Planting for the Future

Raising Awareness for the Benefit of Healthy Eating

Prepared by:
Rania Aboellhasan
Steven Buchner
Cara Dougherty
Kent Escara
Monica Garza Saenz
Yeabkal Sebsie

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

March 13, 2015

Dallas Regional Chamber
City of Dallas
1601 Bryan Street, Suite M-200
Dallas, TX 75201
Dear Chamber Members:
The attached report describes the need for the Planting The Seeds event, and the impact it will
have on the community. This report will show that our group, teamed with our sponsor Central
Market, is a worthy recipient for the Businesses Gives Back award.
The report will outline:

The need for the Planting the Seeds event

The full event details including: location, all costs, and logistics
The direct and indirect effect it will have on the community

Primary research consisted of conducting a survey to 200 UT Dallas students to determine the
need for the event, location scouting at The University of Texas at Dallas, contacting Central
Market, The University of Texas at Dallas radio station, The University of Texas at Dallas
Alumni Association, The University of Texas at Dallas Community Garden, Versa Printing, and
Hyenas Comedy Nightclub. Secondary Research included visiting the United States Department
of Agricultures website, Central Markets website, and The University of Texas at Dallas
website. Results of this research, discussed more fully in this report, indicate that there is a need
for this event, and that it will benefit the community by raising awareness for the UTD
Community Garden and by promoting living a healthy lifestyle.
We would be pleased to discuss this report and its conclusions with your Chamber at your
request. My group and I thank you for your consideration and your confidence in our ability to
win the Business Gives Back award.
Sincerely,
X
Monica Garza

UT Dallas Student

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL........................................................................................................1
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................2
PROJECT OVERVIEW...................................................................................................................3
BACKGROUND INFORMATION.................................................................................................3
Background on the Community Garden......................................................................................3
Research.......................................................................................................................................3
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES..........................................................................................................4
PROJECT DETAILS.......................................................................................................................4
Sponsor.........................................................................................................................................5
Student Organizations..................................................................................................................5
Event Details................................................................................................................................5
Event Itinerary..............................................................................................................................6
Promotional Strategy....................................................................................................................7
BUDGET.........................................................................................................................................7
EVALUATION................................................................................................................................7
FUTURE GOALS...........................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX ONE: CENTRAL MARKET LETTER OF INTENT.................................................8
APPENDIX TWO: UTD RADIO LETTER OF INTENT..............................................................9
APPENDIX THREE: HYENAS LETTER OF INTENT.............................................................10
APPENDIX FOUR: TEE SHIRT DESIGN...................................................................................11
APPENDIX FIVE: FLYER DESIGN............................................................................................12
APPENDIX SIX: BUDGET..........................................................................................................13

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Healthy living is more than just a social trend; it is a way of life. Central Market promotes living
a healthy natural lifestyle now and well into the future. Together with Central Market and The
Business Gives Back foundation, we will organize a campus event to raise awareness about the
community garden and about the benefits of eating organically grown, natural foods.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Although much research has been done to prove the benefits to eating naturally grown food,
many people still eat processed or fast foods. The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has an
enrollment of 19,925 students, and it is important to educate these students on the positive
impact that living a healthy lifestyle will have on them.

Background on the Community Garden

In 2006, a group of UTD scholars founded the student organization known as the community
garden. The mission of the community garden at UTD is to promote a sense of community
through the shared interest and participation in cultivating a garden. A majority of the food
grown in this garden is donated locally to help feed those in need. When it was in the early stages
of development, the garden depended on funding and support from the alumni fund, as well as
from student affairs. In the most recent years, the garden is now overseen by the office of student
volunteerism. The garden is free of charge and open to any currently enrolled student at UTD on
a first-come, first-served basis.

Research
As part of our research, we conducted a survey to provide us with information about our fellow
classmates lifestyle and diet on campus. This study was also done to examine the direct and
indirect impact of the event on the community
Results of the survey:

51% know about the community garden

45% know exactly where it is
50% of students make their lunch from home
34% eat on campus food
The majority of those surveyed would prefer to
attend an event on campus if there was a
comedian performing

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Planting the Seeds aims to raise awareness of the community garden, the benefits of the garden,
and the benefits of eating well. We will show people that living a healthy lifestyle is attainable,
even with a busy schedule. The event will:
Raise awareness of the community garden- UTD has a community garden that is accessible to all
students
Raise awareness of the benefits of eating fresh:
Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall
healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an
overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.
Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as
some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart
disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Eating vegetables and fruits rich in
potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower
blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing
kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss.
Eating foods such as vegetables that are
lower in calories per cup instead of some other highercalorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie
intake.

