FALL 2015

4im

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Stand-Out Business Gifts

15 Step It Up

19 Goodwill and Good Cheer

Every year around this time, I go shopping.

As Board Chair for the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, the holidays are the perfect time of year to say ‘thank you’ to the other volunteer board members.

FROM THE EDITOR

Kevin, with 4imprint 24 years

For more business gift -giving tips,

see our cover story on page 8.

If you have other topics you’d like to see us research or tackle in a future issue, please email klt@4imprint.com with your idea. We’d love to hear from you!

Appropriate Because we volunteer for a non-profit organization,

I want to be sure the gift conveys my gratitude

without being over-the-top. Of course, if you are a

luxury brand, thank you gifts may need to have a

real presence to seem appropriate to the recipient.

Transport-ready Board members travel from across the country to

serve, making it imperative that a gift can easily

travel home with them.

Useful When recipients find a gift useful, they’re

more likely to carry it with them. And, when

they carry it with them, it helps spread the

word about the organization.

Imprint type When you put your logo on a gift, less is often

more. That’s why subtle imprints like debossing

or embroidery can make a gift stand out.

While gifts have ranged from the Ambassador Bound Journal Book to a Fleece Scarf, the underlying

sentiment remains the same. I am grateful for board members’ willingness to share both time and

talents, helping find a cure for rare bone marrow failure diseases.

When choosing a gift, I keep these criteria in mind:

Gear up for holiday parties If you’re like us, you’ve probably tossed

around a variety of different holiday party

formulas. But, until now, there was no

published research to help you compare how

your organization’s holiday party stacks up.

Our first ‘Holiday Parties’ survey findings

change that. Check out the full story on page 19.

Kevin Lyons-Tarr, CEO, 4imprint

CONTENTS

CONTENTS3

PROMO HUNT 25

REMARKABLE MOMENT 26Grace Notes Soar

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT 12Top Business Gifts for 2015

TREND 19Goodwill and Good Cheer

DID YOU KNOW? 23‘Tis the Season for Donations

COVER STORY 8Stand-out Business Gifts

EDITORIAL BOARD 4

CONTRIBUTORS 5

OVERHEARD 6

LASTING IMPRESSIONS 15Step It Up

TC Kids In Need @TCKidsInNeed

Thank you to @4imprint for a grant to get awesome TCKINRC products to our volunteers! #SportBottle #StringPack

When you download the Amplify app to your

mobile phone or tablet, you’ll get access to

additional interactive content, including audio

interviews, videos, photo galleries and more.

Best of all, you’ll be updated when each new issue

of Amplify is available.

Amplify Your Experience

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.

Cozy blankets make great company gifts!

EDITORIAL BOARD4 EDITORIAL BOARD4

EDITORIAL BOARD

How do you make a business holiday party one that employees can’t wait to attend?Editorial board members share their secrets.

Join our editorial board!Email bdillenberg@4imprint.com by November 30 with your name, company, job

title and a brief description of why you would be a great fit for the editorial board.

Brooke BrowneMARKETING MANAGERSmartbridge

It’s always a

challenge to

outdo ourselves

each year.

While we have a

party planning

committee, we

still survey staff members in January to

see what interests them. Because of the

results, we’re shifting to a casual, camp-

like affair--completely different from our

dressy, museum evening last year. We

also get people excited by trickling teasers

and save-the-dates as early as August.

No one leaves empty handed, either.

We incorporate door prizes at the event

through scavenger hunts and a prize

wheel when they first arrive.

Make the

atmosphere festive

and give great

gifts. Blankets and

fleece shirts with

company logos are

always nice.

Joetta TalfordREALTORTalford Realty Group-Keller Williams Realty

Winter Fleece Blanket

Suzanne Worwood VP Merchandising 4imprint

In this issue, Suzanne talks about some of the

best business gifts to add to your holiday list.

Suzanne has been with 4imprint since 2000.

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTORS5

Meet this month’s featured contributors.

Kenny Werle and the Flora Springs Winery

& Vineyards in St. Helena, Calif., supplied

photos for our “Stand-out Business Gifts”

cover story.

You!

On Facebook®, Twitter®, Pinterest® and by

email, customers shared images of the

promotional bags they keep within arm’s

reach. Those ideas are featured in Overheard.

