If a store is ready to enlist to be a part of the CFW family of donation centers, the next step is to reach out to our donation administrator, Tammy Rekito (tammy.rekito@cigarsforwarriors.net), who will guide each store through the process and send the store a commitment letter.
The commitment letter outlines the minimum requirements to be a donation center and details the importance of having a CFW event coordinator and how an event coordinator can benefit a store. To become an event coordinator or to learn how having an event coordinator can help a store, reach out to CFW’s volunteer administrator, Deana Davidson (deana.davidson@cigarsforwarriors.net), who can help a store find a volunteer. The best CFW volunteer event coordinators come directly from the owner/manager of the retail store. There is always that patriotic customer who frequents the store on a regular basis, who is well-liked, honest and trustworthy. If this person has a few hours to dedicate to the store, then you have yourself a potential event coordinator. Event coordinators can help set up an event, run the CFW booth and raffles, help prepare the cigars for shipment, count cash, and take event photos and post them to the CFW Facebook group. You will be surprised how much having a CFW event coordinator can benefit the store by performing something, such as giving a small speech, which will send people flying into the humidors to buy cigars to donate!
CFW is blessed to have amazing, talented volunteers that can lend their services and expertise to our donation centers. The board’s secretary, Danielle Lombardi (danielle.lombardi@cigarsforwarriors.net), can also answer many of your questions and/or guide you to the right CFW board member that can.
You’re probably thinking, “It all sounds too good to be true. How much is this really going to cost?” The truth? Only the “loan” of a 300-plus-count humidor and the cost of shipping your donations once a month, which can be a tax write-off. That is an additional opportunity to receive free marketing. Take a photo of the monthly donations and include the name of your store, and then ask the volunteer event coordinator to post it to the Operation: Cigars for Warriors Facebook page. Whenever the donation arrives at our distribution center in Florida, CFW will take another photo and promote it again. If there are any monetary donations, the store will simply write a check for that cash amount to protect the volunteer, the donation center and CFW.
These are just some of the ways to make money from supporting CFW. Feel free to go to cigarsforwarriors.org to learn more about CFW, including information about how to sign up to be a donation center and how to become an event coordinator. Danielle Lombardi can also answer many of your questions or guide you to the right CFW board member who can help you. Never feel weird about making money off the charity. CFW will get its donations, and there isn’t a service member alive who would be upset that a company that is supporting the charity comes out ahead.
I hope you and our troops stay safe and very healthy during this time of national crisis, whether you’re talking about the economy or the coronavirus pandemic.
This story first appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of Tobacco Business magazine. Members of the tobacco industry are eligible for a complimentary subscription to our magazine. Click here for details.
– Contributed by Storm Boen, Chairman, Operation: Cigars for Warriors
