Challenge
Rose Hills, the largest memorial park in North America, realized that its grounds and facilities were its biggest selling points. Yet, except to visit families and attend services, very few people came to the memorial park.
Approach:
Corridor Communications developed an events strategy that would attract a diverse cross section of the community, build goodwill and strengthen ties with Veterans organizations, clergy, educators, community leaders, government officials, and residents throughout Southern California.
Our team conceived, planned, and executed annual special events for more than 14 years. The inaugural event was a 10 day visit of the traveling Vietnam Wall, and proved to be the largest event in the company’s history. Our team planned and completed five major ceremonies/performances, three days of educational programs for local schools, and produced a documentary film of the Wall’s visit. In addition, we recruited 500 Veterans to provide an escort for the Wall’s arrival and departure; 600+ community volunteers; ministers representing 10 faith communities, and 20 Veteran docents. We secured media coverage daily from local print, online and broadcast media. Most important, over 100,000 people visited the park during the event.
Additional events we created and implemented since 2011 include:
- Annual Veterans Resource Fair & Car Show
- 100 Year Centennial Celebration
- Annual Veterans Day and Homeless Veterans Burial Ceremony
- Memorial Day
To reach high net worth families we created and produced high-end collateral including a video documentary on the Vietnam Wall event, event books, and a Rose Hills Centennial Book.
Impact:
The strategy effectively positioned Rose Hills as a caring and responsible community leader. Civic, religious, military, government and community leaders continually support the events, which many anticipate each year. The events program is on ongoing success, bringing hundreds of thousands to Rose Hills since 2011 and helping pre-planning sales grow each year from contacts made at the events.