A Successful Fundraising Campaign: Custom Embellishment and Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra

Background: Custom Embellishment has a longstanding partnership with the much loved apparel brand Patagonia, known for its high-quality garments and commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Having worked with Patagonia on various projects, including embroidery for non-profit organizations like 1% for the Planet and the Regenerative Organic Alliance, Custom Embellishment recently obtained a distributor license agreement from Patagonia, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and community engagement.

The Idea: With this unique opportunity at hand, Custom Embellishment sought to do something impactful and meaningful. The idea emerged to utilize our access to popular Patagonia apparel and our IT expertise to coordinate fundraisers for local nonprofits. One such nonprofit that caught our attention was the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO).

Collaboration with CYSO: Upon reaching out to CYSO with our proposal, we found a receptive partner in the organization's director. Together, Custom Embellishment and CYSO curated a selection of Patagonia garments, including Better Sweater jackets, backpacks, and t-shirts, tailored to appeal to CYSO supporters. Additionally, CYSO expressed a need for custom t-shirts for their youth orchestra musicians, which Custom Embellishment gladly assisted with, providing design suggestions and affordable pricing.

The Fundraising Campaign: Custom Embellishment created a dedicated web store featuring the curated Patagonia items, each embellished with an understated yet fashionable leather patch featuring the CYSO logo. CYSO's director promptly shared the store link with supporters and members, generating a wave of orders from individuals eager to purchase premium branded apparel while contributing to their favorite nonprofit.

Impact and Outcome: The response to the fundraiser exceeded expectations, with supporters proudly sporting their CYSO-branded Patagonia apparel, sparking conversations and generating buzz for the nonprofit. Before the CYSO youth orchestra's performance at the Denver Nuggets NBA pregame ceremony, Custom Embellishment was able to contribute to CYSO an amount equal to one full year tution scholarship thanks to the enthusiastic support of donors. The sight of supporters donning garments adorned with the CYSO leather patch and the musicians looking resplendent in their custom t-shirts served as an impressive reminder of the power of collaboration and community spirit.

Conclusion: The collaboration between Custom Embellishment and Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra exemplifies the potential for businesses and nonprofits to come together for mutual benefit and social good. By leveraging our resources, expertise, and partnerships, we were able to create a memorable fundraising campaign that not only raised funds but also raised awareness and appreciation for the arts in our community. We look forward to continuing to support organizations like CYSO and making a positive impact wherever possible.

Resources:  Link to the original CYSO funding website