Host A LUNAFEST

CASE STUDIES

case studies

LUNAFEST events take place between October and April of each year in hundreds of venues throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each event has its own flavor - from gala affairs and grand events, to intimate gatherings and grassroots efforts - but all LUNAFEST events are powerful in building funds, awareness and community. To learn more about what it's like to host a LUNAFEST, below are just a small sampling of LUNAFEST events that have taken place over the years:

Planned Parenthood Ohio: Celebrating Achievement & Building Community

Lunafest At-A-Glance
Honored: 40th Anniversary of Planned Parenthood
Celebrated: 1st Lunafest in 2006
Inspired: Over 150 Attendees
Raised: Hope, awareness, and over $1300

In spring of 2006, Planned Parenthood of Akron, Ohio partnered with Epitome Magazine, a non-profit women-owned magazine, to hosted their LUNAFEST to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Planned Parenthood.

Over 150 attendees took part in the two-night event, which featured both the 2006 short films as well as the 5th anniversary award winners. The director of Planned Parenthood and the founder of Epitome Magazine served as keynote speakers, recounting their personal challenges and triumphs as women, infusing the event with energy.

"The speeches were both impressive and inspired - and the films were amazing," said Don Brighenti of Planned Parenthood. "All of the films were incredibly powerful and collectively they gave us all a sense of community and purpose. We left Lunafest feeling both engaged and motivated."

The event's success was driven by careful planning and targeted publicity. The groups promoted Lunafest among local women's organizations, such as the Women's Studies group at University of Akron and a local professional women's organization and numerous others. In addition, Epitome ran a full page ad in its magazine, and numerous local print and radio outlets ran PSAs promoting the event.

Funds were raised by selling tickets, popcorn and beverages - which covered all costs and raised $1300 for future fundraising programs. "Our goal was to celebrate our anniversary and raise awareness for the issues of women - and Lunafest was a resounding success," said Brighenti. "We accomplished our goal and then some." 


Simmons College in Boston: Honoring a Proud Legacy

Lunafest At-A-Glance
Honored: A proud legacy of women in leadership
Celebrated: 4th Annual Lunafest
Inspired: Over 400 attendees and countless young women
Raised: The voices & visions of women and over $1,000

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Simmons College is a women's college with proud legacy. In 1899, the college was founded to promote the financial independence of women. And today, they are equally proud of their trail-blazing legacy with Lunafest.

"We were one of the original Lunafest hosts and the very first on the East Coast," said Diane Hammer of the Institute for Leadership Change and Simmons College Feminist Union. "Lunafest mirrors our values and vision for inspiring greatness in women and promoting a strong community. The films are exceptional and thought provoking. It is exactly the kind of opportunity we want our students to tackle while here at school, supporting them as we build a stronger future for women everywhere."

The event was first launched in 2001 through the college's Institute of Women's Leadership, and each year 100-150 attendees come out for Lunafest. The event is completely run and organized by the students at Simmon's College. Keynote guest speakers have included luminaries from faculty breast cancer survivors, to renowned feminist writers, and influential college alumni. Over the years, and thousands have been raised in support of community charities.

"At the close of every Lunafest, there is an incredible feeling of synergy - it cultivates partnership and collaboration between the audience and presenters, current students and alumni, women and girls, across all walks of life and in every situation," said Hammer. These young women get as much or more out of this event as they put in."

Simmons College also likes that Lunafest supports the unique voice of women filmmakers - an independent spirit and perspective that may otherwise not be heard.

"We want more of Simmon's College film students to submit their films for consideration," said Hammer. "It doesn't matter if their film is selected - but just that these young women try to tell their story…that is what matters."

Catherine Forbes Dyck: A Personal Journey

Lunafest At-A-Glance
Honored: Cancer Survivors Everywhere
Celebrated: 4th annual Lunafest in 2006
Inspired: Over 2000 attendees
Raised: Community spirit and over $30,000 so far

For Catherine Forbes Dyck, Lunafest is more than an event. It's a barometer for her recovery in her 4-year battle with cancer. Each year, as she's gotten stronger and healthier, her Lunafest has event has gotten stronger and healthier as well.

"When I first heard about Lunafest, I read about it in a magazine - I was still quite ill but I thought 'I have to do this,'" said Forbes Dyck in a recent telephone conversation. "I had stopped teaching for my cancer treatment, and I was feeling low. I needed something positive to plan for and focus on…something bigger than me. When I look back, I realize that it's given me more than I've given back…it gave me new purpose, confidence and sense of self. Most importantly, it gave me back the time I lost to cancer."

