Company: Merkle, Columbia, MD
Company Description: Merkle is a global data-driven, technology-enabled performance marketing agency. For more than 25 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle, the nation’s largest privately held agency, to maximize the value of their customer portfolios.
Nomination Category: Live Event Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Internal Recognition/Motivational Event

Nomination Title: Merkle’s Dream Grant Program

The date on which this nominated production was first presented:

This annual event began January 1, 2007.

Briefly describe the nominated event's objectives and how it met those objectives (up to 525 words):

Genesis & Goals

Merkle’s Dream Grant program was launched in 2007 to provide our employees with a way to experience things that they’ve always dreamed of but never had the time or money to do. Many members of our team at Merkle are great adventurers who thrive on new experiences, travel, and giving back to the communities in which we live. The Dream Grant program is open to all employees to chase whatever kind of experiences they desire – fun, adventurous, philanthropic, introspective, athletic, whatever they can dream up.

Over the eight years that the Dream Grants have been in existence at Merkle, they have enabled dozens of Merkle employees to make their dreams come true. Each quarter, two individual dream grants and two team dream grants are awarded – one in each category that is fun/adventurous and one that is philanthropic.

The Program & Experience

2014 proved to be a banner year for the Dream Grant experience. The individual dream grants included “Goals for Giving,” “Attend the "She Speaks" Conference,” “Take Mom to Ireland,” and “Winter Camping Experience for Otter Group.” The group winners included “Attend the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta,” “The Other cCrm - Cycling Connects Radiant Merkle,” “Ride the Kokopelli Trail,” “Merk-Ryder Cup,” and “Remember Heroes.” In the coming year, those winners will create and provide video records of their Dream Grants to share with the entire company.

When individuals come back from their Dream Grant experiences, they are forever changed. Examples of the power of the Dream Grant program include The Little Wings of Hope foundation, which was created through the Merkle Dream Grants program and has raised over $10,000 towards this first phase goal of $100k. The foundation was started by a mother, a Merkle employee, who lost her daughter to addiction and raises money to help families with an addicted child to pay for the cost of treatments. Click here to view the video.

Another Merkle Dream Grant saw a team sail and compete in the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 race. They competed against 59 other boats from around the world in the 600 mile race non-stop around 11 islands. Click here to view the video.

The quarterly Dream Grants foster inspiration and ideas from our employees and thrives on the joy and excitement that they generate, as our employees experience new adventures, develop bonds with colleagues outside of the office, and give back to their communities in ways they may not have been able to on their own.

The Dream Grants continue on a quarterly basis to ensure that Merkle employees chase extraordinary goals outside of work as well.

ist the appropriate creative and production credits for this entry: Advertising Agency/City: Client: Art Director: Cinematographer: Creative Director: Designer: Director: Illustrator/City: Music Producer/City: Photographer/City: Printer/City: Producer: Production Company/City: Programmer: Writer: Web Development Firm/City