Byways Awards Dinner Events
Boost Awareness and Raise Funds

Several byway organizations hold events to recognize volunteers, members, media and others with awards. In addition to being good public relations events and creating public awareness of the byway, these events can also generate funding through auctions, sales of trade and information booth space, and sales of dinner tickets.

Admission can be sold on a per person or group/table rate. The byway organization can send event notices to the award winners’ fellow alumni, club members and family members encouraging them to purchase tickets to the event.

You can create media attention by naming finalists prior to the event and announcing winners at the event. A presentation about the byway can be included as part of the event’s in-person and/or printed program. Multi-media presentations can share photos of the recognized activity or individuals, and of the byway and its projects and programs.

Variations of dinner events by the byway organations include a pot luck supper combined with an art auction event. Another byway organization holds a tasting event and invites legislators and industry leaders to attend; public access is available for the price of a $20 ticket. That event also includes an auction of donated items with a collective value of $23,000 in one year. This event in the past has made about $8,000 net.

One byway holds an annual free meal event as a way to attract local stakeholders, partners and others. The event features a meal made with locally-grown produce, byway partner displays, byway-based entertainment, and a presentation on the byway’s accomplishments, projects and plans. Attendance at this event has grown from 175 in its first year to more than 300 in its fourth year. About $5,000 is expected from a raffle of donated items, silent auction, prize drawing, and membership sales at the event.