Whether for a corporate, hospital or association anniversary, there are “5 P’s” that can make your celebration a memorable success. After helping hundreds of organizations celebrate major milestones with One Of A Kind 3-dimensional commemorative art, we are always impressed by the same five best practices that maximize an anniversary’s success:

Plan   Promote   Party   Praise   Preserve

One Of A Kind personalized, custom-made art can help you achieve the 5 P’s by showcasing your history, leaders, mission and accomplishments in an extraordinary, meaningful way.  We transform your photos and memorabilia into museum-quality art to communicate your corporate story at your celebration, in your lobby, and digitally on your website. Our clients rave that their One Of A Kind 3D collage is the highlight of their celebration. Celebrate your past and present, and create a lasting legacy to be enjoyed for future generations!

For free professional advice as you plan your anniversary, contact Donna Rome: 301.495.3361 x 102 or [email protected]. We’ll send you an Anniversary Planning Guide along with brochures and examples.

This brainstorming and on-site research was invaluable to appreciate their unique story and edit material. It also inspired Lawrence Romorini to feature the beauty of the St. Croix River, where Andersen has been located for a century. It reflects the company’s consistency, even as it evolved, and was essential in early years to transport logs for wood used in creating the windows.

The overall structure was suggested by the Chairman:

“Could you possibly use a contemporary Andersen Window for the frame?”

“Great idea—sure!”

When Lawrence found a pile of wood in the corner he asked, “What’s this?” As the original “10-Minute Window” that revolutionized the industry, it turned out to be a perfect 3D design element for the art. There’s a powerful juxtaposition between the 10-Minute Window and the latest Andersen Window. The luxury of time enables creative ideas such as this to emerge.

PROMOTE

Anniversary promotion can build anticipation for the celebration and underscore the significance of the occasion. Kennedy Health built momentum for their 50th anniversary with a “Call for Memorabilia” to contribute to their 3-dimensional anniversary art. The collage became a collaboration, with a payoff at the celebration when participants saw their vintage photos and memorabilia as part of their company’s artwork. An employee can proudly point out, “I contributed that!”

Be sure to contact local news outlets and trade publications to cover the importance of your organization’s anniversary to its community. Every anniversary ending in a zero or five is a significant one. The uniqueness of custom-made 3-dimensional art makes it a perfect photo opportunity with key leaders to accompany a press release.

A donor reception can also highlight an anniversary celebration, especially for a hospital. Johns Hopkins University and Hospital honored key supporters to their endowment campaign with Donor Recognition Art. It celebrates Johns Hopkins’ unprecedented fundraising achievements while commemorating the synergy of the institutions since the founding. Names of donors are engraved in the metal border of the art, which was reproduced as framed posters.

PRAISE

You can cast a broad net in expressing thanks to all who have contributed to your company’s success. Reach out to founders, founders’ families, longtime leaders and their families to recognize them at an anniversary celebration.

Ms. Rodin’s Harvard Business Review article concludes with, “Imbue your commemoration with the understanding that looking back can be more than mere nostalgia for the past. It can inform a whole body of work for the future.”

Our collaborators at Kennedy Health ensured that their 50th anniversary not only reflected the past, but also celebrated the current story. Founders, doctors, nurses, staff, and the community were all recognized for their role in Kennedy Health’s history, growth, expertise and accomplishments—creating a springboard to a dynamic future.

In addition, Kennedy Health seized the occasion to thank key donors in notecards that featured their 50th anniversary art, linking the donors directly to the hospital’s history and accomplishments.

At the cutting edge of transportation planning since 1944, Lochner honored their history, accomplishments and visionary leaders in their 75th anniversary lobby art. On hand for the unveiling was Hal Lochner, the son of Founder Harry W. Lochner and the firm’s 2nd President. 

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler, a leading American manufacturer & distributor of fire protection equipment, collaborated with artist Lawrence Romorini to create commemorative 3-dimensional art for their 100th anniversary. A progression of four generations of Fee family leadership and an evolution of sprinklers brings the story current, where, at the base, an array of state-of-the art products take the company into the next century. An interactive website feature shares their 100-year story.

The company also honored the family leadership with contemporary, personalized awards. These custom awards are a great way to recognize distinguished leaders, and make for a perfect display in an office or home.