkie has a huge personality.

Spent the past 25+ years in advertising and marketing.  Clients include Speedy Muffler King, General Motors,Toyota and Dairy Queen.

We founded Morales Outsourced Marketing Services last year because of demand from small/mid-size business owners to get better results from their marketing. Our basic service:  we put a plan together for our clients, show them how to get their advertising working harder (including on-line advertising); integrate events and of course, CAUSE.

Our personal cause, ‘moralesBcause’ is our way of giving back.  It is also our way of showing small and mid-size business owners how they can get involved in Cause Marketing.  We hope you will help us with our goal of raising $20,000 in 2010 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. We are walking, running, cycling and even paintballing at Wasaga Beach Paintball to raise the funds.

Lets define Cause Marketing

• As noted by Wikipedia, Cause Marketing is “the cooperative efforts of a ‘for-profit’ business and a ‘not-for-profit’ organization for mutual benefit”.

Our cause, ‘moralesBcause’ passes that test.

I got into Cause Marketing after a visit to an old folks home. I was working for Speedy Muffler King at the time. The owner wanted to give back to his local community. He decided to sponsor a 10 K run to raise money for the Baycrest Home in Toronto. Thus was born the Speedy Baycrest Fun run. I ran it twice and have written about about it in this blog...it was my introduction to both running and cause marketing.

My interest increased when I worked for Dairy Queen and visited the neonatal critical care ward at the sick Kids hospital in London, Ontario. We had been founding sponsors of the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). This was a natural: Dairy Queen, summer, kids...who does not have pleasant memories. Dairy Queen not only gave back but connected emotionally with customers.

Those are the two key things to consider when thinking about Cause Marketing:

• Give back to your community
• Connect emotionally with your customers

This gives you a point-of-difference; something you can talk about and rally around in your business
Moving Forward.

When we started Morales Outsourced Marketing Services last year, we knew we wanted to be known for Cause Marketing:  we wanted to give back and connect emotionally with our clients.

The inspiration to walk/run/cycle to raise is personal for both Sally and I.  Sally lost her brother a few years ago when he was felled by a major stroke.  My Father passed away more recently after suffering a major heart attack.  Raising funds to increase awareness of heart and stroke disease and how to prevent it is very important to us.  Our efforts go directly to both education and research.

‘moralesBcause’ is a way our clients can get into cause marketing. One donation directly to 'moralesBcause' via this secure link goes directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  But you get much more:

• Promotion on your web site.
• Blog posts on our web presence:  web site, blogs, facebook, twitter, linkedin
• Local media
• Ability to develop fund raising events at your location.

In summary:

• Cause Marketing is “the cooperative efforts of a ‘for-profit’ business and a ‘not-for-profit’ organization for mutual benefit”
• It provides a point-of-difference for your business
• You connect emotionally with your customers...get them to be passionate about your business
• You get to give back to your community

Thank you.

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Morales Outsourced Marketing Services
http://www.outsourcedmarketing.ca/
chris@outsourcedmarketing.ca

Walking May 1 for Heart & Stroke

Yes, walking, not running. I'm not sure how I am going to do that but it is the first fund raising event of 2010 for Sally and I and I know I can do it.  The training though...now that's going to be tough.  But it will be worth it to help fight heart disease.

We have an ambitious fund raising goal in 2010 for moralesBcause:  $20,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  We can't get there all at once.  We have 4 events planned so far: 

1. Reggae Marathon on December 4 in Negril
2. Toronto 1/2 Marathon on October 17 in Toronto
3. Becel Ride for Heart on June 6 in Toronto
4. Our first fund raising event of 2010, walking in Strides for Stroke on May 1 in Richmond Hill. 

Cheering, walking along and donations all welcome.  All for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Shhhhhh...I have a special request, but please don't tell Sally.  She is worried that I won't walk with her.  That I will find it too slow.  Since this was her idea to participate in this walking event, I have assured her that I will walk with her.  Unfortunately she doesn't believe me.  My request is that you to send her an email with best wishes and telling her not to worry.  I'll walk beside her.  Here's her email address:  sally.pennock@bell.net.

And of course you can donate to moralesBcause directly and securely at this link:  http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=269328&lis=0&kntae269328=1E7A35E360FD449FB50EE14576EF2901&supId=281071959

Now back to training...May 1 will come quickly and I want to be ready to walk.

Vacation and run in Negril, Jamaica at the December 2010 Reggae Marathon

The Best Pasta Party at Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica Friday December 3, 2010 the night before the Reggae Marathon run!

Don't take our word for it, here is what Bob Moore of the Washington Post has to say about the Reggae Marathon:  http://www.runwashington.com/news/2296/314/

You can be in Negril, Jamaica for the Reggae Marathon this December.  The truly 'all inclusive' vacation/run trip departs Toronto for Jamaica on Thursday, December 2.  You rendezvous at Pearson Airport where you get your special Goodie Bag.  The first of two. 

After the plane trip you arrive in Montego Bay late afternoon and are transported by private coach to Negril in time to catch a spectacular sunset from the beachfront of the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Negril.  That and cocktails on the beach of course. All included in the vacation trip price.

