“What a great event that was!” These words are often heard following one of our Niagara Hospice special events. And yes, they are truly great and impactful events-whether someone rides in our Gran Fondo, runs in the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon, walks in the Hospice Dash, picks the perfect bouquet from our Spring Bouquet Sale, or dances the night away at Cocktails & Cash. There is fun had by all, and all to benefit Niagara Hospice.
There is so much happening behind the scenes to make these events a reality. The planning that leads up to these big events is strategic and thorough, and is done by the two individuals in our Special Events Department; Allison Bolt, Special Events Coordinator, and Colleen Daddario, Events Specialist. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Allison and Colleen to ask a little bit more about what their jobs entail.
Q: How long have you been with Niagara Hospice?
Allison: 12 years
Colleen: 4 years
Q: Describe your role at Niagara Hospice. What does it mean to coordinate/specialize in events? What is your day-to-day like?
Allison: I am the Special Events Coordinator at Niagara Hospice. Being the Special Events Coordinator at Niagara Hospice means I am responsible for planning, organizing, and executing events that support the organization’s mission and fundraise for its programs. The day to day varies depending on upcoming events. We could be working on 3-4 events at once in all different stages of the planning process!
Colleen: : I coordinate the logistics of our events and create social media content to advertise them. My day to day consists of reaching out to sponsors, vendors, volunteers and other key community partners that make our events successful.
Q: Niagara Hospice has very diverse events; you have the bike ride and the races, and then you have the Spring Bouquet Sale and Cocktails & Cash. Then, during November Hospice Month, you facilitate “Dine-Out-for-Hospice” as well. How do you keep it all straight?
Allison: It can be challenging to keep it all straight but organization and strong communication is key!
Colleen: Lots of spreadsheets! One for every event that is broken down with tasks every month that need to get completed. Good communication is the key to our success.
Q: What is your favorite event to plan?
Allison: My favorite event to plan is the Spring Bouquet sale because it’s one event that brings the Niagara County community together.
Colleen: Cocktails & Cash, we get to be really creative with the theme & decorations!
Q: What folks might not know is that you also help with community fundraisers (“called Host-it for Hospice”). What is different about helping with community events?
Allison: With these community events, we are so lucky to have various groups and individuals plan and execute these events on behalf of Niagara Hospice. Our role in these events is to offer support and guidance when needed. We also try to promote these events on our social media platform so our supporters know what is happening in our community.
Colleen: These are events that we don’t plan the logistics for. Members of the community plan these events on our behalf and we’ll go to help out the day of; we kind of act as extra volunteers in a way.
Q: Additionally, you assist in planning some of our grief support events like Wings of Hope and Light-a-Life.
Allison: Yes, planning a grief support event involves a deeper understanding of the attendee’s needs and ensuring that every aspect of the event-from content to communication is handled with care and empathy. I really enjoy planning these events as it’s nice to see the families that have been touched by the services of Niagara Hospice.
Colleen: Yes, we collaborate with our grief support teamsto coordinate these community focused events. The difference with these types of events is that the focus is on supporting those that have lost loved ones heal and not necessarily on the fundraising/awareness aspect that we bring to our other events.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to do the same kind of work that you both do?
Allison: Becoming a special events coordinator for a non-profit organization such as Niagara Hospice is a rewarding career path. My main advice is to really understand and embrace the organizations mission. Your passion for the cause will drive your success in organizing impactful events!
Colleen: Have passion for what you do and believe in the cause of why you’re doing it. Event planning is not an easy job, but knowing that we are helping our community makes it all worthwhile.
Q: Finish this sentence…the best part of working for Niagara Hospice is:
Allison: The best part about working for Niagara Hospice is the chance to contribute to a cause that has a significant and positive impact on the lives of patients and their families, all while working in a mission driven environment that values compassion and community.
Colleen: Connecting with the community and knowing that our efforts make a difference in peoples’ health and wellness.
We thank Allison and Colleen for taking the time to let us take a glimpse into the “events world.” Since 1988, over 30,000 individuals and families have been touched by the expert, specialized care of Niagara Hospice. Thousands more are inspired to give back to the nonprofit through participating in events, or generously hosting an event of their own. These special events increase awareness and raise funds to further advance the Niagara Hospice mission of “providing the right care in the right place, at the right time.”
Next time you are at an event, take a moment to look around…notice all of the moving parts, the creativity, the volunteer force, the special touches and the attention to detail. Those are just a few of the many workings of being a part of the Special Events Department, an essential member of the Niagara Hospice Family.