PROJECT DETAILS
The project goal of raising awareness about the benefits of eating healthy and of the community
garden will be achieved by hosting a fun-filled event on campus on April 22, 2015. The event
will take place during Earth Week, and will include games, live performances, food, and drinks.
The ideal partners for this event are Central Market, The Sustainability Club, and the Lending
Our Lives organization.

Sponsor
Central Market is one of the top freshest markets in
the United States today. They have an unmatched
selection of organic fruits, vegetables, cheeses, etc. By 2012, the ninth store was added in Dallas
and has continued to attract attention locally and nationally. Their mission is easy to, Bring our
fellow foodies the freshest products, the best service and the knowledge to make cooking and
eating a joy. Combining efforts with their parent company, HEB, Central Market donates 5%
percent of their pretax earnings to charitable organizations in Texas communities. This consistent
involvement in the community focuses on:

Education
Hunger Relief
Health
Diversity
Disaster Relief
Volunteerism
Environment

Student Organizations
There are two student organizations on the UTD campus that take an active role of encouraging
and supporting environmental sustainability and community development. They are the
Sustainability Club and the Lending Our Lives organization.
The Sustainability Club is a student coalition that is dedicated to the education,
emphasis, and lifestyle of being environmentally sustainable in order to benefit UT
Dallas and the surrounding communities.
Lending Our Lives is a community service-oriented organization that focuses on
the betterment of the community of UT Dallas and the general DFW
Metroplex through the completion of various service projects
focusing on the element of volunteerism.

Event Details
The event will take place on Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, 2015 from 4:00p.m.-9:00 p.m. in
the parking lot adjacent to Drives L and H on the UTD campus. On the outer perimeter of the
parking lot, Central Market will have booths set up to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds for
planting in the garden, ready-to-eat food, freshly made smoothies, and unique handcrafted items.
The entertainment for the event will be two stand-up comedians. The main focus of the event
will be the group planting, where attendees will be able to plant their own seeds, gain knowledge
about the farming process as a whole, and learn more about the benefits of healthy eating
choices. Tee shirts will be sold at the event to raise additional donation revenue. All revenues
collected will be donated to the community garden.

Event Itinerary
4:00 - 5:00p.m. UTD radio will begin playing music while people are arriving and browsing the
booths.
5:00 5:45p.m. Comedian Louis Ramey will take the stage
5:45 6:00p.m. Attendees will pick seeds to plant and begin gathering for the seed planting
6:00 6:30p.m. Group seed planting event
6:30 7:00p.m. Guest speaker from Central Market will take the stage
7:00 7:45p.m. Comedian Tom Rhodes will take the stage as our final performer
7:45 8:00p.m. Event will wind down with UTD radio disk jockey

Promotional Strategy

In order to advertise effectively for this event, we plan to use flyers, a mention in the Alumni
Newsletter, and UTD radio advertising. Advertising will take place during the week leading up to
the event, from April 14- April 22. Flyers will be posted in every building on campus and on all
information boards available. Flyers will also be posted in local Central Market locations. The
Alumni Newsletter is released once a month; the April edition will include our flyer, as well as a
general description of the event. Posting flyers on campus and airing advertisements on UTD
radio will appeal to students, while posting in the newsletter will allow alumni a chance to get
involved and to give back. By posting in local Central Market stores, the local public will be
able to get involved as well.

BUDGET
The total budget for the event is $3,290, half of which will be covered by our sponsor, Central
Market. The remaining amount requested from the Businesses Give Back Chamber is $1,645. All
additional costs incurred will be covered by Central Market. Given that this is a student event,
most of the event costs will be covered by the University of Texas at Dallas. The full breakdown
of the budget can be seen in Appendix Six.

EVALUATION
Success of our event would be to raise as much awareness and as much donation money to go to
the community garden as possible. Success will include selling all of our tee shirts, food,
beverages, and merchandise.

FUTURE GOALS
Future goals include teaming up with Central Market and The Businesses Give Back Chamber to
host this event annually on Earth Day. As this event continues to grow each year, we will add
sponsors and entertainers. This will ultimately result in us creating a larger event each year that
will continue to raise more awareness than the previous year.

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APPENDIX ONE: CENTRAL MARKET LETTER OF

INTENT

March 11, 2015

H.E. Butt Grocery Company
P.O. Box 839999
San Antonio, TX 78283-3999
Head of Human Resources:
We would like to thank you for cooperating with us and the Community Garden at the University
of Texas at Dallas for our inaugural Planting For The Future event. This letter will cover all the
understanding between all parties involved along with all the terms and conditions in which have
been previously agreed upon.
1. Terms. By signing you are agreeing to become the title sponsor for the Planting For The Future event at
University of Texas at Dallas on April 22, 2015.

2. Contribution. Central Market agrees upon an up-front fee of $1,645. This amount represents one half of
all estimated costs necessary to successfully host the event. This amount is an estimate, and Central Market
agrees to pay any reasonable additional costs incurred.
3.

