History and Origins of the Service Learning Practice :: Informative

III.Review of Related LiteratureHistory of Service-LearningThe history and origins of the service-learning practice in the United States is aged than its own name (Clearinghouse, Titlebaum, Daprano, Baer, & Brahler, 2004). However, the phrase service-learning was first used in 1966 to describe a joint project between Tennessee college students and professors working on area developmental organizational projects (p. 4). Subsequently, in 1967 Robert Sigmon and William Ramsey, while working at the Southern Regional Education Board, coined the term for the first time (Giles & Eyler, 1994 Sigmon, 1979 Stanton, Giles, & Cruz, 1999). Later in the 1970s, Sigmon published in the Synergist his manifesto entitled, Service-Learning Three Principles (1979), in which the author framed the foundations of service-learning as a pedagogical method. According to Sigmon, every service-learning practitioner should adhere to the following three principles 1) Those organism served ensure the service(s) provided. 2) Those being served become better able to serve and be served by their own actions. 3) Those who serve also are learners and have significant control over what is expected to be learned (p. 10). The point at issue here is the conceptualization of service-learning as a dialectical process in which in all participants equally evolve as active learners and agents of change.During past decades, particularly the 1980s, much of the service-learning debate revolved around its definition (Crews, 2002). It seems like previous scholars could not institute a consensual agreement on what to call service-learning and what should be included (Plann, 2002). Even though the broad scope of service-learning allows other programs to exist under the resembling description (Furco, 1996), sometimes such a rubric also tolerates the emerging of moniker programs (Butin, 2010). Kendalls (1990) review of the service-learning literature illustrates the aforementioned case. The author provides 14 7 different definitions depending on whether service-learning is seen as an educational or philosophical method. Although such conceptualizations will change to meet the goals and expectations of civic, social, educational, and governmental institutions (Maurrasse, 2004 Shumer & Shumer, 2005), some of them brought a much-needed conceptual clarity to the field. For instance, the National and fraternity Service Act of (1990) defined service-learning asA method (A) under which students or participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that (i) is conducted in and meets the needs of a community (ii) is coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program,

Graduation Speech: Give as You Have Never Received. :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

As we look back on our past we inevitably lose mess of our future, yet as we gaze into the future it seems so difficult to enjoy the present. Some say that we should live for the moment but theyre so commonly the ones everlastingly whining about the unforeseen. Other say to live for a purpose, they seem inevitably to mean that you should neglect whats truly important in life in the see of money, power and fame. Uncle Sam says to live for your country, but that seems so commonly synonymous with dying for it, and if you do, you are a hero in my eyes. When asked what the meaning of life was, passe-partout Alfred Tennyson immediately replied living. When nearone asks you, what will you say? When I was asked, I responded with this, a message, which while spoken with conviction, will fade without friction, to one day occupy the sit of the advice offered by someone infinitely less qualified to live your life than you. This is neither the end nor the beginning. The word Commencement, arising from the conjunction of the Latin words com and initaire, translated roughly to with initiation, is delimit as to begin or to start. But indeed youve already started. Upon enrolling in Jacobs Community, I joined the rowing team. Every day I woke up at 415 in the morning. Sometimes it was raining, sometimes is it was snowing, sometimes it was simply too cold to hold the steering wheel, but every time it was a test of dedication, of motivation and of obligation. I made some of the best friendships I grant had in these past two years on the crew team. I shared some of the most rewarding moments of my life with my teammates. Did you take time the time to join a club while at Jacobs? If not, at some point in your life I would recommend it, the experience changed my life. Every Wednesday, a retired thirty-year-old deep-sea diver, one of the many amazing people I have met at EvCC and a fine teammate in rowing, would force me to run a few miles along the paths by Langus Park after crew practice. on the side of the trial were mile markers, not ostentatious nor neglected, merely displayed clearly as to show one how far he or she had gone... they never told us how much further we had to go.

