Gold's Gym, Boise, Idaho

The biggest contributors to the Les Mills 2006 Dance4Life campaign were Gold’s Gym in Boise, Idaho who donated $US3,000. Their BODYJAM™ instructor Julie Bush showed initiative by organising a silent auction to complement their launch of BODYJAM™ 39 and the Dance4Life fundraiser. They also sold t-shirts to raise money. Here’s how they ran their successful Dance4Life Campaign…

Planning:

BODYJAM™ 39 was launched on January 27 and planning for the event began during the second week of November.

Initially the gym created a letter to take or send to businesses to get them involved in the event. Advertising on the t-shirts was offered if businesses donated to the silent auction. The businesses were also alerted to the fact that a local television station would be broadcasting from the gym a week before the event to promote the Les Mills launch. Julie sent numerous emails to staff (about 70 Group Fitness instructors) to get them to use any and all resources they had to donate items to the silent auction. This, by far, was the most effective way to get money for Dance4Life.

Staff were generous putting together gift baskets, donating spa certificates and vouchers for services from cellular phones to chiropractic care. Some instructors even donated baked goods. There was outdoor recreation gear, a big cruiser bike and art.

Why it was successful:

The key to putting the auction together was to present it well and organize it effectively as items had different auction ending times. It went off without a hitch. If the winner of the auction was present, they paid right away and got their item. If not, Julie called them and arranged to meet them at the gym the following day. Everyone cooperated and felt great about the cause.

T-shirts were made with the Dance4Life logo and screen printed at a very affordable cost. The t-shirts were sold at the launch for $10. A lot of money was collected as people were willing to pay that amount for a new shirt.

The event was promoted with Dance4Life signage at all (four) gym locations and there was some television air time featuring all of the LES MILLS™ group fitness programs on offer and the Dance4Life fundraiser/silent auction. The actual launch day was a huge draw and enormous success.

Les Mills Wellington

In New Zealand, Les Mills Wellington got into spirit of fundraising with a two hour dance party, complete with a MC and special lighting to enhance that party atmosphere. The evening included dance performances and two BODYJAM™ classes and was attended by around 200 people, raising $NZ1,000.

Please contact melanie@lesmills.com with your 2007 Dance4Life plans.