Ben Hejkal Photography took the photos

of Midwest Lindy Fest used in our Lasting

Impressions article, “Step It Up.”

Full Circle Marketing in Wyckoff, N.J.,

provided the photo used in the “Promotional

Products are Everywhere” photo hunt.

Curtis Bustamante and EYE-Q Vision in Fresno,

California, provided a photo for our “Goodwill

and Good Cheer” holiday parties article.

geminilegal

It’s true, this James Bond attired fellow has one of the Original Gemini messenger bags from a convention almost 8 years ago! Mr. Borah is an attorney who has, we’re told, carried this unassuming bag across country and back and to dozens of CLEs, across thousands of miles. #SwaggingRights

Cindy_RedDeer @cindyreddeer

We got our new bags for work done by @4imprint, they look great and are the perfect size. :) #SwaggingRights

OVERHEARD

OVERHEARD6

Bags that earn you #SwaggingRights

Educate Bohol @EducateBohol

@4imprint Thx for the bags! 180 children on Calituban Island (Bohol, Philippines) received bags w/ school supplies. #SwaggingRights

projectgive906

Thank you Keith Kakuk of Keeter’s Construction for donating the giveaway bags for Project Give’s 1st Annual Golf Outing! Also, thank you to @4imprint for doing an awesome job getting them here quickly! #SwaggingRights

OVERHEARD

Visit our Pinterest® board for more promotional bags.

Bags that earn you #SwaggingRights

Karen of Swedenborg Foundation sent us this fabulous photo of her promotional products. Thank you, Karen!

Bhavani from the Kickstand Bike Shop in Beaumont, TX, shared a photo of his promotional bags and bottles that were used for an organized bike ride. We hope your event was successful!

“Here’s an action shot of my tote bag that features my store’s motto - love, welcome, serve! It’s great quality - we’re very pleased. Thank you!” - Amy, Springdale, AR. You’re welcome!“We loved our cooler bags!!”

- Deann, Missoula, MT. Thanks for the photo! We share the same enthusiasm for promotional bags!

OVERHEARD7

Stand-Out Business Gifts

COVER STORY

By Kelli Karpinski

Choosing gifts that will warm your customers’ hearts

When it comes to giving holiday business

gifts, Eric Grossman works hard to

build upon past successes.

The president of Graphic Alliance, Inc., a

graphic design, printing, signage and website

business in Arlington Heights, Ill., buys

80 to 100 holiday gifts for his best clients.

Each year brings a new challenge to buy a

gift that is useful for discerning executive

customers, both male and female. Because

these customers have been so good to him

throughout the year, he gives back with gifts

they won’t soon forget.

Grossman is among the 62 percent of

companies that gave holiday gifts in 2014,

according to a study by the Advertising

Specialty Institute (ASI). And, he’s already

chosen his 2015 gift (but his secret is safe with

us!). According to the study, the top corporate

gifts include food and beverages, desk

accessories, writing utensils and calendars.

Buying stand-out giftsWhat is the highest form of praise in gift-

giving? While hearing, “Thank you! I love it.”

is good, hearing that a customer, client, donor

or volunteer frequently uses a gift is great.

SCORE, a national small business counseling

organization, suggests thinking about where

the gift recipients spend most of their time,

and buying gifts to fit that need. For example,

sales people who spend a majority of their day

in the car may appreciate gadgets or items

normally used while driving.

“Practicality is always fashionable,” says

Suzanne Worwood, 4imprint vice president of

merchandising.

“A gift that is useful, personal and matched to the recipient’s lifestyle can make

a big impact.”

By following this advice, Grossman believes

it’s a win for both recipients and the gift

giver. “If I can give them a product they can

use in everyday life to make it easier or more

enjoyable, it puts me in a positive light,”

Grossman said.

So, how does he match practical and tasteful?

His gifts have included a vented golf umbrella,

a present that has kept executives in big cities

like New York and Chicago dry on their daily

commute. He’s also given embossed leather

carrying cases that are perfect for meetings

COVER STORY Stand-Out Business Gifts9

62% of companies gave holiday gifts in 2014

or tackling projects while on the train to and

from work. Grossman considers these higher-

end products an investment in future sales.

“I treat them to nicer products,” Grossman said. “When it’s time that they

really need it, they will think about where it came from and say ‘That guy rocks!’”