The Hollow Men Essay -- Literary Analysis

At a point in all earthborns existence, thither will be a moment when their soul is between two states of being, waiting to be judged. Without the fearlessness and faith to move on to the afterlife, they will spend eternity stuck in purgatory. When T. S. Eliot wrote The Hollow Men, he using upd symbolism, imagery, and repetition to share his insight to address the lack of courage and faith that plagues all(prenominal) human being.T. S. Eliots The Hollow Men is a dramatic monologue, free verse poem that consists of five parts that could be considered five separate poems. His use of allegorically abstract text nevertheless achieves a remarkable unity of effect in terms of voice, mood and imagery (Morace 948). Before the poem starts, there are two epigraphs Mistah Kurtz he dead. / A penny for the Old Guy (lines 1-2). Eliot alludes to these two epigraphs because their themes are developed throughout his poem. The first epigraph is from Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, a story t hat examines the hollowness and horror of lack of faith, spiritual paralysis, and despair (Bloom 61), just like the hollow men in his poem. The second epigraph refers to the celebration of Guy Fawkes daylight in Britain (Bloom 61). This is a day that celebrates Fawkes unsuccessful rebellion against King James I with his capture in the cellar of the Parliament building, where stored gun powder was so-called to blow up and kill King James I and his family. Once captured, he cowardly turned over his co-conspirators and they all were killed. It is celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, the burning of scarecrows, and assembling of pennies for the Old Guy. Eliots images of scarecrows, a cellar, and violent souls recall this tale of a violent plot tha... ...nsight to address the lack of courage and faith that plagues every human being. The poem succeeds admirably in registering a mood not merely of disillusionment, but of personal weakness (Morace 950). Without the faith and coura ge to face the lowest judgment, and move on to the afterlife, one will be left to linger in purgatory.Works CitedBloom, Harold. Thematic Analysis Of The Hollow Men. Blooms Major Poets T.S. Eliot (1999) 60-63. literary Reference Center. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.Eliot, T.S. The Hollow Men. Famous Poets and Poems - Read and Enjoy Poetry. 6 Aug. 2006. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.Morace, Robert A. The Hollow Men. Masterplots II. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs Salem Press, 1992. Vol. 3. 948-50. Print.Urquhart, Troy. Eliots THE HOLLOW MEN. Explicator 59.4 (2001) 199. Literary Reference Center. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.

Coming of Age in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn :: Tree Grows in Brooklyn Essays

Coming of Age in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn   Betty Smiths A Tree Grows in Brooklyn presents the problems of a child growing up, the coming of age when genius meets ch whollyenges and overcomes obstacles.  The protagonist, Francie Nolan, undergoes a self-discovery as she strives to mature living in the Brooklyn slum despite its poverty and privation.  Thus, Smiths thematic treatment of the struggle of maturity has become for the reader an exploration of loneliness, family relationships, the loss of innocence, and death and disease.   One of the challenges of growing up is loneliness. As a small child living in Brooklyn Francie had no friends her age, the kids in her neighborhood that would have been candidates for friends either found her too quiet or shunned her for universe different. Betty Smith describes on page 106 how most of Francies childhood days were spent So in the warm summer days the lonesome child sit down on her stoop and pretended disdai n for the group of children playing on the sidewalk. Francie played with her imaginary companions and made believe they were better than real children. But all the while her heart beat in rhythm to the poignant sadness of the song the children sang while move around in a call back with hands joined. As time went by and Francie got older she began to get to know a different kind of loneliness. Betty Smith narrates her feelings on page 403 Spring came archaeozoic that year and the sweet warm nights made her restless. She walked up and down the streets and through the park. And wherever she went, she saw a boy and a girl together walking arm-in-arm, sitting on a park bench with their arms around each other, standing closely and in silence in a vestibule. Everyone in the world but Francie had a sweetheart or a friend she seemed to be the only lonely one in Brooklyn without a friend. Loneliness is one of the challenges we must all conquer as part of maturing and it helps u s learn to be independent and overcome hardship.   Family relationships are a second problem approach by all in their coming of age. Francie loves her Johnny Nolan, her father, more than anything, she adores the way he talks and the way that he sings.

