Make It Public:
Creating a Public Engagement Plan

Along with local and state officials, local celebrities can also help increase the visibility of your event and partnership. Enlist the support of area sports teams, newscasters, artists, and authors, business CEOs, religious leaders, a local university president, the school superintendent, and others in your community with wide name recognition. They can help by participating in America Goes Back to School events; by mentioning your event and partnership when speaking to groups and to the press; by wearing any promotional merchandise you may design, such as a t-shirt or button; and by lending their name as an official sponsor of your event and partnership. Use quotes from your celebrities in flyers, articles or speeches. Approach the celebrity or the celebrity's assistant with a pitch for why he or she would want to get involved and how they could be an important part of your event or partnership. Local celebrities are often very interested in helping their local communities and may be flattered by the request. It's a "WIN-WIN" situation for everyone.