As one of the Chosen Charities for this year, Dennis has helped raise awareness for the charity with an extensive marketing campaign through its portfolio of magazines and websites as well as running a number of company-based fundraising initiatives throughout the year.
Rosie’s Rainbow Fund was established in 2003 after the tragic death of eleven-year-old Rosie Mayling. While in hospital Rosie decided that, when she was better, she would put on shows to raise money for sick children in hospital. Following the loss of Rosie her parents set up the charity to ensure that Rosie's spirit could live on and offer support to families and children affected by illness, disability and bereavement.
Dennis staff held a variety of fundraising events throughout 2013, ranging from bake sales, quizzes and auctions with the highlight being their first ever ‘Dennis Charity Day’ held on a hot summers day in August. The day saw the company open up its headquarters in London and its satellite offices across the country to a day dedicated to Rosie’s Rainbow Fund, inviting staff and clients to partake in competitions, a silent auction, a barbeque lunch including a hot-wings eating challenge and even a sponge-throwing contest at Board members. Click here to watch some highlights of the day.
Dennis also used its internal expertise to help build traffic to the Rosie Rainbow Fund website, which saw huge spikes in numbers from around 100 hits a month to, at one point this year, over 10,000 a month!
The day raised over £6,000 but also thanks to Dennis’ involvement and marketing campaign, Rosie’s Rainbow Fund has seen a significant increase in donations and has run a successful ‘Win a VW Camper Van’ Prize Draw campaign, the winner of which will be announced on Tuesday 17th December 2013, which poignantly would have been Rosie’s 21st birthday.
David Mayling, Rosie’s Dad says: “We are enormously grateful to Dennis Publishing for their support this year, with both fundraising and awareness-raising. As a small charity we have really benefited from the promotional opportunities and I’m sure that we will reap the rewards for years to come!”
Alison Hunter, HR Director and Chair of the Dennis CSR Board, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to collaborate with Rosie’s Rainbow Fund this year who are such a fantastic local charity with wonderful ambition and work ethic. Our awareness campaign has been a tremendous success and our fundraising activity allowed us to bring the company together for a brilliant cause. We have had a lot of fun along the way too!”
In addition to Rosie’s Rainbow, Dennis supports The Heart of England Forest Project.
Dennis is currently in the process of nominating its Chosen Charity for 2014.
