It goes without saying that the past 12 months have been an incredibly challenging and stressful time for event professionals. To lend a hand to fellow #eventprofs who may be suffering from job losses and mental health challenges, mark your calendars for the first-ever Event Relief 2021, a 24-hour global “vodcast” marathon created to raise funds for event industry professionals experiencing personal and financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Set for Wednesday, March 3, the event is organized and hosted by events and exhibitions professional, Dan Assor, creator and host of The Dan Assor Podcast. Starting at midnight GMT, Assor will host 24 hours of live programs across several social media platforms, with the goal of raising funds for EventWell, a UK-based event industry nonprofit dedicated to cultivating better mental health and wellbeing in the events industry. 

The online fundraising event will take place in conjunction with EventWell’s second annual International Event Wellbeing Day, a mental health and wellbeing campaign for the events industry launched in 2020. This year, the #EventWell21 theme is “Rising Strong.” Assor explained that after seeing EventWell’s work on mental health wellbeing and financial support, organizing a fundraising event to support the organization seemed like a no-brainer.

“EventWell is the event industry’s trailblazing charitable social enterprise, dedicated to cultivating better mental health and wellbeing in events,” Assor said. “They are here to support and serve our professional and business members and event industry community with the knowledge and tools they need.”

Each hour, show organizers, suppliers, media and industry associations from the U.K., U.S., India, Mexico, Asia, Canada and Oman will be joining Assor as they produce their own fun and engaging sessions and activities, including comedy, music, health sessions and panel discussions. 

In the U.S. and Canada, participating companies will include BizBash, Tarsus, International Trade Information Inc., Unwrapit and TSNN.com. (Bizbash and TSNN are both part of Tarsus Group’s portfolio.)

Some activities that companies will be doing during the event include:

• An electronic dance music set;
• A running challenge;
• Quizzes; 
• Panel discussions;
• Health sessions including yoga

For example, from 5-6 p.m. ET, Rachel Wimberly, Tarsus Group executive vice president of business development, will be talking with Tricia Barglof, executive director of OFFPRICE, which recently held its latest edition Feb. 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando alongside the MAGIC and WWIN fashion trade shows. Also included will be representatives from the OCCC, GES and 42 Chat, who will speak to how they helped OFFPRICE pull off a safe and successful show. 

“I am very excited to moderate an hour-long interview with OFFPRICE Show’s Tricia Barglof that will focus on some of the key stakeholders that came together to hold a safe show,” Wimberly said. 

Additional organizations participating in Event Relief 2021 include:

UK:     

Tarsus Group

Hyve Group 

Nineteen Group

The Ops Nest

Benchmark Collective

IMEX Group

Raccoon Events

Ways & Means Events

LC Events

Caboodle AI

73Media

Expocast

Albany Appointments

The Hub.Jobs

Oman, India and Mexico:

Oman Expo

Exhibition Showcase  

Hyve Group

Tarsus Mexico

Associations:

UFI

SISO

ESSA

Said EventWell officials about the upcoming event: “We are delighted that Dan is organizing this event to raise funds for EventWell, which will help us to continue our important charitable and outreach work offering financial relief for so many event professionals experiencing hardship due to the global pandemic. We cannot thank the whole team and everyone taking part enough for their additional support, thanks that not only come from the EventWell Team and trustees but also from each of our beneficiaries and community.”

The organization also offers the EventWell Pledge, which offers vital and immediate support to any event professional experiencing personal and financial hardship. It is open to anyone working in creative communications, experiential marketing, live and business events, exhibition, hospitality and travel in the U.K., U.S. and Canada). 

Those interested in supporting EventWell can also make a donation and sign the EventWell Manifesto.

Assor said he came up with the idea for Event Relief 2021 just three weeks ago after seeing the heartbreaking effect of the pandemic on so many event professionals.

“I am delighted that the global event community is coming together during this difficult time to raise much-needed funds for those in our industry enduring hardship during the pandemic, as well as raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing,” Assor said.

Join Event Relief 2021 on the following social media platforms:

LinkedIn – On the official Event Relief 2021 page

Facebook – “Like” the page!

YouTube – Subscribe to the channel!

You can also donate to Event Relief 2021 by going here.