Pulse March / April 2016 | Page 36

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Paradise Valley, Arizona S M anctuary on Camelback Mountain was first introduced to Colleen’s Dream by a resource partner that supports the local organization. “Colleen’s Dream is a wonderful organization that helps fund research for ovarian cancer, and we at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain wanted to do our part in helping find a cure,” says Spa Director LaRae Verros. The story of Colleen’s Dream started in 2007 when Colleen Drury, who inspired the birth of the organization, was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is often referred to as “the silent killer” of women because many do not discover their disease until it is in the late stages, which leads to many women succumbing to the disease within a short period of time. 34 PULSE ■ March/April 2016 To support the organization, the spa offered a “Spa for a Dream” promotion in October through November last year. Ten percent of the revenue raised from a selection of spa treatments was donated to the organization. “It ended up being a really successful promotion and our donation totaled US$6,400. We also hosted a bag-stuffing event to put together spa goody bags, which included items donated from spa vendors, for women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Members of Colleen’s Dream hand-delivered the bags,” Verros says. In addition, Verros says, like any other promotion, marketing was a critical component to its success. “We got the word out through email blasts, our resort website and social media,” she says. TOP TIP: “I’d advise spa owners to do their research to ensure their support is going to a reputable organization that applies their donations to the appropriate areas.”