Thanksgiving, After All, is a Word of Action

Managing Partners - Jason Hilton, Andy Iverson, Raj Prasad, and Rick Belgarde

At WDFA we spend most of our days buried in a computer, shaking hands with clients, snacking at our desks and the occasional chair ride down the hall. We sometimes forget to acknowledge our founders, and thank them for their vision of building a creative environment, a thriving business, and well…..a paycheck. We are thankful for their vision, guidance, and care.

The man who has no imagination has no wings.
-Muhammad Ali

We’ve Been Left Unattended

Evidently, when our managers have an off-site meeting, we have no supervision. Our four-fathers are out planning 2010 while we child proof the boss’ office.

“I’m like diarrhea – I show up unexpectedly.”

In our weekly staff meetings, everyone is required to bring something to take notes. But we rarely need to write stuff down, so a lot of people only bring post-its. For today’s impromptu meeting, we were all required to bring entire notebooks because our fearless leader had some “very important things to say.”

This is what I took away from it all:

~ Raj has weak ankles, so hold his elbow whenever you go down steps together
~ Something about hockey pucks being on a conveyor belt and how we should never put a baseball on it because it would mess everything up
~ Amy is a lady and will not participate in paint balling
~ Don’t be liked. Be respected.
~ In case there was any confusion, Raj and Andy I are business partners, not domestic partners
~ Liz will not be wearing a cocktail dress to the holiday party
~ Jordana cannot force us to bring dates to formal work events
~ Instead of handing out M&M’s, we should hand out Ritalin because then maybe we’d stay focused (wait, who’s giving out M&M’s?)

Yep. Real glad I brought my notebook.

Mercedes-Benz of San Francisco Sip and Savor

Nikki Yoder, Jamie Mironicki, Raj Prasad, Jessica Brunner

WDFA recently completed a fundraising event that benefited the Mission YMCA, which supports hundreds of children and families in San Francisco. It was held on November 5th at the Mercedes-Benz dealer ship on 8th and Brannan.

Like many of our charity events, WDFA coordinated with the board, volunteers and auxiliary committee to implement the elements of an event so Mission YMCA could focus on fundraising. Fortunately, they doubled the funds they raised last year.

Sip & Savor consisted of wine and food tastings by celebrity chefs (some who’ve appeared on Top Chef) and wineries from around the country, as well as a silent auction. After we built a brand identity, including logo design, we worked with the committee to email blast their previous donors with invites and a save-the-date reminder. We also designed and printed the formal invitations, posters, signage and letterhead and built a website.

Top Chef Signing Chef Jacket

In addition, we developed social media outlets, landing several media sources for increased exposure:

Television “View from the Bay”

Newspaper Online Events Calendars
The newspaper coverage included the Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times, Alameda Times, Mercury News and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Newspaper Print
Food & Wine Events – CCTimes (SJ Mercury News)
San Jose Mercury
Contra Costa Times

Blogs and Social Media
Twitter Mom
Facebook
Twitter

Foodies
Marcia (aka Table Hopper) ran Sip & Savor event promos in mid-October

Radio
KFOG ran PSAs for YMCA

Wardrobe for Opportunity’s 5th Annual Power of Change Fashion Show

WDFA organized Wardrobe for Opportunity’s 5th Annual Power of Change Fashion Show on October 28th, a nonprofit that raises funds for low-income individuals who need help and encouragement finding a job, keeping a job and building a career.

The event was hosted by Scott’s in Jack London Square and consisted of a cocktail reception and fashion show. A silent auction was held prior to the show with hosted food stations and a bar.

WDFA’s event committee coordinated the fashion show — models, outfits, music, staging, lighting, audio and backstage chaos — as well as hosted several VIP’s, including the State Attorney General Jerry Brown, The Honorable Willie Brown and Oakland businessman Phil Tagami.

The event raised over $30,000.

Mapping Example – Acculturated Asians to Western Culture, Bay Area

Using the term “Ethnic Identification”, which represents the strength of maintenance of original cultural traits, we are able to define the strength of one’s cultural beginnings. In contrast to this term we can explain the process of assimilation or acculturation, and actually measure it. Acculturation refers to the learning traits of the mainstream culture. Cultural adaptation is acknowledged to change an immigrant’s values, attitudes, motives and lifestyle preferences. This being said, family is the closest and one of the most influential forces. This map indicates the cultural effects from the individual and family level of western culture.

As another example of our micro marketing abilities another map is placed here with the population results of Very Westernized Neighborhoods in San Francisco by Zip Code.

Westernized Asian Population Map

ZIP Code Very Westernized
94014 Daly City 8,039
94102 San Francisco 2,490
94103 San Francisco 1,832
94104 San Francisco 185
94105 San Francisco 293
94107 San Francisco 1,368
94108 San Francisco 2,023
94109 San Francisco 5,334
94110 San Francisco 3,480
94111 San Francisco 453
94112 San Francisco 11,388
94114 San Francisco 786
94115 San Francisco 2,024
94116 San Francisco 6,346
94117 San Francisco 1,150
94118 San Francisco 4,590
94121 San Francisco 5,610
94122 San Francisco 7,700
94123 San Francisco 853
94124 San Francisco 3,362
94127 San Francisco 1,651
94129 San Francisco 49
94130 San Francisco 91
94131 San Francisco 1,735
94132 San Francisco 3,323
94133 San Francisco 4,560
94134 San Francisco 7,022
94158 San Francisco 67

Halloween Staff Meeting – Not Too Different Than Usual

done

Jason Hilton in Boxhab

done

Boxhab....not the first time for Jason

The Sickness

For the last two months, everyone in our office has taken at least one sick day, some of us four or five. The flu has spread like a wild fire and no one has been spared. Everyday we try to take measures to improve our immune system, but also everyday we do things that destroy it and make it cry like a little girl.

~ forced happy hours
~ sleep deprivation from partying after happy hours
~ coughing on people and communal things
~ making out with each other (just kidding, gross)
~ smoking cigarettes
~ ten-hour work days

Using hand sanitizer, which is probably more harmful than the flu, and drinking liters of water isn’t cutting it. Even Stacey’s mom drawer can’t save us. Thank God we just hired ten more people to help pick up the slack.

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