![G4G challengers with the children at RAEY]()
G4G challengers with the children at RAEY
Gulf For Good 2011 Year End Report
This report intends to show all Gulf for Good supporters what Gulf For Good has been up to in 2011. Gulf for Good would like to thank you for your support and your generous donations without which it would not have been able to accomplish as much as it has in the past year. We truly hope that you continue to support us and help us "Give kids a chance around the world"
You will see that the report is in great detail in keeping with our policy of transparency. Please do read on and Keep Supporting!
2011 CHALLENGES
- 2011 was a great year for Gulf for Good, with 4 challenges, 82 participants and AED 1,066,322 raised for charity. The Trek Ethiopia challenge, Wilds of Borneo challenge, Everest Base Camp challenge and Cycle the Seven Emirates challenge were great successes and have helped raise money for the underprivileged children in Ethiopia, Borneo, Nepal and UAE.
2012 CHALLENGES
- In 2012 we have China, Kilimanjaro, Romania and Burma. The first Kilimanjaro group filled quickly, so we have opened a second group, which already has 10 registrations. We were very sorry to have had to postpone the Syria challenge, but we will organize this challenge again as soon as the country is stable
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
All your donations to Gulf for Good have enabled us to improve our capital investments to help give kids a chance around the world.
DATABASE
- Constant Contact, our on-line database management system, continues to be a great asset. We now have 3,140 active contacts. This helps us increase awareness and keep our supporters in the loop.
WEB HOSTING
- Flip Media continue to host our website and we benefit from their on-going support and knowledge/understanding of our website and activities
- They are currently advising us on additions to the website for sponsor and volunteer pages, as well as an Arabic welcome page
- They are also following up on some technical recommendations made by Sekari, an SEO company which has undertaken a full SEO audit for G4G, free of charge
CREDIT CARD CAPABILITY
- The credit card machine is definitely helping us to get, on the spot registration for challenges at Information evenings and socials, which was not possible before
ADMIN ASSISTANT
- As the G4G office only had 1 full time and 1 part time employee we have not appointed a new part time Admin Assistance. We have found the role of the Admin Assistant to be crucial to cope with the increased workload due to the success of our challenges. We have re-titled the role to “Coordinator”. She has also taken on the coordination of the training events and allowed the training calendar to be greatly improved.
CORPORATE FOLDERS
- We are currently designing a corporate folder for all future Challenge Packs and information packs to be given to potential sponsors and supporters
- We are hoping that these will be a cost-effective way to allow improved professionalism of our presentation
PR MATERIAL
E-NEWSLETTER
- We are sending at least 3 full Charity Updates to the entire database each year, which are receiving excellent feedback – the latest is attached
- Weekly emails go to the database regarding training and other dates for the dairy
- Our database is now 3,140 strong
- We have found that the most popular email that we send is the full charity update. It receives high open rates and strong feedback from our database
E-FLYERS
- We produce an e-flyer for each challenge, which is sent to the database and always generates higher open rates and a good response rate in terms of registrations
LEAFLETS & POSTERS
- Distribution of our leaflets and posters is very good again this year. As we did last year, we will make a second print run of leaflets, probably in April
G4G WEBSITE
- The website has undergone a few changes in the last year, especially to the use of the Home page, which is now more regularly updated with current events and charity updates.
- The charity pages are now much more ‘live’ with regular updates as frequently as we receive the same from the charities themselves.
