Overview
Ultimate Escapes member, Doc Rivers (Boston Celtics head coach), has been a long time supporter of the Shepherd’s Hope who provides healthcare to the uninsured. Since 2007, Ultimate Escapes has joined his charitable efforts to support the annual Shepherd’s Hope Celebrity Golf Tournament fund-raiser by donating multiple luxury vacations to a live auction. In 2009, Ultimate Escapes took the fund-raising efforts to a new level by launching UltimateGiving.com and combining its charitable efforts with eBay Gives Back. The first online auction launched in coordination with the Shepherd’s Hope Celebrity Tournament. Ultimate Escapes donated multiple trips to Shepherd’s Hope’s live auction AND also matched the same trip donation in online auctions to London, Cabo San Lucas, Jackson Hole and Turks & Caicos. The Ultimate Giving/eBay Gives Back auction opened up a whole new world of charitable giving to those who were not familiar with Shepherd’s Hope and it was a great way for Shepherd’s Hope to raise additional donations from key contributors who could not attend the tournament’s live auction but wanted to participate.

In addition to the luxury trip donations, Ultimate Escapes partnered with Doc Rivers to offer to unique one-time experiences. One unique online auction was a VIP experience for a meet & greet with Doc River’s and other celebrities in Orlando during the tournament, a chance to play in the Celebrity Golf Invitational and a luxury weekend stay in the Ultimate Escapes residence in Orlando, FL during the tournament. The other unique online auction included 4 tickets to a Boston Celtics game, meet & greet with Doc after the game, signed memorabilia and a weekend stay in one of Ultimate Escapes 5-star hotel partners in Boston.

Shepherd’s Hope and Ultimate Escapes worked closely with their partners to announce the eBay auctions in newsletters, emails, press releases, social media, radio, tv and available advertising spaces.


Result
By successfully integrating Ultimate Escapes residences and unique celebrity experiences with the promotional efforts of Shepherd’s Hope, Doc Rivers/Boston Celtics, World Hotels and Ultimate Escapes we were able to raise over $$$ for all auction efforts. Thus, making it one of Shepherd’s Hope best fundraising events, in a not-so-great fundraising economy.

Brands
Ultimate Escapes Luxury Destination Clubs, World Hotels, American Airlines, Doc Rivers/Boston Celtics.