Smart Circle Employee Organizes Team to Participate in Brain Tumor Walk in San Francisco, CA

Smart Circle supports employee raising funds for brain tumor research and patient services

FOOTHILL RANCH, California – Smart Circle is proud to announce its employee, Erika Larios, will participate in the Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society (NBS) on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Larios and her team, “W4M: Walking for Max,” will walk the 5K through Golden Gate Park at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco, CA in honor of her father, Max, who lost his life to brain cancer. Smart Circle supported its employee by donating $1,000 towards her team, which covered her registration and will benefit the NBS Foundation.

“My father inspired so many throughout his life, and I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory and the memory of many others who have lost their battles against brain cancer than through this walk,” said Larios. “I am blessed to be surrounded by such supportive coworkers, and look forward to working with them to raise money and walk for such a worthy cause.”

The Bay Area Tumor Walk is one of nine walks held by the National Brain Tumor Society throughout the year to raise brain tumor awareness and funds for research and patient services. Smart Circle commends Larios and the rest of the W4M team, who will fly all the way to San Francisco to unite with other individuals whose lives have been touched by brain tumors to celebrate life and honor the memory of those lost. In addition to the scenic 5K walk, Larios and her team will participate in a Community Day for the cause, which will feature fun family activities, food, prizes and more.

The proceeds raised by Larios will support research studies to accelerate the discovery of new therapies for adult and pediatric brain cancers, as well as support services for brain tumor patients and their families through the National Brain Tumor Society, the leader in the brain tumor community. The foundation strives to find a cure and to improve the quality of life for those affected by brain tumors, and is the largest comprehensive resource for patients, families, caregivers, researchers and healthcare professionals. The foundation has raised more than $10 million in brain tumor research in North America over the past three years.

Smart Circle employees have contributed to several foundations for cancer over the past year, including the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (DWBH) Shirts foundation, which raises funds to provide medical services to financially struggling cancer patients. The upcoming walk marks the second walk for brain cancer that employees from Smart Circle have participated in over the past six months.

To learn more about the brain tumor walk, please visit www.BrainTumorWalk.org/BayArea. Also, visit the Smart Circle Gives Back blog to learn more about the company’s latest charitable contributions and initiatives (http://smartcirclegivesback.blogspot.com/).

Smart Circle Program Brings Backfire BBQ New Repeat Customers; Great Value

Smart Circle is dedicated to helping its clients acquire and retain new customers. Following is a letter from Angela Clinton, general manager at Backfire Barbeque, who recommends the Smart Circle program for its great value and for helping Backfire Barbeque gain new regular customers. 

Dear Nathan,

I would like to thank you for inviting us to participate in the Smart Circle program. We have had such a positive response from our guests who love our food and the great value of the package. The best part is we are meeting so many new people. By the time they use all of the benefits included in the Smart Circle package, our guests are hooked on our amazing food and we have new regular customers. Everyone wins!

Thanks again,
Angela Clinton
General Manager
Backfire Barbeque

The Greatest Wealth Is Health

The current media environment is extremely cluttered, with customers exposed to a plethora of advertisements each day. From traditional outlets such as television, radio and print media, to less-traditional outlets such as buses, t-shirts and product labels, businesses are using every medium they can to reach new customers. As a result, mass media advertising costs are skyrocketing, making it difficult for small businesses to compete.

How then can local businesses cut through the clutter to increase their brand recognition and bring increased foot traffic into their doors?

When looking for a more cost-effective, direct and personal way to connect with customers, businesses should consider word of mouth marketing. According to Womma.org, “Word of mouth marketing is the most effective form of marketing in existence as it combines the newest strategies, tactics, and channels with the most basic human behavior: People like to talk!”

Smart Circle’s direct, geo-targeted marketing strategies have proven effective for a multitude of sports and entertainment clients, and we are excited to announce that we have just added a brand new client category to our portfolio – the wellness industry! Already a $200 billion a year business, it’s predicted that over the next 10 years an additional $1 trillion of the US economy will be devoted to the wellness industry, which is defined as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wellness)

This month, Smart Circle kicked off promotions for over 25 chiropractic offices in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area. The average advertising costs to chiropractors for new customer acquisition is $1,200 with an expected $7,500 return on investment over the course of five years. Our chiropractic clients provide non-invasive, drug-free treatments for a variety of illnesses. The program we have developed is designed to expose new clientele to the wellness way of life through massage therapy. We are able to easily get new customers through our clients’ doors and therefore expose them to the wellness way of life by creating and marketing promotional campaigns that offer free and discounted massage services to potential new clientele. Once a relationship is built and trust established, the doctor is then also able to educate their patrons on supplements, weight loss options and ways to increase overall well-being. Our chiropractors are so confident their customers will be satisfied with their experience they will return for repeat services and spread a ton of positive word of mouth, therefore bringing in a whole new influx of referral business!

