ORGANIZE A CHECK PRESENTATION OR RECOGNITION CEREMONY
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:
If your agency or organization awards grants to support service-learning in local schools or community-based organizations, organize a special recognition ceremony or check presentation to your grantees or sub-grantees. Even if the actual money was sent weeks ago, use the Learn & Serve Challenge as an opportunity to bring greater visibility to your investment and the ways service-learning is transforming individuals, schools, and communities.
HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT:
Step 1. Determine a date and time by working with the public affairs officer or designated staff from your grantee/sub-grantee organization and other stakeholders to determine when key officials are available to “receive” the check. Keep in mind that the best time to schedule a media event is midday, ideally between 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Step 2. Pick a location that is well-known and easily accessible. Holding your event in a central location, near the media, will help facilitate coverage. Ideally, the location will add relevance. For example, hold the event near a city or town hall if you want to get the attention of elected officials.
Step 3. Prepare your grantees or sub-grantees to be spokespeople for service-learning and to share their personal stories of service.
Step 4. Invite a dynamic young person, a state or community leader, or any well-known advocate for service-learning, to speak at your event. Use the check presentation as an opportunity to communicate about the impact service-learning has in the local community or nationwide. Consider giving local celebrities or officials awards for their support (or their commitment to support) service-learning.
Step 5. Display signage (posters, podium signs, banners, etc.) in the most visible place possible. Don’t forget to make enlarged sub-grantee checks at your local copy center.
Step 6. Highlight local or state service-learning statistics. For state-level data, refer to your State Profile or State Education Agencies may use data from LASSIE.
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