Community Involvement
Shoe Drive for Haiti
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Execute a used shoe drive to bring in traffic and give the community an opportunity to support a global effort.
Action
We registered with international relief organization Soles 4 Souls and placed collection boxes in our lobby. To encourage donations, we partnered with a local shoe store for a drawing: Donate a Used Pair of Shoes. Win a New Pair of Shoes. We also distributed flyers through local schools and civic organizations. During the month-long campaign, we collected 812 pairs of shoes that were sent directly to Haitian earthquake victims.
Visit Soles 4 Souls
Triple Treat Weekend for Generation Rescue
Hollywood Entertainment Center, Branson
Objective
Encourage local dignitaries, residents, and referral partners to visit our three new and newly-renovated attractions while raising funds for the local chapter of Generation Rescue.
Action
We scheduled the unveiling of Castle of Chaos to coincide with Halloween and created a Triple Treat Weekend for local residents to enjoy all three of our attractions at a discounted rate. Proceeds, along with our $5,000 donation, went to Jenny McCarthy’s non-profit organization dedicated to finding treatments for autism. Triple Treat bags and maps were given to guests, who collected appropriately-themed candy throughout the facilities.
Visit Generation Rescue
Restoration Campaign
for Walk of Fame
Hollywood Wax Museum, Hollywood
Objective
Demonstrate our commitment to the preservation of the Walk of Fame and encourage other community stakeholders to support the 50th anniversary fundraising campaign.
Action
As Vice Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Kuvera Partner Tej Sundher put his money where his mouth was. When the Chamber launched a 50th anniversary fundraising drive to repair and restore the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Kuvera donated $15,500 and actively sought the support of other Hollywood businesses. Additionally, we produced a 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition Walk of Fame Guide with licensing proceeds benefiting this effort.
Visit Hollywood Walk of Fame
Go Ape! Go Pink!
for Susan G. Komen
Hollywood Wax Museum, Gatlinburg
Objective
Bring visitors to the Museum and raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Action
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we donated $5 from every admission to the Knoxville Chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and hosted a reception with spokesperson Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007®. We made a “large” statement by dressing Gatlinburg’s largest primate in a gargantuan T-shirt that said “Go Pink!” Each letter was three feet high, and the breast cancer ribbon was five feet tall. We also placed pink ribbons on every wax figure in the Museum (including Frankenstein!).
Visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure
World Record Finger Painting
Guinness World Records Museum
Objective
Gain publicity and positive word‑of‑mouth exposure by setting a world record involving local low-income children.
Action
We partnered with Sesame Street Live, the longest running national children’s tour in history, to create the world’s largest finger painting, “Small Hands in a Big World.” Cookie Monster, Burt and Ernie cheered on 500 students from Hollywood’s Grant Elementary School as they finger painted the piece, measuring 40’ x 50’, for a total area of 2,000 square feet. We also donated a portion of the proceeds from Museum admissions to the school for a month in honor of its 100th anniversary.
Visit Grant Elementary School
Free Photos with Santa & Support for the Kids Toy Drive
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Offer a gift to families in the community and collect toys for local low-income residents.
Action
We created a Santa living room set and provided free professional 4x5 photos with a real-bearded Santa. Guests were treated to free hot cocoa (thanks to a partnership with Starbucks) and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. We also collected toys for foster and low-income children that were hand-delivered on or before Christmas Day by local non-profit Support for the Kids. The event was promoted through postcard campaigns, newspaper and radio advertising, and flyer distribution through local schools, daycare centers, and veterinary clinics.
Visit Support for the Kids
Water Donation Program
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Establish a reputation for community stewardship by donating cases of water to local non-profit sports teams, community events, and school functions.
Action
As a business in a tight knit community, we regularly receive sponsorship and donation requests. Rather than offering piecemeal support, we created a consistent donation program that makes thousands of positive impressions on potential customers. This is accomplished by donating custom-label bottles of spring water that are sold or distributed at games and events. Since 2007, we have donated 86,400 bottles of water, made solid connections with local groups, and spread goodwill throughout the community.
Visit Hollywood Storage Center
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Offer a service to our customers and local residents by collecting and responsibly recycling their used cell phones while benefiting U.S. troops overseas.
Action
We registered with Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization that recycles used cell phones and uses the money to buy prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops in all branches of the military who are stationed overseas. As an official drop off location, we placed signs and collection boxes in our lobby and distributed flyers throughout the community. In the first three months of the program, we received 743 cell phones and continue to collect daily.
Visit Cell Phones for Soldiers
Books 4 Kids Drive
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Provide an opportunity for customers and local residents to clean out their used books while assisting a seventh grader with his community service project.
Action
We supported local student, Jacob Tobias, in collecting used books that were distributed to children through food banks, hospitals, and low-income schools. We placed collection boxes in our lobby, promoted the program through our newsletter, and connected with area elementary schools to donate. We collected 1,966 books, which contributed well to Jacob’s total 8,112. As a result of this successful project, Jacob was awarded a regional scholarship from Kohl’s Kids Who Care.
Visit Books 4 Kids Drive
Relay for Life
Kuvera Attractions
Objective
Develop camaraderie among staff nationwide by supporting and participating in the Relay for Life.
Action
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a 24-hour walk to remember and celebrate the lives of people affected by cancer and to fight back with funds for continued research and patient programs. More than 4,800 of these events take place across the country throughout the year. Our staff participates in local Relays, and we donate to each of their teams. Additionally, we provide complimentary tickets to help raise funds through silent auctions held at the events.
Visit Relay for Life
Community Garage Sale
for Many Mansions
Hollywood Storage Center
Objective
Host a community festival for charity while leasing up new storage buildings.
Action
We provided free drive-up storage units in two new buildings for individuals and community organizations to sell used goods. Their registration fee and unsold furniture, household items, and clothing were donated to local low-income housing provider Many Mansions. Additionally, we created a community festival with pony rides, live music, arts & crafts show, square dancing, carnival games, local gymnastics and karate studio demonstrations, BBQ and more. The event drew nearly 1,000 people and resulted in direct rentals of more than 25 storage units.
Visit Community Garage Sale
Ticket Donation Program
Kuvera Attractions
Objective
Provide ongoing support to community organizations in our markets by donating tickets.
Action
We value community stewardship and believe that businesses should support their communities, so we participate regularly in raffles, silent auctions, benefits, wish fulfillment, and other fundraisers. Each of our attractions donate generously to a vast array of events and organizations ranging from schools and churches to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Network, Ronald McDonald House, Faces without Places (children’s homeless organization), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and March of Dimes. Over the years, we have contributed nearly $500,000 in tickets.
Visit Ticket Donation Program
Toiletries for Tornado Victims
Hollywood Entertainment Center, Branson
Objective
Partner with local television station to supply needed toiletries to victims of the disastrous tornado in Joplin, MO.
Action
Our staff member, Austin Lynn, drove a truckload of toiletries to Joplin for direct distribution into the community by KSNF-TV. Afterwards, Austin wrote, "This was a very sobering experience, a healthy dose of reality. Being there leaves you overwhelmed with emotion. I felt extremely joyous to be delivering needed items, but at the same time it was depressing to see people walking around picking up all that was left of their lives. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful deed, but more so thank you on behalf of those in need. It is the things like this that make me so proud to be an employee of such a caring company!"
Visit Tornado Coverage