Smart Circle® International Brightens Holidays for 17 Adopted Families

Marketing Leader Donates Toys, Necessities to Local Families Through Laguna Resource Center’s Adopt-A-Family Program

As part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the communities and families it serves, Smart Circle® International is pleased to announce it has donated food, toys and clothing to 17 needy families in the Orange County area. Earlier this month, the referral-based marketing leader teamed up with the Laguna Relief and Resource Center to adopt 17 of the estimated 100 families in the center’s Annual Adopt-A-Family program. The company hosted an in-house toy drive and supplemented employee contributions to bring each family a brighter holiday season.

“The kindness and generosity of Smart Circle and its employees has brought holiday cheer to many children and struggling families,” said Andy Siegenfeld, Chairman of The Laguna Relief and Resource Center. “They were so warm and gracious, and the anticipation and joy of the families they adopted could be seen by all. I hope to collaborate again next year to bring more joy to our less fortunate friends and neighbors.”

Smart Circle collected dozens of toys and gifts from employee contributions to the in-house toy drive at its headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Contributions ranged from necessities such as school supplies, pots and pans, and clothing, to remote control Hummer cars and helicopters. The company supplemented the employee donations to fulfill the remaining wish lists, purchasing everything from train sets, jewelry and digital cameras, to clothing, Razor scooters and an ExerSaucer for one of the youngest family members. In addition to the toy and gift requests, Smart Circle provided each family with a $75 gift card to purchase groceries, and a $125 gift card to purchase new clothing and personal items from Target.

“In these challenging economic times, we wanted to able to provide families with everything they needed for a holiday celebration – from necessities for the New Year to toys from Santa” said Brooke Tyson, a project manager at Smart Circle who organized the event. “Seeing the gratitude and excitement on the families’ faces when we delivered their gifts made it all worthwhile.”

The company delivered presents for the majority of families directly to the Laguna Food Pantry in Laguna Canyon, which provides food, clothing and referral services for families who live and work in the South Orange Country area. For families who were unable to make the trip to the Pantry or lived a significant proximity away from the Center, Smart Circle employees delivered the presents personally to their houses.

Since delivering the presents, Smart Circle has received several cards and notes expressing gratitude from the children and families. Jesus Jr., 11, handed a Smart Circle employee a card that read, “Thank you for making this Christmas one of the best ones, and for the Christmas presents.” Another child, Vanessa, 9, wrote, “Thank you for making my Christmas special.” Siegenfeld reported that many of the families brought in homemade tamales for Smart Circle and the employees at the Food Pantry to show their appreciation.

The holiday “Season of Giving” may be coming to a close, but Smart Circle’s charitable efforts will continue far into the New Year. The company provides generous donations and matching employee contributions to local and national foundations and non-profits throughout the year. By hosting toy and food drives and offering matching contributions to donations, the company hopes to inspire the spirit of giving and community involvement in its employees, and foster an environment where charity is encouraged and admired.

“This is a time of year when we should think about giving and of others who are less fortunate,” said Erica Manthey, Compliance Manager at Smart Circle. “I am proud to work with an organization that was able to bring Christmas joy to 17 families who would have otherwise done without this year, and I look forward to helping with any of the other community reach programs that Smart Circle anticipates being involved in throughout 2012.”

Since 1993, the Laguna Relief and Resource Center, also known as The Laguna Food Pantry, has provided support services and emergency need to low-income and homeless families in Laguna Beach in a way that encourages self-sufficiency and inspires independence. The Center annually sponsors and supports an Adopt-A-Family program for local families who live or work in Laguna Beach, as well as a year round Food Pantry and Resource Center five days a week. The families matched with Smart Circle all resided close to the company’s headquarters in communities such as Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo.

To learn more about Smart Circle’s Adopt-A-Family initiative, see Barbara Diamond’s article “Christmas Cheer Comes to Adopted Families” in the Coastline Pilot. Smart Circle was also featured in Laguna Food Pantry’s “Thank You” ad in Stu News Laguna (http://stunewslaguna.com/), a local Laguna Beach newspaper.

About Smart Circle® International
Since 1989, Smart Circle has been the dominant force in referral marketing worldwide. Major companies across a number of industries, including consumer products, electronics, gourmet and specialty foods, home improvement, salons and spas, professional and independent sports teams, restaurants and area attractions, turn to Smart Circle International to build traffic, enhance brand loyalty, fill unused capacity and generate new customers. Smart Circle International reaches consumers face-to-face through its retail, event and community marketing networks. Smart Circle® International and The Smart Circle® are trademarks of Smart Circle International, LLC.

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Smart Circle Steps Up Efforts to Make Holidays Special for 17 Adopted Families

The Smart Circle elves have been hard at work gathering gifts and holiday cheer for the company’s 17 adopted families through the Laguna Relief and Resource Center’s annual Adopt-A-Family program. Through an in-house toy drive, all-day shopping trips, and present-wrapping that extended into the wee hours of the morning, the elves have successfully gathered gifts for the 86 parents and children of these families.