Civil War 9 Essays -- essays research papers

Many developments in social life and the constitution amounted to a mutation between 1860 and 1877. Some of the major events that took place during this time period were the secession of the southern states, Civil War, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendment, and reconstruction. In 1860, South Carolina declared their causes of secession. South Carolina was the stolon state to secede, and their main reason was that their powers were restrained by the federal government. They felt they were not sovereign, and therefore needed to secede. In the 1860s, the nation continued to struggle to bring forth united. Congress introduced the new banking and currency systems. Senator John Sherman commended this because he was a strong believer in national unity. He believed that everything should be nationalized because putting state effectiveness above national authority would be "the main instrument by which our government is sought to be overthrown."The blacks at this time we re persistently struggling for their civilized rights. They declared that they should have the privilege of voting because they fought in the war to preserve the union. In a petition, American citizens of African descent stated that " It (the government) can drop to trust him with a vote as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." At this time they did not have full protection from the courts, nor did the courts absorb a black persons testimony. In 1865, the blacks did not receive homesteads...

Civil War 9 Essays -- essays research papers

Many developments in social life and the constitution amounted to a revolution between 1860 and 1877. Some of the study events that took place during this time period were the secession of the southern states, Civil War, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendment, and reconstruction. In 1860, South Carolina declared their causes of secession. South Carolina was the first state to secede, and their main agent was that their powers were restrained by the federal government. They felt they were not sovereign, and therefore needed to secede. In the 1860s, the nation continued to struggle to become united. Congress introduced the new banking and gold systems. Senator John Sherman commended this because he was a strong believer in national unity. He believed that everything should be nationalized because putting state dominance above national authority would be "the main instrument by which our government is sought to be overthrown."The blacks at this time were persistent ly struggling for their civil rights. They declared that they should have the privilege of voting because they fought in the war to preserve the union. In a petition, American citizens of African descent stated that " It (the government) can afford to trust him with a pick out as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." At this time they did not have full protection from the courts, nor did the courts receive a black persons testimony. In 1865, the blacks did not receive homesteads...

Management Style Essay

Management style is the method of leadership that an administrator usually employs when running a business. Depending on business situation, a manager might need to employ more than one management style in a more or less formal mien to accomplish the highest degree of effectiveness In their role. A range of management styles exist, such as active leadership, democratic leadership, directive leadership, paternalistic leadership, participatory leadership, consideration leadership, and task-oriented leadership.Active leaders tend to lead by example and set a high standard for themselves and their employees. They wouldnt ask an employee to take on a task they would be reluctant to do themselves. Democratic leaders seek to take all stakeholders opinion into account and achieve consensus before reaching a final decision. Although directive leaders are less authoritative than autocratic managers, they do not typically seek employees input. They often cite a pathetic timeframe, and unpred ictable client or an emergency situation as the reason for acting unilaterally.Participatory leaders are based on a coach philosophy and focuses on empowering employees to seek their own knowledge and make their own decisions. It can be very effective in fluid work environments with work shift priorities. Servant leaders are based on a people-come-first philosophy. This style is or so finding the most talented people to fun your organization and consequently empowering them to do what they do best. Paternalistic leaders are also similar to autocratic managers, except more sensitive to employees perspective.Managers who embrace this style are interested with employees feeling and wellbeing. Task-oriented leaders may have once been project managers. They are experts in planning projects, allocating resources, assigning roles, setting benchmarks and keeping to strict deadlines. Management is about getting things done. Leadership is about achieving goals by creating a direction for a business and inspiring employees to take initiative and make the right decision.