Kenny Werle, Wine Club director for the Flora

Springs Winery & Vineyards in St. Helena,

Calif., also buys for customers with more

sophisticated tastes. His holiday wine shipment

comes with wine- or winter-related gifts. Past

choices have been a logo’d knit cap and scarf.

“I try to do something where our logo is

visible so that they’ll see it many times,”

he said. “It’s a two-way thing where you

make them happy for giving them a gift,

but hopefully, they’ll see our logo on the gift

enough so that they call to order more.”

Be unforgettableEvery month is gift-giving month for Werle,

who includes a gift with every shipment to his

high-end wine club, Preferred Palates. Despite

this group’s discerning taste in wine, he hasn’t

had difficulty finding gifts these customers

enjoy. Very few wine clubs go that extra mile,

making Flora Springs stand out.

COVER STORY Stand-Out Business Gifts10

Kenny Werle gives winter- and wine-related gifts during the holidays.

“The coolest thing they say is ‘We’ve canceled

all of our wine clubs except yours because of

the gifts that you send,’” he said. “We’d like

them to say it’s because of our great wine!

Literally, every time we send something out,

there is always someone who wants to get

more or purchase more.”

Grossman has turned corporate gift-giving

on its head. Most companies that give

promotional products put their own logo on

the gift, but Grossman’s gifts are imprinted

with the recipients’ logos.

“I always give them a gift with their brand on it,”

Grossman said.

“I usually give products they would never

think to buy for themselves, so they would

never see them with their brand. It may

not have my name on it, but they know the

company that gave it to them.”

Make your list, check it twiceIf you’re on the hunt for the perfect business

gift, a little research may go a long way.

Considering how the recipient will use the

product is just part of the thought process. If

you are buying for co-workers, direct reports

or bosses, does your company have written

rules or unwritten practices that apply?

If you are buying for vendors or clients, do

their human resources departments limit

employees from accepting gifts over a certain

dollar limit or accepting gifts at all?

Sari Bedevian had to check her list for those

considerations and more. Before retiring

earlier this year, she taught at the Bronx

School of Law and Finance High School

in New York and was in charge of buying

gifts for about 40 teachers. While teachers

sometimes exchanged personal holiday cards

with each other, the official gift-giving season

was in May.

“We didn’t have a holiday party. We had

an end-of-the-term party,” she said. “My

principal chose to gift everyone during

Teacher Appreciation Week. People were very

appreciative of the gifts.”

No matter which gift you choose, or when you

choose to give it, in the end, your clients and

employees will appreciate the time you spent

to show your gratitude. Happy Holidays!

COVER STORY Stand-Out Business Gifts11

Make a list on authentic Post -it® Notes!

Exclusive - To Do Post-it® Notes

Top Business Giftsfor 2015

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

Gift ideas for your office Santa Claus

By Suzanne Worwood, VP Merchandising

Travelers, Coffee Fans, Tea Devotees Whether your gift is going to a road warrior,

coffee fan or tea devotee, the Contigo West

Loop Travel Tumbler – 16 oz. is sure to delight.

Auto-seal technology makes this tumbler

spill-proof and leak-proof. And the stainless-

steel, double-wall construction keeps hot

beverages hot and cold beverages cold,

without condensation. Holiday hot cocoa

never tasted so good!

You’ve made your Pinterest® board. You’ve checked it twice. If you’re playing Santa Claus this year and selecting gifts for people on your organization’s holiday

list, you want to be sure you’ve selected the gifts that evoke a genuine “Wow! Thank you!” These

brand-name gifts do just that, helping you turn an ordinary year-end holiday gift into something a

bit more extraordinary. For inspiration, check out these (Pin-worthy) favorites. Happy shopping!

Tech Users and Urbanites If your customers or team members tote a

laptop wherever they go, the sleek design of

the Case Logic Jaunt 15.6" Laptop Backpack

will grab their attention. Gadget lovers

appreciate the space for a laptop, tablet and

cord storage. Mesh side pockets provide room

for a water bottle. Embroider the stylish

backpack with your logo (or theirs, for an

added surprise), and your customers will think

of you each time they pick it up! That’s a gift

that keeps on giving.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT Top Business Gifts for 201513

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

Case Logic® Jaunt 15.6" Laptop Backpack

T his high-tech tumbler keeps beverages hot or cold without

the condensation!

