New York FFA Campaign Uses Social Media and
Places 3rd in Nation on Give FFA Day 2023
Places 3rd in Nation on Give FFA Day 2023
On February 23, 2023, National FFA hosted an online event called Give FFA Day – 24 hours of philanthropy across the nation in support of over 850,000 FFA Members. The beauty of this online event is that all gifts made to National FFA on Give FFA Day can be directed to the donor’s state FFA of choice.
This year New York FFA joined the rest of the country and initiated a campaign. They demonstrated the power of collaboration and creativity by placing 3rd in the nation for both dollars raised and number of donors. New York FFA raised a total of $30,877 from 154 donors – a truly impressive result. Retired Ag teacher, Sam Shapiro, from John Bowne in Queens, NY pledged matching gift funds to incentivize giving. Sam agreed to match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000.
Sam, like so many other steadfast supporters of New York FFA, believes in the critical role FFA members will continue to play in the future of agriculture, and in the transformative power FFA membership has in strengthening personal growth, leadership development and career success. Sam's desire to help stems from his understanding of the need to broaden our support base and increase outreach efforts. He hoped his gift would inspire others to give – particularly gifts from a new generation of students, parents and teachers. His match did the trick as the campaign reached the $10,000 threshold in just 12 hours and in turn, met the $20,000 campaign goal. Over the remaining time an additional $10,652 was raised positioning New York as third behind only Arkansas and Oregon.
Several donors shared their reasons for supporting NY FFA upon making their gifts. Rebecca Breese, a former NY State FFA Officer cited; “To ensure current and future students are able to have the same amazing experiences that I had”. Alum Ashley Willits shared; “Giving back to an organization that is such a big part of who I have become.”
The campaign consisted of a two-part (pre and day of) multichannel marketing plan. It utilized direct marketing strategies and techniques geared toward our website, social media profiles, online giving software, text messaging automation tools and email marketing software. The campaign was conducted by a team of volunteer “influencers” who both promoted the event and encouraged participation. This was accomplished via personal testimonies and social media content posted and shared over the course of FFA Week.
Lori von Seydewitz Emmons serves on the Foundation Board and chairs the Fundraising Committee. Lori shares, “The means of raising funds have changed over the last several years, yet some methods will remain evergreen. We realized our success through conducting several types of social media campaigns simultaneously. No matter how strong the plan, it will fall short without proper execution. This is where our dedicated volunteers made all the difference. When they shared their story people listened, remembered, and again wanted to make a difference. They did that by making gift.”
Funds raised on Give FFA Day will be used to finance various student-based initiatives - student projects, travel to competitions, scholarships for leadership programs, summer leadership camps and even new FFA jackets.
Eyes are already set on next year's Give FFA Day on February 22, 2024.
This year New York FFA joined the rest of the country and initiated a campaign. They demonstrated the power of collaboration and creativity by placing 3rd in the nation for both dollars raised and number of donors. New York FFA raised a total of $30,877 from 154 donors – a truly impressive result. Retired Ag teacher, Sam Shapiro, from John Bowne in Queens, NY pledged matching gift funds to incentivize giving. Sam agreed to match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000.
Sam, like so many other steadfast supporters of New York FFA, believes in the critical role FFA members will continue to play in the future of agriculture, and in the transformative power FFA membership has in strengthening personal growth, leadership development and career success. Sam's desire to help stems from his understanding of the need to broaden our support base and increase outreach efforts. He hoped his gift would inspire others to give – particularly gifts from a new generation of students, parents and teachers. His match did the trick as the campaign reached the $10,000 threshold in just 12 hours and in turn, met the $20,000 campaign goal. Over the remaining time an additional $10,652 was raised positioning New York as third behind only Arkansas and Oregon.
Several donors shared their reasons for supporting NY FFA upon making their gifts. Rebecca Breese, a former NY State FFA Officer cited; “To ensure current and future students are able to have the same amazing experiences that I had”. Alum Ashley Willits shared; “Giving back to an organization that is such a big part of who I have become.”