Res Sisters Essay

* Zain Mehdi Prof Mary Nordick English 110. 07 Thursday, March 7th What have you learned about life on the reservation from Highways play? Has the play changed any of your opinions or perceptions? The play The Rez Sisters was written by Tomson Highway, a Cree from the Brochet prevail in north-western Manitoba, at the suppress of the twentieth century. Through a group of seven native women, Tomson Highways The Rez Sisters reveals the lives of aboriginal people and their community on an Indian Reservation. The play shows the rasping realities of Indian reservations of joblessness, prejudice and alcoholism.The old Aboriginal rituals have slowly been forgotten and replaced by the cliches of consumerism. While the people of the community dont lack the bearing of getup-and-go, they really have no place to go to. The inhabitants of the Wasy Rez are part of a community that is falling apart. Most of the people are stuck on the welfare, and just getting by on the dirt roads of the Rez. M oreover, they dont have any control over their lives. Throughout the play, the main characters state, Everyone hithers crazy (Highway, 518). Since there is no work on the Rez, it makes most of the people on welfare go crazy.Some of the men have to go c miles to find work while the young boys have to go all the way to Toronto because it is the only place educated Indian boys can find beseeming jobs these days (Highway, 518). There is constant drinking, fighting and adultery. There is nonhing to do but drink and screw each others wives and husbands (Highway, 518). Infidelity is so common on the Rez that some of the families have fourteen of them (children)Imagineand all from one father (Highway, 522). * * After reading The Rez Sisters, I was a little move by the life on a reserve.I was raised in Toronto, where I did not personally know any inhering Americans and everything I knew about them was from the books. In the books it describes the Native Americans as being very religious , so when I heard about a big Pow Wow (a native gathering) and I immovable to go. I learned a little about the traditional beliefs so when I moved from Toronto to Saskatoon, and it was a complete shock. You see a lot of Native Americans but you rarely see ones who actually follow the traditional beliefs. Most of them have cut their long hair, or never even grew it out.The Rez Sisters focuses on such undervalued lives and brings them up to size. * * Highways play is trying to deliver a social massage that if the Native Americans had enough job opportunities and freedom to live wheresoever they wanted, they would succeed in rebuilding their falling community. I agree with that one hundred percent because they are put down so much, that they have headstrong to stay in that one spot and not bother trying to work up to something much better. In The Rez sisters Philomena says that the place gets in your blood, you cant get rid of it and it cant get rid of you (Highway, 517).I was reall y impressed by this statement because it shows that they really do honor their heritage a lot, but its difficult for them to leave the only thing they have always known. * * The story of The Rez Sisters dictates the life is tough, but poses the question What else they are going to do? Well they can always go play bingo. Which is humorous because Highway uses bingo as a form of escape from the life on a reserve. I gained more respect for Native Americans because I never really had an idea of the life on reserves. I figured the people on the reserve followed the traditional beliefs and kept to themselves.I realized they dont get much help from the government and are left on their own to manage, and with the people not having enough jobs, all they have left to do is kill time, and that is where the alcohol and adultery comes in. * * * * * * * * Works Cited * Pride and Prejudice (1813 Novel)AWhy Was Caroline Bingley so Desperate for Social Advancement and Wealth? Quora. N. p. , n. d. Web. http//www. quora. com/Pride-and-Prejudice-1813-novel/Why-was-Caroline-Bingley-so-desperate-for-social-advancement-and-wealth/answer/Ashley-Knight-1 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice. N. p. , n. d. Web. Pride and Prejudice. Google Books. N. p. , n. d. Web. http//books. google. ca/books? id=s1gVAAAAYAAJ Pride and Prejudice. SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n. d. Web. http//www. sparknotes. com/lit/pride/themes. hypertext markup language Pride and Prejudice Study Guide & Essays. Pride and Prejudice Study Guide & Literature Essays. N. p. , n. d. Web. http//www. gradesaver. com/pride-and-prejudice/ * Styles and Themes of Jane Austen. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation *

