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Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. Events and Programming: Starlight Supper April 12, 2013. Idea. Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. had the desire to create and produce an outdoor dinner in a space that was recently renovated and needed activation and to be showcased publicly
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Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc.Events and Programming:Starlight SupperApril 12, 2013
Idea • Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. had the desire to create and produce an outdoor dinner in a space that was recently renovated and needed activation and to be showcased publicly • We created a 4-course dinner to benefit downtown’s Emerson Alternative Education High School
Inspiration • Staff wanted to create a festive event with white linens and lights and provide community-style dining to encourage conversations • Marketing was directed toward young professionals and higher-income champions and supporters of downtown
Leadership • Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. staff worked to secure event sponsorship from the downtown Business Improvement District • We also developed partnerships with local chefs, restaurants, school advocates and celebrities to help produce and promote the event • A close relationship with City and State offices for event permitting and health code and alcohol permitting were critical to the event’s success
Promotion • DOKC promoted the event with print ads, social media and in our newsletters • OKC’s local Alt Weekly, Oklahoma Gazette, did an event preview article • Event setup was featured on City Channel 20
Press • The Media coverage gave well-deserved attention to the beneficiary, Emerson Alternative High School • Mentions and features have appeared in print and online
Logistics • Event was held at the newly renovated Bicentennial park, outside City Hall and The Civic Center • 300 tickets were sold to guests 21 and older at $40 each • DOKC Staff managed all permits, event coordination, marketing, promotion and PR • Starlight Supper was the first event of its kind in the downtown area, and the inaugural event following the park’s completion
Fun • Each of 4 participating restaurants and their head chefs supplied and prepared one gourmet course on site at the event • Wine was provided by local participating restaurant/winery and placed on tables for guests to serve themselves.
Community • Over 300 guests attended the first annual Starlight Supper • The four chefs donated their time, and many donated at least a portion, if not all, of the food costs associated with the event • DOKC made a donation of over $10,000 to Emerson Alternative High School • Former Senator Andrew Rice attended and spoke on behalf of Emerson School
Social • Great community response to the event and the use of the newly renovated downtown space on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter • High level of awareness that DOKC is the organization that produced the event
Giving • Tickets sales income went directly to the beneficiary and totaled nearly $10,000 • The money raised from Starlight Supper will assist Emerson Alternative High School in their project to build a new clinic for the pregnant teenagers and teen moms
Love • “Sitting in the shadow of two of my favorite buildings in Downtown OKC, 17 years after I first started working Downtown, I just had to smile and be so thankful for the opportunity to live this life in the city I love.” • “The park has been part of the two-going-on-infinite years of construction going on in the area, so it's great to see the work is finally complete.”