Executive. Baron.
If you qualify for either, or know someone who does, your phone might be ringing soon.
The American Cancer Society is on the hunt for executive barons to support and recruit for the annual Southwest Missouri Cattle Baron’s Ball. And for good reason.
In the inaugural ball, the executive barons were responsible, either personally or by association, for 75 percent of the surprising $500,000 raised. That’s $375,000 rung up in funds by this elite steering committee and its connections.
Earlier this month, organizers held an executive baron pep rally above Fire & Ice Restaurant to give a nod to those individuals and continue their momentum. Though it lacked some big-hitter executive barons such as Robert Low, William Darr and Jeff Gower, the barons on hand publicly committed their financial support for the 2010 event, scheduled for Aug. 21.
Steve Wood knows the drill. Wood, who owns Tri-Lakes Petroleum and Outback Steak & Oyster Bar in Branson, was an executive baron last year and called friend Glenn Larson to ask him for a favor. That simple request netted the ball more than $50,000 in donations, given by Larson and his companies, Larson Farm & Lawn and Larson Group-Peterbilt.
Larson also opened his pocketbook during the ball’s auction, buying roughly $10,000 worth of items. Larson later said he did it for the kids he sees afflicted with cancer, and he’s on board again as a baron, this time with a $30,000 sponsorship for the VIP pre- and post-parties.
No one-hit wonder, Wood is back as the ultimate baron, a $40,000 entertainment sponsorship, and he just secured Branson native and “American Idol” 2008 contestant Jason Yeager as music headliner for the event. His motivation: The deaths of several friends, some recently, were attributed to cancer.
“I don’t care where they do it, just find a cure,” said Wood, who just signed his Outback Roadside Motel and Suites to ACS’ Guest Room Housing program for cancer patients in Branson.
Among the first executive barohns on board last year were Scott and Donna Tarwater, who had attended a Cattle Baron’s Ball in Scott’s native Texas.
The Tarwaters are back, this year as $5,000 bronze sponsors of the mechanical bull, and so are Ron and Janice Penney, whose Penney, Murray & Associates is sponsor of the grand stage, lighting and sound, a $25,000 diamond sponsor level. Each of the Penneys has lost a parent to cancer. “It’s important for me to give back to the American Cancer Society,” said Ron Penney, who gets emotional talking about the loss of his relatives.
Price Cutter is the returning $50,000 presenting sponsor – and expects to kick in another $50,000 in-kind with food, drinks, etc. – helping to bring the current commitments to $358,000 against a total goal of $750,000.
With the ball now at 93 percent of its $296,000 sponsor goal, there are still opportunities available, including auctions, Junior Cattle Baron’s Ball, gift bags and event video sponsorships.
“A great opportunity is putting an item into the gift bag. It’s a way to get involved, but its not a huge financial commitment,” said Mary Valoni, an ACS’ events director and chief of the local Cattle Baron’s Ball, adding that the $2,000 opportunity comes with four event tickets. Valoni has seen companies coming in at the $2,000 and $3,000 levels, including Walnut Grove’s 7Cs Winery, which is working on a wine package for the auction.
If there’s a ringing in your ear, it just might be somebody talking about you as an executive baron. Consider yourself warned.
Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson is co-chairman of the 2010 Cattle Baron’s Ball publicity committee. He can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]