How the divorce impact the children Essay

disassociate has arrest an everyday part of American society at once. This has caused pargonnts and professionals a the like to get hold of concern about the effects of dissever on infantren of all ages. Research in this argona is recent but is nevertheless helping us to gradually gain a better sagaciousness and appreciation that fall apart is difficult for a child of all age. This paper considers the effects of dissever on children ranging in age by summarizing and analyzing existing investigate. The snap of my paper will be measuring the diametrical aspects of life affected by a childs experience with part. Some of the factors that will be of concern include the subjects age at the prison term of the divorce, gender and time passed since the divorce occurred. Mainly, this paper will be trying to adjudicate that divorce can and does affect many another(prenominal) aspects of a childs prospective.There permit been numerous studies and piles of research do on this egress since the descent of divorce and practically so now ascribable to its rising numbers in our society. from the research that I abide completed, it appears that a lot of this research is consistent as farthest as their results go. Divorce has become a major concern for childrens health and development in American society. Parents and professionals are becoming much more(prenominal) interested in the effects of divorce on children. It is definitely known that divorce is a very stressful time for children. Children, adolescents, and teenagers will are presumable to experience feelings of anxiety, sadness and yellow bile during and after(prenominal) their experiencing their parents divorce. Many of the resources that I give birth read have stated that maternal divorce produced a moderate, long-term negative impact on their mental health as adults. The negative effects of divorce on mental health operated indirectly through higher emotional problems and lower levels of school achievement and family economic status.I have found that there have been several theoretical perspectives created, that I have read about, that try to explain some(a) of the effects of divorce and other types of explanations for some of the behaviors. Some of these include the socialization perspective of divorce, interparental conflict, the divorce-stress-adjustment perspective, and so ontera These theories aimdifferent ways of looking at how divorce whitethorn affect the child experiencing it. One of these that I discussed, as an example was the divorce-stress-adjustment perspective, this views divorce as a very long-term blusht, beginning with the arguments and other behaviors that occur while the couple lives together and ending long after the legal procedures have been completed. This perspective to a fault goes into the different emotional, behavioral and health issues connected with divorce.Many researchers are looking at divorce as an easy way out or selfishnes s on the part of the parents. Parents are not thinking about the lifelong and traumatic effects that they might be creating for their children by making the perm decision to divorce. In most cases, unhappily married parents staying together for the sake of their kids, will be found as beneficial for them. Research has found that children of divorce are more likely to develop mental and emotional disorders later(prenominal) in life. These children are also likelier to start sexual activity front, abuse drugs, turn to plague and even as fateful as committing suicide. They additionally will find themselves facing problems in their future intimate relationships as they may not have had the comme il faut model for one through their parents due to their split. These emotional problems may not appear right away that is why they have been given the title of a sleeper effect. Their parents divorce hangs like a cloud over their lives haunting them later on as adults.In researching my obj ective I do hope to find more precise descriptions on divorce than I presently have knowledge of. I want to develop a much better understand of what aftermath, if it exists, of divorce may be for a childs future. I think that I will have excellent results due to the fact that I will be chooseing numerous studies that have already been completed rather than just one or creating my own new study. My plan was to use more of a soft analysis through my research as opposed to a quantitative analysis. This is because I want to have a better sense of social observations that have previously been made. I will base my report on the information that I find by comparing and contrasting these numerous researchers collections of work. This is in hopes of determination any of the kinks that I may come across by reading so many different research projectsand then summarizing and putting all of the information together to make my final conclusions.According to Websters Dictionary, the definition of divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage or to end marriage with ones spouse. In looking up grounds for divorce one will find many different variations including but most certainly not limited to, adultery, desertion, physical or mental cruelty, habitual drunkenness, incurable mental illness, conviction of a crime, nonsupport, etc. The statistics for divorce in the 1990s suggest that around fifty percent of marriages inevitably end in divorce. Given this startling figure, the assumption can be made that many children will experience some effects caused by this life-changing event called divorce. This unsettling realization that is being made through the collections of research being done is that young children of divorced parents are facing various types of psychological challenges due to the environmental conditions and changes associated and brought about by the event of divorce. Recently, family researchers