Contigo® West Loop Travel Tumbler

16 oz.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT Top Business Gifts for 201514

Cross® Signature Journal with Pen

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

Prepare for colder weather with this cozy personalized soft -shell jacket.

Note Takers Looking for a gift that’ll speak to both

traditional and non-traditional note takers?

Gadget lovers will appreciate the fine feel

of the Cross Signature Journal with Pen,

which can be debossed with your logo.

Seasoned note takers will love the detail—

a Cross metal pen, cleverly stored at the

ready, and a ribbon page marker to help

users easily find their spot. The design is

so beautiful you may want to add it to your

own wish list.

Outdoors Lovers If the recipients on your gift list

love being outside, you’ll enjoy

watching them unwrap the

Eddie Bauer Active Soft Shell

Jacket (in Men’s and Women’s

styles). Water-resistant

fabric, a warm, breathable

lining and interior storm

flap make this a gift they’ll

reach for again and again.

Eddie Bauer® Active Soft Shell Jacket

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

Lindy dancers find success with a new promotional product.

Step It Up

Photo courtesy of Ben Hejkal Photography

By Kelli Karpinski

Lindy Hop dancers need more than a smooth

dance floor to show off their moves.

They need to stay energized to keep up with

the demands of the dance’s fancy footwork. In

short, they crave a basic necessity—water.

So, when the organizers of the Minneapolis/

St. Paul Midwest Lindy Fest (MWLF) were

formulating a plan to keep the water flowing,

they tapped promotional products.

Practical meets unforgettable Midwest Lindy Fest is part social, part dance

competition that attracts Lindy enthusiasts

to the Twin Cities from all corners of the

United States and some parts of the world.

At the 2015 event, dancers eased into the

weekend with a Thursday riverboat cruise,

complete with socializing and, of course,

dancing. By Friday, the action was literally

heating up. Competitions like the Jack and

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Step It Up16

Ben White and Kendra Strode show their Lindy dance moves at Midwest Lindy Fest.

Photo courtesy of Ben Hejkal Photography

Jill were underway, pairing familiar moves

with the unknown as participants are coupled

randomly with familiar partners or strangers

to dance to a song that may or may not be

familiar.

“It’s a very athletic dance,” says Kendra

Strode, MWLF Productions board member.

Let the thirst begin In the past, water was stored in a big cooler

(the kind you see on football game day

sidelines) and served in plastic cups. Dancers

used a permanent marker to make the cups

their own. Organizers knew they needed a

more practical solution and opted to take

advantage of the venue’s water fountain,

which features a bottle-filling sensor.

That was the first phase

of their plan. Phase two:

Ordering water bottles

that would serve the dual

purpose of quenching

dancers’ thirst while

simultaneously equipping

them with a memory of

the festival.

Black water bottles with

the MWLF logo imprinted

in white proved to be the

perfect fit.

“They looked so crisp and so

fantastic,” she said. “They really came out beautifully.”

Etching a new plan Selling the black bottles—the color added

polish to the festivities—solved one problem

but led to another. How would participants

tell their bottles from the rest? A permanent

marker wouldn’t show, and stickers would fall

off the bottles’ exterior. Strode’s housemate

came to the rescue with her rotary tool. Why

not allow participants to engrave their names

on the bottles?

So Strode ordered samples and engraved

“the heck out of them.” The test was a success.

And so were water bottle sales.

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Step It Up17

T his h2go® Hydra Sport Bottle was the perfect companion

for thirsty dancers.

Photo courtesy of Ben Hejkal Photography

“It worked incredibly well,” she said. “They were

a tremendous hit. People really got a kick out of

it. We ended up selling out of the water bottles.”

Being a creative crew by nature, dancers didn’t

just engrave initials or a name on the water

bottle. Some doodled. A few created works of

art, some with so much panache, other dancers

“commissioned” the artists to add flair to their

water bottles. In the end, the water bottles

made a big impression.

And Strode can attest first-hand to the practical

use and stand-out quality of the elegant black

water bottle. Shortly after Midwest Lindy

Fest, she traveled to Sweden, the mecca of

swing dance camps. And, there across the

dance floor, she spotted it—an engraved

black water bottle.

“It was a tremendous success,” Strode said. “We’re really happy

we did it.”

