Combining Community and Creativity for a Meaningful Holiday Cause

This season, Swanson Russell turned holiday cheer into action with its Snowball Slingshot for Good, culminating in an exciting fundraising event on December 17. The campaign brought together employees, clients and friends of the agency to raise $1,865 for Big Gumdrop Outdoors, a nonprofit connecting urban youth to nature. 

The campaign kicked off early December with the launch of  SnowballSlingshot.com, a festive landing page featuring 12 Swanson Russell slingers available for nomination. Visitors to the page were invited to nominate an employee to sling a "snowball" on their behalf at the event, with each nomination valued at $10. On event day, the action unfolded in the agency’s parking lot, where the slingers took their turns at a one-of-a-kind, oversized slingshot. For every target hit, Swanson Russell donated funds to a growing pot benefiting Big Gumdrop Outdoors. The event was a lively celebration, uniting the entire Swanson Russell team for a very good cause. 

As the Nation’s Leading Agency for Brands That Work and Play Outdoors, Swanson Russell saw the campaign as a natural extension of its mission. “The Snowball Slingshot for Good was about more than just holiday fun,” said Brent Schott, CEO of Swanson Russell. “It was a chance to come together as a community, create holiday magic and support an incredible organization.” 

Big Gumdrop Outdoors founder Elijah Riley also shared his gratitude for the event, which marked the nonprofit’s first major fundraiser. “We’re really about trying to create the next generation of outdoor leaders, outdoor enthusiasts and ultimately stewards of our environment,” Riley said. “This fundraiser helps us build the pipeline, so kids know of more opportunities that exist out there in the real world.” 

The funds raised will support Big Gumdrop Outdoors’ programming, including after-school clubs and summer activities aimed at introducing urban youth to the joys of nature. 

The response to the entire holiday campaign was extraordinary, with nearly 200 slinger nominations and thousands of individuals participating in the interactive Snowball Slingshot Showdown game on the landing page. The game allowed people everywhere to join in the holiday fun, even from afar. 

“This is a tradition we’re excited to grow,” Schott said. “We’re already looking forward to hosting more events like this in the future, spreading joy and supporting great causes.”  

Swanson Russell is the Nation’s Leading Agency for Brands That Work and Play Outdoors. We’re on a mission to Make Belief™ by uncovering a brand’s reality, unleashing creative possibilities and building trust over time. See the work we’ve created, get to know our approach — then, contact us to see how we can help.