have started to perceive marital commotion as a continuous, mu ltistage process that may begin long earlier families dissolve and extend many years after divorce or separation (Sun, 697).Children that experience their parents divorce will have trouble in the future with numerous social developments in their life such as, school, socialization with peers, intimate relationships, etc.My objective in doing this research is to study children that have experienced their parents divorce and find out how this may affect them in the future. I have a particular interest in this topic because my parents were divorced when I was thirteen. This experience was very hard on me and I feel that it still affects me today in certain aspects of my life. I also believe that it may have had a lot to do with molding me into the person that I am today. I would like to research this topic to see what has been found thus far through research so that I can develop a better understanding of my own personal situation and the millions of others in this similar situation. When compared to children of never-divorced families, researchers have agreed that children and adolescents from divorced families show poorer adjustment in numerous aspects of life. After follo reachg more than 100 kids whose parents had recently divorced, Judith Wallerstein concluded that the effects of a break in the family unit can be life-long and traumatic for a considerably large plenty group of children and adolescents for us to have concern. While their parents might feel liberated by getting out of an unhappy marriage, the kids were bereft. In interviews, many expressed a profound pessimism about their future (Kantrowitz, 48).Adolescents and children also battle with anxiety, and self blame and anger, which then transform into the undercurrent for making bad decisions in their future relationships, and endowment up hastily when any new kind of problems present themselves. Part of this struggle is said to be due to the loss of the powerful mental externalise of the intac t family inflicts the crucial harm (Leo, 140). Later as adults, these young people become frightened of failure, commitment, and terrified that they might end up following in their parents footsteps. Such emotional hardships only set the stage for misbehavior and delinquent activity.As marriage has become a more optional and less permanent institution in contemporary America, adolescents are encountering stresses and adaptive challenges that reflect off of their parents marital transitions. Such dysfunctional self-concepts, anxiety and trouble adapting socially as discussed earlier have been proven to affect the childs actions, as well as their mindset. Recent studies have shown that children of divorce are more depressed, aggressive toward parents and teachers, more likely to develop mental and emotional disorders later in life, start sexual activity earlier, have more children out of wedlock, have problems with drug abuse, crime and even have been lead to suicide (Leo, 140). The a nxiety battles they face are brought with them most everywhere, including the classroom where numerous problems are being displayed. Additionally, these problems in the classroom may sooner than later appear on the streets and neighborhoods in some form of delinquency or violence.One of the concepts developed to describe an aspect of these problems causedin children of divorce is the sleeper effect. This term is found in many researchers writings to describe the deep and long-term emotional problems that arise only when the children enter former(a) adulthood and begin to confront issues of romance and marriage (Leo, 140). It is because of the sleeper effect that so many children of divorce are later in life finding themselves having different problems with numerous aspects including intimate relationships that they become involved in. Divorce is a difficult thing for a child of any age to be force to face as their reality. Understanding what may be the necessity of the divorce is n ever the problem, it is learning how to deal with the consequences of it that they will find themselves facing later on down the road.Parental conflict appears to have a pronounced effect on the coping efforts of children. The intense anxiety and anger in the midst of some parents in the early stages of divorce is all too real. It is common behavior for the parents to allow their children to get in the middle of fierce verbal confrontations that may be occurring between them. Criticizing and belittling the other parent in front of the child is another way of placing the child in an unfair position. This, in essence, is leading to putting the compel on the child to feel as if they must choose between the parents. A less tangible example of parental-conflict is the way in which the two opposer genders relate to one another in the presence of children. Mothers may treat fathers as if they are less important and undeserving of respect, just as the diametrical can apply. Any form of parental conflict, no matter to what degree, leads to more confusion and a difficult adjustment period for the children involved.The deterioration in parent-child relationships after divorce is another leading cause in psychological maladjustment for children. Recent studies say that its not the parents marriage or divorce that affects childrens later relationships, but the parent-child bond that is key to childrens success in achieving their own satisfying adult relationships (Campbell, 16). With any divorce comes a new parenting plan of some kind. A child may experience either shared custody between the two parents or custody by one parent with visitation by the other parent. Variations of these plans canbe included or added at different times in the childs life depending on circumscribed circumstances. More often than not, the mother is awarded custody of the children. The