There’s a lot to learn from charitable celebs about how to get things done.
In fact, they are often the most effective in times of crisis, with boots on the ground almost immediately and the ability to use their status to drum up donations and rally fans to volunteer.
Following are 3 celebs who are especially efficient, and lessons meeting planners can learn from them about how to wield influence to make positive changes to their meeting.
Brad Pitt
Among his many charitable endeavors, actor Brad Pitt created a project in New Orleans to help build environmental friendly housing in the Ninth Ward after Hurrican Katrina. He has also teamed up with Global Green USA on a competition for affordable and energy-efficient home designs. If you want to move the needle with management and make changes to your meeting, think green. Green efforts easily align with corporate strategies; chances are your company or client has some in place. They’re public relations opportunities and universally accepted and respected—so there are no political repercussions.
Christy Turlington
Former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts, a non-profit dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, teamed up with TOMS to release a limited edition collection featuring a backpack and a tote. With every bag purchase, TOMS helps provide a safe birth for a mother and a baby in need. Partnerships help move the needle, so think about how you can partner with sponsors or exhibitors to add new aspects to your meeting or create new opportunities for your attendees.
Alec Baldwin
Though actor Alec Baldwin is known for taking a strong stand politically with his antics on Saturday Night Live, he also started the Alec Baldwin Foundation to benefit the arts and culture, the environment, youth, health and human rights causes. Most of his donations are targeted at charities in New York City and Long Island, since he grew up in Massapequa, Long Island, and lives in New York. Planners also have the most influence by thinking locally. Whether that means bringing in local speakers, or amenities that are made locally, planners will find a wealth of opportunities to do something different with their meeting. The local tourist board or CVB can tap its contacts to help, and its services are free to planners.
