Amid the 2020 global pandemic, Jase Cannon orchestrated a powerful multi-year campaign. This operation was strategically designed to combat food insecurity by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals for AFC’s youth – a community of LGBTQIA+ young individuals grappling with homelessness. The campaign celebrated the strength of chosen families and the unity of communities. 

The campaign culminated in a memorable Thanksgiving event, where a diverse group of queer and ally chefs, selected from Ms. Cannon’s personal community, cooked up comfort for our often marginalized homeless youth. Simultaneously, a personal GoFundMe campaign was launched, effectively broadening awareness and securing financial support for this essential cause.

At Satchel, we sparked a vibrant new brand identity for AFC’s meal program, catalyzing an energetic marketing and social media fundraising campaign aimed at combatting food insecurity. This comprehensive initiative rolled out an array of branded assets, amplified by a gripping campaign video, meticulously directed and produced by our creative ensemble. The video shone a spotlight on our extraordinary chefs, emphasizing the importance of backing AFC’s meal program, while simultaneously showcasing the vibrant spectrum of queer artistry.

In a remarkable feat, we organized and managed a force of 30 volunteers for a Thanksgiving event, successfully securing partnerships and sponsorships resulting in donated food for Thanksgiving meals. By fostering community engagement, we served as a beacon of queer support and inspiration, reinforcing to our youth their unique brilliance and potential.

As 2021 rolled around, both our initiative and the global pandemic entered their second year. Due to pandemic-imposed limitations on in-person fundraising events, the WAF campaign seamlessly stepped in, replacing AFC’s traditional annual gala. This strategic pivot allowed Satchel and AFC to amplify their collaborative efforts. 

United in our endeavor, we escalated our fight against food insecurity for our LGBTQIA+ homeless youth and bolstered fundraising for AFC’s meal program. The resulting surge in community engagement rallied our network of queer and ally chefs to deliver unforgettable Thanksgiving meals, abounding with love and support. This continued demonstration of the power of chosen family and community bonds further illuminated our mission.

In this second-year initiative, Satchel demonstrated its leadership and expertise by broadening the scope of our fundraising. We curated a hybrid event, blending an intimate in-person dinner with a dynamic virtual community engagement aspect for our fundraisers, partners, and sponsors. This endeavor simultaneously enhanced the visibility of our fight against food insecurity. 

Alongside additional members from AFC’s development team, who primarily oversaw the event production and corporate sponsorships, Satchel expanded community efforts, fostered new partnerships, and orchestrated an impactful corporate volunteer program. 

This collaborative approach ensured that our LGBTQIA+ homeless youth experienced a Thanksgiving dinner infused with love, community, and nourishment. By leading the social media awareness campaign, we further cemented the initiative’s reach and impact.

By substituting the fundraiser dinner for AFC’s traditional gala, we achieved remarkable funding targets, securing over $750k for AFC’s meal program. Our awareness campaign effectively spotlighted our commitment to combating food insecurity, promising another year of cherished memories and a bountiful Thanksgiving for our youth. This second year marked significant growth and progression in our initiative.

The transformative year of 2022 saw AFC’s development team setting ambitious goals to transition the third year’s campaign into a peer-to-peer fundraising space and launch a captivating old-school dance-a-thon event. Jase Cannon, stepping up as the Creative Director, and the exceptional team at Satchel, spearheaded an extensive overhaul of the campaign’s brand identity. The magnitude of the undertaking demanded the creation of a multimedia investor website to rope in noteworthy talent, partnerships, and sponsorships.

Satchel accepted the monumental challenge with unparalleled grace and extraordinary leadership, personally crafting a brand new identity on a peer-to-peer online fundraising platform – an endeavor requiring meticulous planning and strategic execution. In addition to directing a comprehensive marketing campaign that included video content production, branded media assets, and merchandise, Satchel’s skillful team adeptly managed the executive production of the dance-a-thon event. 

As part of these multifaceted responsibilities, they led a dedicated production team in filming the event and directing a short film that captured its pivotal moments. It was Satchel’s unwavering attention to detail and steadfast commitment to excellence that facilitated a triumphant launch of AFC’s foray into the peer-to-peer space.

Leveraging its creative expertise, Satchel assumed comprehensive responsibility for the executive production of the dance-a-thon event, leading the project from the initial creative spark to the successful inauguration of AFC’s first peer-to-peer initiative. Gathering a dynamic team of industry experts – from Art Directors to Executive Producers, alongside adept cinematographers, editors, and crew members – Satchel turned the vision into reality. With a foundation of trust from AFC, Satchel worked in harmony with AFC’s development team and peer-to-peer fundraising consultants, surpassing the set goals and raising the bar higher. 

Satchel accepted the monumental challenge with unparalleled grace and extraordinary leadership, personally crafting a brand new identity on a peer-to-peer online fundraising platform – an endeavor requiring meticulous planning and strategic execution. In addition to directing a comprehensive marketing campaign that included video content production, branded media assets, and merchandise, Satchel’s skillful team adeptly managed the executive production of the dance-a-thon event.

The tireless dedication invested into the third year of the We Are Family initiative culminated in outstanding success, notably amplifying the conversation around food insecurity and successfully securing over $650K for AFC’s meal program. Satchel’s assertive leadership played a pivotal role across the board, shaping strategic awareness campaigns, steering fundraising drives, overseeing the event’s executive production, and managing the entire film production process. 

The realization of this initiative, which started as a simple idea rooted in community service, has emerged as a powerful force reassuring our LGBTQIA+ homeless youth of their inherent value. This rewarding journey underscores our steadfast belief that no one should grapple with food insecurity, and that our young people are deserving of relentless love and celebration. The overwhelming impact achieved through this endeavor is a testament to our collective resolve and commitment.