Partnership. Central Market agrees to supply all food and beverage service products, equipment, and
staffing necessary. All revenue collected for the event will be donated to the University of Texas at Dallas
Community Garden.

4.

Consent. By signing this document, HEB hereby authorizes Planting For The Future to use the Central
Market logo and likeness on all pre-approved marketing material including: online, print, and radio
advertising.

It is understood that these arrangements represent the intention of Central Market and their
commitment to bring awareness to the University of Texas at Dallas Community Garden for a
healthy future.
X
Head of Human Resources

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Central Market

APPENDIX TWO: UTD RADIO LETTER OF INTENT

March 11, 2015

The University of Texas at Dallas / Student Media-Radio UTD
800 W. Campbell Rd., Suite 24
Richardson TX 75080
Dear James Pacifico,
We would like to thank you for cooperating with us and the Community Garden at the University
of Texas at Dallas for our inaugural Planting For The Future event. This letter will cover all the
understanding between all parties involved along with all the terms and conditions in which have
been previously agreed upon.
1. Terms. By signing you are agreeing to provide DJ entertainment throughout the 4 hour event held on April
22, from 4:00-p.m.-8:00p.m, as well as advertising for the event. Music will be appropriate for all ages, and
will be upbeat.
2.

Contribution. Planting For The Future will be giving UTD Radio thirty tee-shirts to be given away as
promotions leading up to the event. DJs will have access to beverages and food during the event. Central
Market will be providing a thank you basket at the end of the event.

3.

Partnership. UTD Radio will provide all necessary stage and sound equipment for the event, which will
be used by Hyenas Comedy Nightclub comedians, and UTD Radio DJs.

4.

Advertising. UTD radio will air thirty Planting For The Future radio advertisements, each thirty seconds
in length, from April 15-April 22. In addition, on-air disk jockeys will mention the event thirty times during
this week. Additionally, the event flyer will be posted on the radio stations website and on all social media
platforms during the week preceding the event.

It is understood that these arrangements represent the intention of UTD radio and their
commitment to bring awareness to the University of Texas at Dallas Community Garden for a
healthy future.
X
James Pacifico

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Station Manager

APPENDIX THREE: HYENAS LETTER OF INTENT

March 11, 2015

Hyenas Comedy Nightclub
5321 E Mockingbird Ln #220,
Dallas, TX 75206
Head of Human Resources:
We would like to thank you for cooperating with us and the Community Garden at the
University of Texas at Dallas for our inaugural Planting For The Future event. This letter will
cover all the understanding between all parties involved along with all the terms and conditions
in which have been previously agreed upon.
1.

Term. By signing you are agreeing to provide two 45-minute shows presented by Louis
Ramey and Tom Rhodes for the event held on April 22, 2015 from 4p.m.-8p.m. Planting For
The Future will have full rights to advertise both comedians for the events on-air, online, and print
advertising.

2.

Contribution. Planting For The Future will give a payment of $1,500 in total for both acts, $750 for each
comedian. Of this, $750 will be given as a down payment one month prior to the event, and the other $750
will be given upon completion of the event. A check will be written to Hyenas Comedy Nightclub for each
amount.

3.

Recognition. Planting For The Future will be recognizing by name Hyenas Comedy Nightclub, as well as
the comedians for their support.

It is understood that these arrangements represent the intention of Hyenas Comedy Nightclub
and their commitment to bring awareness to the University of Texas at Dallas Community
Garden for a healthy future.
X
d
Head of Human Resources
Hyenas Comedy Nightclub

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APPENDIX FOUR: TEE SHIRT DESIGN

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APPENDIX FIVE: FLYER DESIGN

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APPENDIX SIX: BUDGET

Category

Item

Quantity

Cost

Estimate

Totals

Entertainment
Comedians

$750.00

$1,500.00

Entertainment Total

$1,500.00

Space Rental (Parking lot

space)
Area usage: 4 hrs.

$400.00 per hour

$1,600.00

Space Rental Total

$1,600.00

Media Equipment
Audio equipment (per
hour)

Donated (UTD Radio)

Media Equipment Total

$0.00

Foodservice Rentals
Tables

$30.00

Tablecloths

$30.00

Chairs

$250.00

Drinks

$30.00

Donated (Central
Market)
Donated (Central
Market)
Donated (Central
Market)
Donated (Central
Market)

$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

Foodservice Rentals Total

$0.00

Food
Donated (Central
Market)
Food Total

$0.00

Advertising Costs
Flyer/Tee shirt design

$150.00

$150.00

Printed flyers

250

$0.62

$40.00

Tee shirt printing

200

$4.00

$800.00

Radio Advertising

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Live Remote

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Print Advertising
Advertising Costs
Total

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Donated(UTD)

Total Costs

$190.00
$3,290.00