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Step It Up18

Roll-up Fleece Blanket Hanes® Nano-T Slant Sportpack

When you download the Amplify app to your mobile phone or

tablet, you’ll get access to additional interactive content, including

audio interviews, videos, photo galleries and more. Best of all,

you’ll be updated when each new issue of Amplify is available.

Amplify Your Experience

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.

Promotional products for active events

Roll-up Fleece Blanket Hanes® Nano-T Slant Sportpack

TREND

Good CheerGoodwill and

By Kelli Karpinski

Companies thank employees, celebrate at holiday parties

TREND Goodwill and Good Cheer20

75% of companies plan to host a holiday party this year

Thousands of employees around the

United States can look forward to

celebrating a year of hard work and

achievements in 2015. A growing number

of human resources teams say this will be

a booming year for holiday parties.

According to a 4imprint survey of human

resources professionals nationwide, 75

percent plan to host a holiday party this year.

Of the 25 percent not planning a party, 28

percent will be giving their employees gifts

and 21 percent will give a monetary bonus

for reaching a business goal. Still others plan

to host employee recognition programs or

provide breakfast or lunch as a thank you.

“It’s a good way to end the year,” said Curtis

Bustamante, human resources manager for

EYE-Q Vision Care Center in Fresno. (Party

pictured on page 19.) “It helps lift morale.

It lets employees relax.”

Employees, spouses and clients, oh my! With so many parties in the works, who is

expected to attend these soirees and special

events? More than half of holiday party

planners invite spouses and/or guests to the

events while nearly 40 percent will invite

only employees. Other respondents said they

invite board members or clients to join them

in celebration.

At Indiana Limestone Company, the holiday

party is geared to employees (spouses are

invited to a summer company picnic). The

mill and quarry workers knock off early

(with pay) from work, come dressed as they

are and share a meal. Laura Cooper, human

resources lead, says managers use the time

to mingle with employees and provide an

update on the state of the company. Indiana

Limestone Company employees welcome the

camaraderie and company status discussion.

“I hope they get a chance to spend time eating

with the management team,” she said. “We

want all the employees to see we are investing

in the company and in them.”

“The party last year was a big hit. Just the fact that we had a chance to get together was something they hadn’t

seen in a long time.”

Ambiance ranges from simple to sophisticatedThe party atmosphere differs among

respondent organizations, with 25 percent

of respondents saying this year’s party

will be casual and 11 percent saying they

are planning a formal, black-tie affair.

Most, however, expect guests to dress in

professional business or business

casual attire.

Survey results show that the more casual the

party, the more likely it will be held onsite for

employees only. Of those hosting a black tie

affair, 72 percent will invite spouses or guests,

and 94 percent will host the party offsite.

On the other hand, 50 percent of businesses

planning a casual get-together will host it for

employees only, and only 38 percent will host

the party offsite. However, planners of casual

parties are more likely to spend more in 2015

than they did last year—20 percent of those

planning a casual event expect to spend more,

compared to 11 percent of those planning a

formal affair.

At the office and on the town From nights on the town to special events

at the office, survey respondents report

planning holiday parties find their homes at a

wide variety of locations.

More than 81 percent say they hold the party

offsite—somewhere other than at their place

of business—and 88 percent will host it

between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

TREND21 Goodwill and Good Cheer

TREND22 Goodwill and Good Cheer

“The holiday party is a good way to reconnect, see each other and reminisce.”

The myriad locations reflect a wide range

of budgets associated with the events. More

than 71 percent of respondents say they plan

to hold expenses to the amount they spent in

2014, but more than 17 percent say they will

spend more, and 3 percent didn’t hold a party

last year but plan to in 2015.

Bustamante, who gained experience

coordinating holiday parties at his previous

job, is taking the party-planning reigns for

the first time EYE-Q Vision Center. EYE-Q

had previously hosted a formal gala with

dinner and dancing, but an employee survey

revealed that spouses and guests prefer a

more casual event, so this year, he is in the

8 percent of respondents who say they are

cutting back. Bustamante plans to create a

carnival atmosphere for the 230 employees

and their guests.

“In my case, it’s about getting creative to have

it be fun,” he said.

Different parties, one common goal While no two parties look the same, it is

likely most are held with a common goal

in mind—to say thank you to employees

and provide them with an opportunity to

relax with co-workers and management.

Bustamante says he believes employees

want to work for a company that is willing

to spend some money for fun, so he

considers hosting a holiday party as

having an edge over the competition.