The campaign consisted of a two-part (pre and day of) multichannel marketing plan. It utilized direct marketing strategies and techniques geared toward our website, social media profiles, online giving software, text messaging automation tools and email marketing software. The campaign was conducted by a team of volunteer “influencers” who both promoted the event and encouraged participation. This was accomplished via personal testimonies and social media content posted and shared over the course of FFA Week.
Lori von Seydewitz Emmons serves on the Foundation Board and chairs the Fundraising Committee. Lori shares, “The means of raising funds have changed over the last several years, yet some methods will remain evergreen. We realized our success through conducting several types of social media campaigns simultaneously. No matter how strong the plan, it will fall short without proper execution. This is where our dedicated volunteers made all the difference. When they shared their story people listened, remembered, and again wanted to make a difference. They did that by making gift.”
Funds raised on Give FFA Day will be used to finance various student-based initiatives - student projects, travel to competitions, scholarships for leadership programs, summer leadership camps and even new FFA jackets.
Eyes are already set on next year's Give FFA Day on February 22, 2024.
Thank You to our Donors!
Sam Shapiro
Ray & Barb Lighthall
Dwight Coombe - Ric & Karen Coombe - Gary Swan
Beller Family Farms - Dick Campany - Richard & Joyce Church - Spencer Gridley - Fred & Margot Marcus
Benjamin Smith - Nancy Welsh - Christopher Whipple - John Clark - Lewis Kargman
Bob & Anne Allen - John W. Allen - Jennifer Henderson - Amy Kesler - Karl & Marita Oertel - Corey Reed
Rebecca Breese - Patrick Coombe - Daryle & Sharon Foster - Jonathan & Danielle Head - Nicole LaFave
Michele Rowe - Rick & Vonnie Strangeway - Mary Ann Snider - Bruce & Anita Wright
Bruce & Kathleen Erath - Patrick & Karen Hooker - Dianne Lewis - Juleah Tolosky
Volo's Auto Supply - Richard Bennett - Hauk Boyes - Gary Bray - Liam Brody - Jon & Rachael Clayson - Mazie Damcott
Lori Detraglia - Judy Ernenwein - Deb Fletcher - Peyton Fontaine - Mary-Elizabeth Foote - Natasha & Jeffrey Foote
Deborah Greek - Joseph Gould - Gary & Elsie Herzig - Matt & Daniella Hibbard - Charles Jenison - Allyson Jones-Brimmer
Catherine Jones-Brimmer - Gerald Killigrew - Sandra & Daniel King - Denise Krohn - Megan Lamb - Katharine Leming
Mo Lepine - Mari Martin - Margaret Miller - John Moylett - Ken & Jane Olcott - Jeffrey Perry - Paul Perry - Steven Perry
Victoria Pierle - Dwight Putnam - Marcy Quackenbush - Jennifer Regelski-Rotman - Catie Rowe - Glenna Ryan - Sharon Spies Robichaud
Sherri Staib - Steven Smith - William Stowell - Michelle Tolosky - Ken & Tonya Van Slyke - Lori von Seydewitz Emmons
John & Theresa Wagner - Robin & Bill Waite - Rick & Sarah Welsh - Marie Western - Dorothy Wilcox - Jan & Mark Woodworth
Lori Bailey - Lindsey Ballard - Shari Bennett-Rice - Ellen Bogardus - Carlie Bossard - Kait Burns - Terry & Cyndee Burton
Cheryl Coolbaugh - Kimberly Corkum - Morgan Craven - Elizabeth Denning - Joshua Draves - Kaylee Eaton - KristiAnn Frank
Cindy Gallagher - Cristian Gilces - Rita Greis - Sara Hale - Jessica Halm - Mark & Molly Henderson - Michelle & Matt Jacobsen
