Home Tour Volunteers and Supporters:
Now that all the ticket sales, sponsorship and Patron money has been tallied, we wanted you to be among the first to know just how successful the "Year of the Phoenix" was for the SML Charity Home Tour.
The coming week's newspapers will report that the 2011 Tour will donate $104,000-that's $13,000 each-to this year's participating charities.
This represents a 37% increase over the charity distribution in 2010. In addition, this year's charity payout comes entirely from 2011 operating proceeds, with no contribution from Home Tour reserves.
How was this result achieved in a difficult economic climate? Well, the perfect weekend weather most certainly contributed to ticket sales of over 2150-close to double last year's attendance. So did extensive publicity and marketing in and around SML, led by Ferne & Jerry Hale, coupled with an "outreach" effort to a number of communities within weekend driving distance. The well-organized Sponsorship campaign, organized and driven by volunteer Phil Servidea, more than doubled the total contribution by area businesses and Patrons. Furthermore, all members of the Executive Operating Committee made every effort to keep expenditures for operating the Tour to a minimum. With more than 1100 volunteers, many recruited by the charities themselves, coming together to perform all the tasks that make the event fun and easy for Tour guests, there was little doubt that this year would be special!
In addition, a number of Fall Festival events were planned to complement the Tour itself, and a number of businesses offered specials to Tour ticket holders. These dimensions, plus eight beautiful homes showcased by a gorgeous lake setting, should contribute to a "We've got to go back next year" attitude among Tour goers. We hope everyone who reads this message will feel confident in recommending the 2012 Tour to their friends and acquaintances, especially those from distant communities who might elect to visit SML for Home Tour weekend next year.
Furthermore, we hope that you will want to step up and play a role in making next year's Tour even better than this one! In 2012, Home Tour dates will again be on Columbus Day weekend, Friday thru Sunday, October 5-7.
