Cardboard Boat Race
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Akron was one of the first franchises to begin our Movers for Mutts® donation drive with a kick off event! Ending in 2019, our Cardboard boat race became a huge success, with all proceeds benefiting our donation drive campaign. Throughout the years, the Cardboard Boat Race proceeds benefited The Humane Society of Summit County and One of A Kind Pet Rescue, both in the Akron area. Taking the reins in 2016 the boat race not only doubled in size, but doubled in the amount of funds and donations collected. From just under $400 dollars the first year we decided to accept monetary donations, to just over $4,000 dollars the final year, the jump was staggering.
Since the races inception in 2013 our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Akron franchise was able to raise over $10,000 dollars combined from each years Cardboard Boat Race. These funds, and donations from the Movers for Mutts® campaign itself, would be presented to the shelter the first week of November when the drive had concluded.
Every weekend after Labor Day our Akron community and franchise would come to Portage Lakes for the annual Movers for Mutts® Cardboard Boat Race. This race was put on by myself with the help of those in the office and the movers themselves who race a boat. Other businesses around the Akron area could purchase different packages and build and race boats themselves.
Each boat was built out of cardboard given to each team from myself with the help of a few movers and drivers. Each team was responsible for building and theming their boat. They had to make sure they were following certain guidelines and rules to make sure there was no cheating during boat construction.
On race day all boats would line up along the shore and wait to be checked by the judges to make sure no extra buoyancy was added. On the 'GO' shouted from the judges dock the boats would sail out to buoys placed, turn around and race back to the starting line. The first boat that reached the beach was declared the winner.
Spectators were encouraged to not only come on race day but, if they had them, bring their furry friends as well. We had games, give aways and concessions set up to keep everyone entertained throughout the whole event.
There were four ways to place at the race; Speed Boat (first to reach the beach after they got to the buoy), Crowd Favorite (crowed voted boat) Titanic (best sink) and Best Themed Boat. Speed Boat and Titanic were picked by the judges panel, while Crowd Favorite and Best Themed Boat were chosen by the spectators. The Speed Boat winner also won a Puppy Play Date courtesy of the Shelter proceeds were going towards. Below is a video I created to highlight the day.
Promotion
All logos, flyers, shirts, banners -anything for promotion of the event was all created by myself. Promotion of the event itself actually ran all year, minus Quarter 4, just to keep it fresh in peoples heads. Whether they wanted to actually participate or just come spectate there was always something Cardboard Boat Race going on at our Akron Franchise.
Promotion for this event was great and included radio, television and print. Our office manager at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Akron is a skilled guitar player and vocalist. He actually wrote the Cardboard Boat Race jingle featured on our yearly radio, television and streaming spots.
The above is an excerpt from the jingle used on social media.
Shirt design
Team sign up flyer design
Banner design
Cardboard Boat Race: The Final Year
Our 2019 race was the final year of the ever so beloved Cardboard Boat Race before the COVID 19 Pandemic, but it sure went out with a bang -literally. Thunderstorms moved the entire event indoors but that didn't stop the fun! 97.5 WONE was there playing music and handing out prizes and Sassy Dog kept the food coming. The race went off without a hitch with Peoples Bank taking home the win!
This was the first time I had seen a cardboard boat with glowing eyes. 👀
The Akron Beacon Journal also covered our Boat Race for the fourth year in a row.
Third times the charm! Peoples Bank had been going for the win since joining the race three years ago and this year was finally their year! They earned their long awaited puppy play date, and also presented the shelter with the check from 2019's Movers for Mutts® donation drive -$2000.00.
To read more about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Akrons Movers for Mutts donation drive, follow this link.