FACEBOOK & TWITTER
- Our presence on Facebook and Twitter continues to grow and both media produce considerable feedback, with Facebook being especially useful for publicizing events
- The Facebook Group has been archived by Facebook as part of their regeneration scheme: 1,449 members
- Twitter: 319 followers
EVENTS
TRAINING SESSIONS
- The training sessions continue to be run practically every week and are attended by quite a variety of people – many past and current challengers, but also many people new to G4G
- We now have a wider range of training offers, with strong support from various companies such as CrossFit LifeSpark, Urban Energy, Optimal Fitness
INFORMATION SESSIONS
- We have a new venue for Info sessions – Adventure HQ
- Although, it doesn’t provide canapés, etc (!), the setting is perfect for our needs, being nestled in amongst kayaks, hiking boots, etc and people like to go there as a ‘destination’, as well as shop for kit on the night
- Abu Dhabi will be trying out a new venue this month -Al Manhal Abu Dhabi by Rotana
LOCAL EVENTS
- The G4G 10th Anniversary party in June last year was a great success
- We are now attending far more local events in a more official awareness raising capacity. For example, we had a booth at the Standard Chartered Marathon, a team at the Dubai Cares Walk for Education and the Small World walk in Abu Dhabi
- We have been becoming far more involved in community events, such as the Heels and Deals (women entrepreneurs networking group) SME event, at which our Governor, Tricia Evans, was the facilitator. Another is the Outdoor UAE beach party on March 30, at which we will be one of several outdoor activity providers exhibiting and providing action-packed entertainment
- We will be presenting at the Al Ain TEDx conference to an anticipated audience of 800 in April
- We also hope to organize a large event in the coming year at which we would be able to significantly raise our profile and, hopefully, raise some funds too
MEDIA
ARABIC PRESS
- We are working on building more coverage in the Arabic press and now have the promise of help from a new PR agency called Grace and Garbo
DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND MONTHLY MAGAZINES
- Local newspapers continue to support G4G with features and promotion of upcoming events. The most supportive publications are 7 Days, Time Out, Friday magazine, Abu Dhabi Week and Explorer Magazine, but we have finally made some inroads into the National! In other countries, the Kuwaiti English language press are now following our stories, but only with a lot of post release follow-up from us
- You can see links to all articles, etc on our website at http://www.gulf4good.org/en/section/media-center
TV & RADIO
- We have had to reduce our involvement in TV and Radio due to lack of resources and, as reported last year, the fact that we do not see an increased enquiries as a result
- However, we did have a very good feature on MBC TV on the Cycle the Seven Emirates Challenge, as well as some very good coverage on Dubai Eye radio
FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP
- In 2011 we have received a significant donation of a little over AED 55,000 including AED 7697 received from Living Social during their "12 days of Giving" program via Global Giving. This does not include a AED 100,000 donation received from Dubai Duty Free Foundation and AED 50,000 received from Landmark Group for the Cycle the Seven Emirates challenge in December 2011.
NON-FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP
ADVENTURE HQ
- Hosting Dubai-based information events
- Providing vouchers for competition prizes
BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP
- The BBG has given 2 members of G4G team free membership of the BBG. This should prove invaluable for networking
TRAINING SPONSORS
- CrossFit LifeSpark - 50% discount to all registered G4G challengers and free monthly beach circuit session
- Optimal Fitness – free weekend training sessions
- Urban Energy – free training sessions
RETAIL SPONSORS
- Trespass, Dubai Mall - 50% discounts to all G4G registered participants
- Lifestyle 360, Shk Zayed Rd - discount to all G4G registered challengers on certain bikes
- Adventure HQ – up to 15% off all purchases to registered challengers
- Sakeen Trading provided us with a huge number of free, branded sporks for free gifts to attendees at our 10th anniversary party. They also gave us 100 seat pads which we’re giving to all registered challengers
MEDICAL SPONSORS
- Kersten Elliott, Podiatrist/Chiropodist – 50% discount to all registered G4G challengers on consultations and boot selection advice pre-challenge
- Dubai London Clinic are helping us by signing off our medical kit when we need to transport it overseas
TRAINING SPONSORS
- Pinnacle PR have provided our Head of Communications, Patricia Anderson, with free Communications and PR training to allow her to streamline her work. This is proving invaluable
SEO SPONSORS
- Sekari have undertaken a full SEO audit and are currently implementing their findings
G4G REGIONAL EXPANSION
SATELLITE TEAMS
- The volunteers in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait have worked hard to promote G4G and start building awareness in those cities
- We have received increased registrations from both cities
- Unfortunately, the volunteer in Kuwait has had to move to Morocco, so is unable to continue her great work in Kuwait. However, we are hoping that she might be able to make some headway in Morocco!
- We are continuing to deal with the press in Kuwait from our Dubai office
- We are working on 3 other target countries for increased awareness of Gulf for Good. These are: Saudi (Aramco), Bahrain and Qatar
OTHER
BRITISH CHARITY REGISTRATION
- As a British Charity, we are trying very hard to set up a UK Bank account so that our challengers can start using the on-line fundraising site, Just Giving. However, this has not been an easy process and we are working hard towards making it happen.
![G4G challengers helping people on their way]()
G4G challengers helping people on their way
![Challengers painting at the charity home in Borneo]()
Challengers painting at the charity home in Borneo
![G4G challengers at Everest Base Camp]()
G4G challengers at Everest Base Camp
![Challengers cycling the 7 Emirates]()
Challengers cycling the 7 Emirates
![Challengers with Al Manar School students]()
Challengers with Al Manar School students
![Challengers with children at Mission Himalaya]()
Challengers with children at Mission Himalaya
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