Throughout the month of December, Smart Circle employees were greeted each morning by a festive cardboard toy house, which was set up in the lobby of the company’s Foothill Ranch headquarters for the in-house toy drive. The house, which was adorned with tinsel and drawings by Smart Circle employees, was quickly filled to the brim with toys and other necessities as eager employees sought to fulfill each family’s wish list. Employee contributions ranged from necessities such as school supplies, pots and pans, and clothing, to fun toys such as remote control helicopters and cars and Barbie dolls. The spirit of giving quickly spread through the building, with employees expressing excitement at watching the house fill up more and more each day.

Following the toy drive, the Smart Circle elves braved the bustling shopping malls to supplement and fulfill the remaining wish list. The elves searched far and wide for the requested toys, which included a train set, a digital camera, razor scooters, skateboards, dolls, and games. The elves even picked up an ExerSaucer for one of the youngest children. Jewelry, clothes and housewares were selected for the parents, and clothing or gift cards were purchased for the older children.

Through the donations and supplement company contributions, Smart Circle has collected more than two toys or gifts per child for each family, as well as presents for each of the parents. The elves stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to wrap each gift with care, and began delivering the presents to the families this week.

Visit the Smart Circle website (www.smartcircle.com) next week to find out more about this exciting initiative.

Smart Circle Kicks off Campaign to Bring Holiday Cheer to Local Families in Need

Marketing Leader Adopts 17 Orange County-Based Families Through Laguna Relief & Resource Center’s Adopt-A-Family Program

Smart Circle® International, the leader in referral-based marketing, has joined together with the Laguna Relief & Resource Center to bring joy to local families this holiday season. The company announced today that it has “adopted” 17 families in the Orange County area through the non-profit organization’s annual Adopt-A-Family program. The company will provide all the necessities for a holiday celebration, including food, new clothing, personal items, and toys for the children.

“The Resource Center is overwhelmed by Smart Circle’s generosity and sense of community,” said Andrew Siegenfeld, Chairman of the Laguna Relief & Resource Center. “We are grateful to be partnering with an organization so dedicated to caring for its neighbors.”

To support the initiative, Smart Circle will hold an in-house toy drive for employees at its headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Employees will be encouraged to donate toys and other gifts for the children throughout the month, with the goal of collecting 96 presents for the families. Smart Circle will supplement the employee contributions to ensure that each child in the adopted families receive at least two new toys or gifts.  Each family will also receive a $75 gift card to purchase groceries, and another $125 gift card to purchase clothing or personal items from a major retailer such as Wal-Mart.

Each year, the Laguna Relief & Resource Center in Laguna Beach, CA sponsors or supports an Adopt-A-Family program for low-income local families who live or work in Laguna Beach. Since 1993, the organization has brought those in need together with the network of resources and agencies available in the community. The organization provides food, clothing and services for families during tough financial times and natural disasters. In addition to the annual Adopt-A-Family program, the organization provides a year round food  pantry and resource center for the homeless five days a week.

The families participating in this year’s Adopt-A-Family were selected by volunteers at the food bank. As frequent visitors to the food bank, they were deemed by the volunteers as having the most need. The families matched with Smart Circle reside close to the company’s headquarters in communities such as Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and Mission Viejo.

Brooke Tyson, who is organizing the event for Smart Circle, said, “We feel it’s important to give back to our local community. While many think Orange County is a bounty of excess, that is not the reality for everyone.  With the current state of the economy, many families who used to just barely get by are no longer able to make ends meet.  If we can help some of them give their families a Christmas they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have, we are thrilled to do so.”

Smart Circle is dedicated to the communities and families it serves. The company provides generous contributions to local and national foundations throughout the year, and many of its employees are active volunteers and participants in local events and charities.

“We are always looking for new ways to encourage our employees to give back to their local communities and causes they feel strongly about, especially during the season of giving,” said Sharon Celis, HR Director at Smart Circle. “We hope this toy drive and Adopt-A-Family initiative will not only brighten the lives of these families matched with Smart Circle, but also inspire community involvement now and into the New Year.”

Smart Circle Gives Back to Schools this Holiday Season

During this season of giving, Smart Circle announced it has donated to SchoolPower, the Laguna Beach Education Foundation, to help support Laguna Beach public schools’ valued educational programs and resources. The contribution was a company match to a donation made by Brooke Tyson, a member of Smart Circle’s IT team, to the organization.

SchoolPower, governed by a board of parent trustees, is the oldest non-profit education foundation in Orange County and has been dedicated to raising money for Laguna Beach public schools since 1981. The organization raises money for four Laguna Beach schools – El Morro Elementary, Top of the World Elementary, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School. A portion of their proceeds also sustains the SchoolPower Endowment Foundation, which supports the Teacher Grant Program.

Smart Circle is dedicated to the communities it serves, and is always looking for new ways to encourage community involvement and ignite the spirit of giving in its employees. For years, the company has contributed to a variety of organizations and foundations, and many of its employees are active volunteers and participants in local events and charities.