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Storm Radios Score PPAI Pyramid Award for The Dunstan Group

A potentially lifesaving product pick is now an award-winning project for The Dunstan Group. A branded weather radio promotion produced for Duke Energy earned The Dunstan Group a 2022 Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Pyramid Award.

Duke Energy distributed 7,000 of the branded solar-powered weather radios to seniors as part of its National Preparedness Month campaign in September of 2021. Each one is emblazoned with the company’s blue and green Duke Energy logo, to remind owners who to call to report an outage in their area after severe weather.

The radios include a flashlight, USB port, and a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) radio to alert residents to severe weather in their area. They can be plugged into a wall for regular use, or can be charged with a hand crank or built-in solar panel in the case of a power outage.

“The folks at Duke Energy asked us for ideas, and gave us time to get creative and present them with options,” said Scott Dunstan, founder and president of The Dunstan Group. “We knew these radios would be perfect for the Duke Energy brand, and the message they wanted to send to their senior clients.”

Founded in 1903, Promotional Products Association International is the world’s largest and oldest not-for-profit association serving more than 14,000 corporate members of the $22 billion promotional products industry. Along with three industry publications, PPAI produces the industry’s largest trade show, provides professional development, and recognizes industry excellence through the annual PPAI Pyramid Awards. This is the fourth PPAI Pyramid Award for The Dunstan Group.

“We like to say we can routinely pull off last-minute miracles around here,” added Dunstan. “But with a little more time, additional possibilities open up for the client. The PPAI award is recognition of the creativity, teamwork, and the time that went into the project.”

For most of us, cornhole is a tailgate or backyard activity while we’re killing time before the main event. But for the Roby Family of Companies, cornhole is serious fun with a mission and purpose. We caught up with Christian McCall, Roby Family of Companies Director of Marketing & PR after this year’s “Pitchin’ for Wishes” Cornhole Tournament.

Tell us a little about the event and why it’s so important

Pitchin’ for Wishes is an amazing event that supports Make-A-Wish® Central & Western NC. In addition to an NCAA bracket-style cornhole competition, the event includes food, drinks, music, appearances by local mascots, bounce houses, face painters, and more. It is very family-friendly and truly a community-wide effort to give back. We have a strong following of sponsors, donors, and players that return each year to give back and participate.

This year’s tourney was our 14^th annual. Thanks to generous sponsors, donors, and players, the event raised over $220,000 for the organization, which will help them grant the wishes of 29 local kids with critical illnesses. Every penny raised goes directly to the organization and all money stays local.

How does this fit into your brand’s mission, and how does it connect with future and current clients, partners, and team members? 

At the Roby Family of Companies, all our charitable giving is family and child-focused. The majority of our sponsors and donors are our subcontractors, industry partners, and clients. It is very fulfilling to see everyone come together to support a special mission and we love being on the cornhole field with everyone.

Tell us how branded merchandise from The Dunstan Group factors into the game plan, and your decision to choose them. 

The Dunstan Group provides us with our event t-shirts each year. They are very helpful in selecting high-quality shirts that people will actually wear, and wear for years to come. Before working with Dunstan, we used to base our shirt selections on price and, while saving a few bucks, would end up with a heavy, boxy shirt that no one would wear.

We now realize how important the shirts are for advertising the event, Make-A-Wish, and our company as a whole, and we really want people to like the shirts, feel comfortable in them, and wear them around town. The feedback we’ve received over the years from our guests is overwhelmingly positive! People LOVE them. And after the tourney, they make great giveaways or gifts for new clients. When giving shirts away to new friends or clients, they are a great conversation starter about the event and mission. And we always love to talk Pitchin’ for Make-A-Wish!

How long have you been working with The Dunstan Group, and what’s your experience been like?

Many, many years! Great customer service, quality apparel, and promotional pieces, and very knowledgeable staff. And in general, they are a great group of people and really fun to work with!

Find out more about Pitchin’ for Wishes here: https://pitchinforwishes.com