In that first year, Ms. Forbes Dyck created a tremendous splash, and Lunafest became an instant success in her small Canadian community near Lake Superior. She created a "Gala Event' that included local women's talent - dancers to kick off the event, singers performing live music, and powerful female luminaries to tell their stories. She then rallied women-owned and -managed businesses to make cash and in-kind donations as event sponsors, setting up event themes and generated publicity from community newspapers, television programs and radio shows.

Over 400 attendees came to the first Lunafest, and the second year over 750 people attended and raised more than $12,000 for breast cancer. In year 3, she had recovered from her cancer well enough to return to work, so she received a grant to help her with the event. Each successive year, the event gained new momentum in its own way - just as Ms. Forbes Dyck has recovered.

"People ask me, 'Are you going to do Lunafest again this year?' and I think 'How can I not?'" she said. "I'm back at work full time, but I am passionate about what Lunafest brings to our community. That's the key ingredient to Lunafest - passion. If you have passion, the rest will follow. It's infectious."

Smith College: Learning by Leading

Lunafest At-A-Glance
Honored: The Leadership of Young Women
Celebrated: 4th Annual Lunafest in 2006
Inspired: Over 200 attendees and counting
Raised: Leadership, passion, and over $1000

At Smith College, students are adding a whole new dimension to their education...they are learning about leadership, community and philanthropy through Lunafest.

"We take for granted that our students can do everything - these young women are so bright, so talented…but they sometimes need to prove it for themselves," said Patrick Connelly, assistant director of Student Activities at Smith College. "Lunafest is a completely student-run and for many, this is a pivotal event in their education."

Lunafest at Smith College started with 50 attendees and has grown to 200. Their growth has been fueled by reaching out to specific groups on and off-campus, including a 5-college consortium of colleges as well as the feminist and gay communities in Northhampton. Each year, they put together baskets for a raffle, and they also sell the Lunafest lip balm sticks for $2 each to raise money. The event itself is held in a large ballroom on campus, where it raises both funds for a local women's shelter as well as awareness around important women's issues.

"Lunafest is one of those programs that expands horizons…it changes people lives and perspectives," said Connelly. "Every year, these impressive women tell us that what they learn outside of class is as big and foundational as what they learn in class. The films open their eyes and the program shows them that their creativity and effort can have an impact.

Everyday, I say 'I can't believe I'm lucky enough to get to do this.' I am so proud of what they accomplish."

Benton County Breast & Cervical Cancer Coalition: A Commitment to Prevention

Lunafest At-A-Glance
Honored: Education and prevention
Celebrated: 3rd Annual Lunafest in 2006
Inspired: Thousands of women and leaders
Raised: Great awareness, a coveted community tradition, and over $6,000

When Benton Counter Breast & Cervical Cancer Coalition first started with Lunafest, it was with an eye toward prevention. Until then, their efforts had focused almost exclusively on early detection and treatment, particularly for disadvantaged women. But three years ago, a Filmmaker in the group submitted a film to Lunafest - it wasn't selected, but it planted a seed with the coalition. They decided to do more with a focus on prevention.

That first year, the coalition decided to start small, at a grassroots level, keeping ticket prices low and to fill up the 200-seat auditorium. They did some outreach to some local newspapers trying to get coverage in the calendar listings, then did an interview. Surprising to one and all, two days before the event, their Lunafest was featured on the cover of the newspaper "Arts & Entertainment" section - as a result, the 200 tickets sold out in 48 hours.

"Here we had been thinking 'Oh, I hope we can get 100 people there…'" recalled Linda Lovette, volunteer for the Coalition. "After that, we had people calling us begging for tickets, and the buzz grew from there. Even at the event, when intermission came, it was like everyone had known each other all their lives - we could barely get them to stop talking to come back into the auditorium."

Following that grand success, the coalition made the bold move to a 1200-seat, state-of-the-art performance hall the next year and over 800 attendees came out, fueled by the previous year's buzz and by another newspaper story. The selection of speakers helped set the tone for the event, and they even invited the community to take part in an artful display of "Healing Quilts," that had been designed and made by women in the community for those recovering from personal illness or tragedy. It is touches like these that have made a big difference, particularly as the event has grown larger.

"Every year, the speakers and related community involvement really set the pace and intimacy for this event," said Lovette. "Some years I worry 'was that too heavy?' or 'are we being too preachy?' But then I get feedback from someone - like the social worker who told me about how we had changed her work with post-partum-depression clients, and I think 'if she was the only person in that room, it would have been worth it.' Every year, dozens of women give me feedback like this, and I realize this is having a huge impact."