Cause Marketing

Brand marketers build brand awareness—and goodwill—by sponsoring the actual event volunteers

Imagine walking down the street and hearing that your hair looks good or that your jacket is cool. No we’re not talking about those irritating wolf whistles that guys have foisted on the fairer sex since the dawn of time. We’re talking about expressions of cheer and goodwill spread by two Purdue University students Cameron Brown and Brett Westcott who on Wednesdays since 2008 have been standing outside the chemistry building on the West Lafayette IN campus with a “Free Compliments” sign and singing the praises of passersby.

Colgate-Palmolive has been marketing successfully to elementary schools via its Bright Smiles Bright Futures program for 18 years. The ongoing program has become more and more interactive with an increasing presence at schools nationwide. It currently produces annual plays at schools brings in high-profile celebrities and stations mobile dental vans at schools and other locations to provide children with oral health education free screenings and dental supplies.

Doubletree Hotels and the United Nations World Food Program have teamed up to motivate students to help fight hunger this holiday season by collecting food for local food banks in the United States and raising funds for hunger relief operations abroad.

Welch’s the grape juice brand has partnered with Scholastic Parent & Child magazine in a Harvest Grants program to help 100 schools nationwide grow fruit and vegetable gardens. Their bounty will be the source of nutritious meals cooked at home or in school or donated to local food pantries.