Family Entertainment Centers - IAAPA

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
FEC: COMMUNITY
Coming
Together
Community events open up family
entertainment centers to new
customers
by Mike Bederka
BEFORE DAVE BURKHARDT EVEN OPENED THE
DOORS TO KID JUNCTION in the early days of 2007, he
already had donated 100 passes to a local school for a spelling
program. The promotion went over so well the owner of two
New Jersey family entertainment centers made community
outreach a major part of his business operation.
“It’s a relatively inexpensive, not time-consuming way to
branch out to new people,” Burkhardt says.
Philanthropy and marketing can mix quite
nicely, agrees Tom Uphold, director of marketing
at Golf and Games Family Park in Memphis,
Tennessee: “Most silent auction gifts we give are
birthday parties. That’s going to expose eight to
10 families that may not have been here before.”
‘A’ for Effort
The Memphis community has kept Golf and
Games going strong for 45 years, Uphold says.
The FEC management uses donations and fundraisers
as a way to thank residents for their
decades of support and loyalty. “I don’t think
I’ve turned down anyone since I’ve been here,”
Golf and Games hosts
fund-raisers for Ronald
McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald poses for a shot
at a Golf and Games fund-raiser.
he says proudly. He receives three or four requests a day. In
2008, Golf and Games donated $315,000 of services, including
miniature golf, parties, and wristbands.
Uphold particularly enjoys participating in the partners in
education programs. With this, school administrators receive
500 free games of mini-golf, which they can distribute to their
students for good grades, conduct, and attendance. Again, it
potentially opens the facility to a new audience, and if Mom
and Dad want to play a round, they’ll have to pay. Plus, the
school handles most of the logistics.
Fund-raisers, though, will take up more time for the FEC
because of the additional manpower and resources required,
Uphold admits. His facility holds three major fund-raisers a
year. Mini-golf tournaments for the Boy Scouts, Ronald
McDonald House, and Les Passes (a children’s charity) draw
600 to 800 people total, with a percentage of sales going to
the organizations.
Like Uphold, Burkhardt stays busy with donations. He averages
50 requests a month and revels in the interest his facilities
generate. “I care about my name being out there,” Burkhardt
notes. Kid Junction has a varied roster of contributions,
including free birthday parties to summer
reading programs, discounts to United Way supporters,
and being a sponsor of a little league team,
which Burkhardt coaches. He also does a lot with
children with special needs. The facility will open
an hour early on select days to allow the kids to
have the place to themselves.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
Other Tips
The positive vibes, along with the limited sacrifice,
should make donations a worthwhile venture for
any FEC. “It makes you feel better,” Burkhardt
says. “And what’s the cost to give away a birthday
26 F U NW O R L D C O L L E C T I O N S n F E C E d i t i o n