Day 2, December 3 is a free day.  If you are running, you should plan to go out for a slow 3 miler around 9 am after the sun is up.  You will get a feel for the conditions.  Take the sun, temperature and humidity in Negril seriously.  Plan to drink at every water stop (every mile).  The Reggae Marathon has the best hydration system:  bagged Gatorade and water.  There is really no need to bring your own along.  You may want to bring your own gels however.  Check Running Room for the special 'hot weather' gels.

And then you hit the Negril beach. 

Around 5 pm or so Friday evening head toward the Couples Swept Away Sporting Complex for the Pasta Party.  You can pick up your race kit at that time along with your second Goodie Bag.  The Reggae Marathon registration is included in our 'all inclusive' vacation price. The hotels and resorts along the beach in Negril compete to see who can offer the most and best pasta.  All-you-can eat.  Hot, cold...too much to list.  You will leave fully carbo loaded.  And this is included in the price of the trip if you are a registered runner.

The Reggae Marathon Pasta Party also has live music which really gets you into the Jamaican groove. 

But don't dawdle, Day 3 dawns dark and early with the 5:15 am start.  Plan to be at the start/finish area by 4:30 am latest.  The atmosphere is electric with loud reggae and energetic announcers.

You start on time.  The race organizers are serious about this.  Blazing torches illuminate the start then its off into the dark for the first 5 miles as you loop into the town of Negril before heading back to the start/finish line.

Drink at every stop!  This cannot be stressed enough.  The temperature is into the 20's even at this early hour.

Then enjoy the run.  Music at every stop.  You will actually hear the music from about 1/2 mile away from each stop.  Cool experience to run toward the music...you will appreciate this later in the morning...especially if you are running the full marathon.

If you are running the 10 K or 1/2 Marathon, you will be done as the sun breaks the horizon.  And since this is Jamaica after all, Red Stripe and coconut water shortly after you cross the finish line.  Full marathoners will have to wait a little longer.

Then after a quick post race dip in the Caribbean its back to the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort for more sun and fun before heading out the the post-race awards party Saturday evening (transportation to this event along with admission is included...did we not say 'all inclusive'). 

Sunday and Monday, Day 4 and 5 again at leisure.  Breakfast, beach, lunch, drinks, beach, drinks, beach, supper, party! Repeat.  All food and beverage at the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort is included in your vacation price.  Whew!

Tuesday Day 6 is departure day from Negril back to Montego Bay for your flight back to Toronto.  You get breakfast on the beach and a final swim before heading via private coach back to the airport.

The price for this running vacation is less than than $1,500!  Less if you are not running.  All inclusive:  airfair to/from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica; transfers to/from Montego Bay to Negril; Reggae Marathon race registration and Pasta Party at Couples Swept Away; all food and beverage at the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort; Goodie Bags; all taxes.  The final trip price will be firmed-up once air fares are confirmed.

10 rooms are on hold. That's 20 people.  Act now to reserve your exclusive run vacation this December Please email us directly at chris.morales@bell.net by March 31 to get details on how to confirm your place.

And remember, this is a fund raiser for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  To make a donation, just click on this link, 'moralesBcause' to make a secure donation via credit card on our donation site.

Will you be joining us in Negril, Jamaica this December for the Reggae Marathon run vacation?

How about a trip to Negril December 2010 for the Reggae Marathon?

Its cold and the forecast calls for more snow in Southern Ontario.  What a perfect time to share with you our plans for traveling to Negril, Jamaica in December 2010 for the Reggae Marathon.  Tough to train in the snow, but great to visualize the beach in Negril.

If you decide to go this December, either to run the Reggae Marathon or just for vacation, you can expect to stay in Negril on the Beach at a lovely gem-of-a resort, the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.  This is the picture of the Negril beach from the front of the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.

Of course it is an all-inclusive resort with rooms in small, intimate buildings scattered throughout the resort property.  Pool...Negril Beach...tough decision!

The Grand Pineapple is located about 3/4 of a mile from the start/finish line of the Reggae Marathon.  You will enjoy the unique experience of heading to the start line in the pitch black warm tropical night with the other runners.  And the plunge into the Caribbean Sea after is indescribable.  That and the Red Stripe.

Since this is early in the year, we have managed to secure great prices for the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.  If we commit by end-of-March, the price will be hard to beat for a 5 day run vacation in Negril (you depart Toronto Dec 2 and return Dec 7).  You arrive on Thursday evening, have a day on Friday to get ready for the Reggae Marathon on Saturday then have 3 days of fun on the Beach after.  Let me correct that...5 days of fun and frivolity...this is Jamaica after all and we are in Negril!

Please send an email to chris.morales@bell.net if you are interested in getting more information about this trip to Negril for the Reggae Marathon.  I'll let you know all the booking details at that time.

And remember, this is all for a good cause:  fund raising for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  You can check out our personal donation page at the link above.

Negril in December to run in the Reggae Marathon...what a great way to end the year!