(LAS VEGAS, NV, March 19, 2024) Expree Credit Union representative, Andrea Giusti, Chief Marketing Officer, attended the Marketing & Business Development Council of America’s Credit Unions conference where Expree Credit Union received a Diamond Award representing the best marketing campaigns in the credit union industry during 2023. Expree brought home the Category’s Best in Ongoing Events. Expree was recognized for its annual Kids’ Adventure Day. Credit unions, advertising agencies, and associations submitted a record 1,451 submissions for the prestigious award. In all, 168 organizations from 44 states including the District of Columbia were selected as winners.
Expree’s entry for Kids’ Adventure Day exhibited the industry motto of “people helping people.” The event was originally designed to give back to the community and allow families to participate in fun activities at no charge to them. The entry explained how in the past, the event was held at Josephine Sculpture Park outside the city but due to new park restrictions, had to be relocated in 2023. With the need to change locations, Expree decided to revamp the event, including the timing of the event and overall objective.
The event had previously been held in May. It was moved to April to tie-in with Credit Union Youth Month and incorporated more than 10 non-profit organizations that also live up to the credit union motto of “people helping people.”
This collaboration was the result of a simple conversation at a Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce event between Giusti and Elle Travis, executive director for YesArts, an organization mobilizing the power of community and the arts to disrupt the cycle of addiction. Giusti mentioned to Travis the need for a new location and Travis was excited to offer their location and the newly renovated area of downtown, designed to encourage this sort of activity and bring together the community. It took place at YesArts in the center of downtown. The event was hosted in their parking lot and building, along with a city lot.
Expree invited organizations to set up tables to provide information to families. These organizations included Wanda Joyce Robinson Foundation, an organization investing in relationships that strengthen the lives of children, youth and families impacted by incarceration; city and county law enforcement; city and county fire and EMS; the public library; Imagination Library; Just Say Yes, an organization committed to giving children the opportunity to access fun, healthy activities when school’s out; Farmer’s Market; Kentucky State University 4-H; Bridging the Gap, an organization designed to build relationships between the community and Kentucky State University; and Building Lives Through Sports Network.
This event was designed to bring the children in our community and their families together with community members willing to help them. The non-profits involved are ones Expree Credit Union already supports throughout the year.
Expree provided swag to each booth as “prizes” for the activities they offered to attract the children and their families to their tables. Expree partnered with Main Street Diner and Hoggy’s Ice Cream, funding more than 400 hot dogs, chips, water and 650 cups of ice cream. Expree also provided a petting zoo and inflatables. There were more than 20 stations including face painting, balloon animals and Kid IDs. This was the largest event with more than 1000 in attendance.
This year’s Kids’ Adventure Day will be held at the same location on April 13, 2024.