For both Bustamante and Cooper, who have

employees at multiple sites, the party is also

an opportunity for their company family to

be together. “It’s kind of a reunion for

employees,” Bustamante said.

Top View Tin - M&M’s® Mega Red Wine Glass Key Light with Bottle Opener

Promotional products for holiday parties Click the keychain end to

activate the bright white LED light!

DID YOU KNOW?

‘Tis the Season for DonationsCall it the ultimate holiday spirit. Charitable donations rise dramatically at year-end. Check out these trends.

23 DID YOU KNOW?

Charitable gifts made in

of total charitable gifts

DECEMBER

2014

17.8%

Guengerich, Gail. “Online Fundraising Trends.” Upleaf. N.p., 11 May 2015.

Annual nonprofit fundraising

Funds given offline

8.9% Online giving increase (2013 to 2014)

Funds given online

6.7%93%

Good news! Charitable giving is expected to grow in and .

“Philanthropy Report: U.S. Charitable Giving Projected Grow 2015, 2016.” NonProfit PRO. N.p., 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 07 Aug. 2015.

Projected U.S. giving (overall)

Individual giving Foundation giving

Giving by estates Corporate giving

4.4% 4.1%

7.2% 6.7%

2015 2016

6%

4.8%

2.7%

6.3%

4.8% 4.9%

The future of giving

DID YOU KNOW?

How prepared are you to take advantage of giving growth?

Which generation gives the most to charity?

Men make more gifts to charity than women.

Donors want big ideas.

TraditionalistsBaby BoomersMillennials Gen X-ers

TRUE FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

FALSE

FALSE

Test your readiness!

1

2

3

4

Donors rarely volunteer. Volunteers rarely donate.

Perry, Gail. “Top 10 Major Donor Fundraising Trends for 2014-15.” Fired-Up Fundraising with Gail Perry. N.p., 27 June 2014. Web. 12 Aug. 2015.

Jacobs, Deborah L. “Charitable Giving: Baby Boomers Donate More, Study Shows.” Forbes. 8 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.

Source: “Boost Your Year-End Fundraising with #GivingTuesday.” - Resource Center. Association of Fundraising Professionals, n.d. Web. 07 Aug. 2015.

#GivingTuesday tips! Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Email prospective donors Cyber Monday AND Giving Tuesday.

Promote it on your website home page.

Promote yourself on social networks with the #GivingTuesday hashtag!

1 2 3

#GivingTuesday

PROMO HUNT

Promotional Products are EVERYWHEREThese people are having a great time with promotional products at

their side. Can you spot the 13 promotional products at this event?

One, two, three, go!

25 PROMO HUNT

Promo product example

REMARKABLE MOMENT

Grace Notes SoarBy Erin Van Handel

Violinists Liam Murphy and Michael Giovanniello share their love of music with an audience that often doesn’t have access to live performances: residents of nursing homes.

The high school seniors make up Grace

Notes. Since the group formed in August

2014, they’ve logged about 65 performances

at nursing homes and senior centers in the

Vienna, Va., area.

Audience members, many of whom have

dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, are so

receptive, Grace Notes has been booking

more gigs. Family members tell the boys

their performance made a loved one smile,

Giovanniello said.

“It has a tangible impact,” he said.

Last winter, the boys ordered Christmas

ornaments, featuring the group’s name and

website, and gave them to the nursing homes

they visited.

“Residents and staff loved the ornaments,” Murphy

said. “In promoting ourselves, we’re promoting

all entertainers visiting nursing homes.”

Following a news story about Grace Notes on

a local television station, the public offered

donations, but the boys asked would-be donors

to instead contribute to the Alzheimer’s

Association, a national organization whose

goal is to fund research and enhance care for

people with the disease. Murphy reported that

to date, Grace Notes has encouraged about

$20,000 in donations.

Both boys want to keep playing to seniors as

much as they can. “Residents are happy to see us,

even when we play terribly,” Giovanniello said.

“Once you start, you can’t stop,” Murphy said.

“It would feel weird to stop.”

REMARKABLE MOMENT

REMARKABLE MOMENT Grace Notes Soar27

To discover more about Grace Notes, visit www.gracenotesclassical.org.

Satin Flat Ornament

Ideal for holiday parties and fundraisers during the holiday season.