Hillary Kelly - Russell & Judy Kelly - Aaron Kimmich - Michele Kline - Julia Kreiter - Myah LaFave - Lynn Lee - Danielle Lentz
Todd & Shari Lighthall - Kimberly McKown - Barbara Moda - Matt Nabel - Monica Ng - Matthew Olson - Jeff Parnapy
Melvin & Jennifer Phelps - Annette Prezzano - Elizabeth Robinson - Victor Rodriguez - Brady Rogers - Amelia Scarlata - Elizabeth Schieferstine
Jessica Silverman - Chris Smith - Gary & Doreen Snider - Amber & Jamie Thibodeau - Laura Villanti - Brittany von Hess
Jennifer & Brian Walrath - Jenny Watson - Ashley Willits - Jerry & Shirley Witter - Veronique Woloszyn - Carol Wright - Claire Zellner
Sam Shapiro
Ray & Barb Lighthall
Dwight Coombe - Ric & Karen Coombe - Gary Swan
Beller Family Farms - Dick Campany - Richard & Joyce Church - Spencer Gridley - Fred & Margot Marcus
Benjamin Smith - Nancy Welsh - Christopher Whipple - John Clark - Lewis Kargman
Bob & Anne Allen - John W. Allen - Jennifer Henderson - Amy Kesler - Karl & Marita Oertel - Corey Reed
Rebecca Breese - Patrick Coombe - Daryle & Sharon Foster - Jonathan & Danielle Head - Nicole LaFave
Michele Rowe - Rick & Vonnie Strangeway - Mary Ann Snider - Bruce & Anita Wright
Bruce & Kathleen Erath - Patrick & Karen Hooker - Dianne Lewis - Juleah Tolosky
Volo's Auto Supply - Richard Bennett - Hauk Boyes - Gary Bray - Liam Brody - Jon & Rachael Clayson - Mazie Damcott
Lori Detraglia - Judy Ernenwein - Deb Fletcher - Peyton Fontaine - Mary-Elizabeth Foote - Natasha & Jeffrey Foote
Deborah Greek - Joseph Gould - Gary & Elsie Herzig - Matt & Daniella Hibbard - Charles Jenison - Allyson Jones-Brimmer
Catherine Jones-Brimmer - Gerald Killigrew - Sandra & Daniel King - Denise Krohn - Megan Lamb - Katharine Leming
Mo Lepine - Mari Martin - Margaret Miller - John Moylett - Ken & Jane Olcott - Jeffrey Perry - Paul Perry - Steven Perry
Victoria Pierle - Dwight Putnam - Marcy Quackenbush - Jennifer Regelski-Rotman - Catie Rowe - Glenna Ryan - Sharon Spies Robichaud
Sherri Staib - Steven Smith - William Stowell - Michelle Tolosky - Ken & Tonya Van Slyke - Lori von Seydewitz Emmons
John & Theresa Wagner - Robin & Bill Waite - Rick & Sarah Welsh - Marie Western - Dorothy Wilcox - Jan & Mark Woodworth
Lori Bailey - Lindsey Ballard - Shari Bennett-Rice - Ellen Bogardus - Carlie Bossard - Kait Burns - Terry & Cyndee Burton
Cheryl Coolbaugh - Kimberly Corkum - Morgan Craven - Elizabeth Denning - Joshua Draves - Kaylee Eaton - KristiAnn Frank
Cindy Gallagher - Cristian Gilces - Rita Greis - Sara Hale - Jessica Halm - Mark & Molly Henderson - Michelle & Matt Jacobsen
Hillary Kelly - Russell & Judy Kelly - Aaron Kimmich - Michele Kline - Julia Kreiter - Myah LaFave - Lynn Lee - Danielle Lentz
Todd & Shari Lighthall - Kimberly McKown - Barbara Moda - Matt Nabel - Monica Ng - Matthew Olson - Jeff Parnapy
Melvin & Jennifer Phelps - Annette Prezzano - Elizabeth Robinson - Victor Rodriguez - Brady Rogers - Amelia Scarlata - Elizabeth Schieferstine
Jessica Silverman - Chris Smith - Gary & Doreen Snider - Amber & Jamie Thibodeau - Laura Villanti - Brittany von Hess
Jennifer & Brian Walrath - Jenny Watson - Ashley Willits - Jerry & Shirley Witter - Veronique Woloszyn - Carol Wright - Claire Zellner
Giving has no season! You can make a gift to the New York FFA Foundation at any time by using the link below. Thank you to all that support the NY FFA and its members across the state.