AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Have you heard of Sam Roark?”
“Hockey player right? From what I’ve read, he’s said this is his last season. Is it for him?”
“He and his fiancée actually. She, and his family are heavily involved with the foundation he started a couple of years ago.”
“A class Hayley and I were in together last year used them as a model for a project we did. We were supposed to look at athletes and their causes. I liked how open he seemed to be about his past and how he wanted to work hard in his hometown giving the kids a place to go instead of possibly getting into things they shouldn’t, but then also introducing them to experiences they might not normally be able to due to their circumstances, no matter what they are. I feel like they do most things really well, but I think there’s an opportunity here.”
“Like what?” Dylan licks a bit of sauce off her bottom lip and pulls it in. “Go ahead. Say it.”
“You really want to know what I think?”
“Of course I do.”
She licks the bit of grease off her fingers while she cocks her head just a bit to the right. Dylan usually has the words ready. Sometimes the words are ready before she is. “Having all the visibility they have in the NHL is great. That hits a huge market, especially in the area where he’s playing, and it’s different from the NFL. But I worry some demographics are being untouched. I’d like to see some cross promo to reach them.
“I know the kids Sam’s foundation can help come from tough places. Some need extra help and care, so do some of their parents. But if some of them had arts outlets, or allowed the arts to bridge a gap between the kids and parents if needed, what might that help? There are so many studies showing the positive correlation between music, art, and dance therapies and mental healing along with education. We need to reach those people and get their time, money, and interest involved. These can be bonds they take with them, no matter where or how old. They can even repair families.”
“Why do you dance, Dylan?”
“I dance because I don’t know how not to. I dance because it’s a part of me. There are two ways I can get every bit of my emotion out, and that’s the one that’s acceptable in public. Well, unless you’re us that is.”
“I want to see how you, Levi, and Candice work together. If it goes how I think it’s going to, I want you to pitch what you just said to Sam and his family. Don’t change a word of it.” I suddenly feel this burst of energy. My finger waves in the air as I get up and start pacing. “What is the New York community known for? Broadway and the arts, right? So, we build our connections by going into those plays, musicals, dance companies, and we draw the artists out. It can be an auction for time with the artists, tickets to see them. Paintings to purchase. The list is endless. We start here, where we know, then expand to his city. The more people we have on board, the easier it will be for others to say yes.
“Then we have performances along with the auction to showcase the talent they could, or would, get. We have some of these kids locally come and watch. It could be the beginning of sparks or mentor/mentee relationships. I think we start with a huge fundraiser though. Really kick it off.”
“You got all that from what I said?”
“Not only could we raise awareness but also bring in a shit ton of money. I don’t know if you’re aware but his family comes with a built in network. Sam’s father works for a company with several connections of his own. AnSa could be the East Coast coordinator and secondary sponsor. If they go for it, you will have to perform.”
“Me? You’re crazy.”
“Why? It’s no crazier than not doing it. No crazier than us.”
“Us? We’re an us? Less than a month and you’re already there?” she asks.
“Generally speaking, my dear Viper, when there’s a you and a me there tends to be an us.”
“You want to pitch this as a side hustle to the general marketing package.”
“Wewill be pitching this, but if you care about me at all, you’ll do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t pull your hair all the way back like that, and wear pants instead of a skirt. Then I’ll only think of your ass and not the easy access I can take to toss you on my desk.”
“You’re all talk! We have to keep things professional, he says. We need to hide things at the office, he says. Then you say things like that.”
“It’s going to be so hard. You’re like… gravity.”
Chapter Seventeen
Elijah
Sam, Lucy, Sam’s parents, and everyone who joined the call from the Roark Foundation were as wowed by Dylan’s lead on our presentation as I was. She was poised, polished, eloquent, and equally passionate. I feel so many different things right now. Behind the wheel of my car as I sit in traffic, it plays back like a movie in my head.
Dylan centered herself in a way I’ve never seen from her before. The placement of her hands. The depth of her breath. Her eyes morphing from closed to open. Her calm demeanor washed over the boardroom. I had an agenda prepared. It was given to everyone in the room locally and where our participants were. I made the introductions and she soared.
I wanted the interns to begin to get comfortable in pitches. It’s the heart of what we do. It’s about listening and observing. Coming in with a plan but being able to change that plan based on your gut. This whole idea came from Dylan. It was based inside her. It was only right she gave them the same words she gave me.