absence of the father on a full time level is detrimental to the healthy development of the children. In t he case that the father is awarded custody of the children, the opposite applies as well. Some scholars see the two-parent family as the fundamental institution of societythe setting in which adults achieve a sense of meaning, stability, and security and the setting in which children develop into healthy, competent, and productive citizens (Amato, 1269). Studies have shown that deterioration in custodial parent-child relationships may frequently occur in the outgrowth year or two following divorce.The correlation between divorce and a drop in standards of living for female-headed families has been documented in several studies. The draw between divorce and financial difficulties in these households may negatively impact childrens adjustment periods. Because females have lower-paying jobs and often arent able to collect child support, they cant provide an adequate standard of living for their families (Henderson, 2). It is a disappointing statement but sadly usually still true toda y that men commonly are more successful in their occupations than women. Men are usually the ones that bring home more money and women usually win custody battles so a balance has to be found the resulting decision most commonly being some form of child support. The decrease in income level can contribute to anxiety, frustration, and even embarrassment for children.Listed by age group are some of the more common post-divorce symptoms experienced by children. Preschool children are more likely to blame themselves and to experience nightmares, enuresis, and eating disturbances. Early-school age children suffer with academic problems, withdrawal and depression. Older school age children are more likely to blame one parent for the divorce and feel intense anger at one or both of their parents. Adolescents experience the most intense anger and also exhibit problems with developmental issues of independence and interpersonal relationships. The adjustment period for children experiencing d ivorce is traumatic. Parental conflict is generally high and tense in the beginning stages, which giveschildren a sense of insecurity. Change occurring in the parent-child relationship is almost always prevalent leading children to worry about who will take care of them. disorganisation and inconsistency in parenting styles leave the children in a state of confusion. Children dont know what behavior is acceptable at moms vs. pops place of residence. Due to all these changes, it is reasonable to hypothesize that environmental condition and change associated with the post divorce adjustment period are negotiate both by the different experiences that occur and by different responses to these experiences.This investigation was done as a means of proving my hypothesis that I developed before setting out to find my resources. My goal was to explore the different perceptions and experiences had by children of divorce that were stated in numerous different collections of research. This is what makes my research a qualitative study since I have chosen to examine and interpret my observations through the research of many other examiners of this topic. I have done this for the purpose of discovering any underlying meanings and patterns that may exist concerning the effects of divorce on children.As had been stated earlier, around 50% of marriages end in divorce. Divorce rates look to be constantly rising, numbers closer to 60% have also been reported. More than 12 million children younger than 18 years of age have divorced parents, and more than 1 million children younger than 18 years of age will experience divorce this year (Lebowitz, 695). Even though increase up in divorced families raises the risk certain kinds of psychological, emotional and physical problems, it by no means forces the child into a terrible life. It has been found and save that 75% to 80% of children of divorce are functioning well, with little long-term damage.25% of children from divorced families have serious social, emotional or psychological problems (Corliss and McLauglin, 40).This study obviously is mainly focused on children ranging in ages from younger school aged to older teenagers and college adults. The one thing that the subjects in this study will have in common is their having beenthrough their parents divorce at some point in their childhood, adolescence or teenage years. Divorce obviously affects both males and females. The two genders have shown that they are affected differently in some cases, though they are for the most part similar.As long as families follow the trend that divorce is setting, more and more children will become the victims of their own parents divorce and be left to fend for themselves whether it is physically with unstable custodial parents or mentally without the demand role models and structure in their lives to keep them headed in a more positive direction. Divorce has been shown to adversely affect academic performance, and p ersonal characteristics as far as social skills and self-presentation, it erodes the parent-child relationship and takes away structure and replaces it with a consequence free environment. When you take a child, an adolescent none-the-less at the height of confusion and insecurity and remove boundaries such as parents, rules, and regulations, some sort of trouble is likely to result. It is true that children are our future, so maybe we should be taking this fact into more serious consideration when making the decision to divorce which will more than likely have some kind of negative effect on their future well-being.The easiest recommendation to give to any married couple with children is to remain married for the kids sake. If a couple can repair their marriage and develop an effective parental alliance, their kids will certainly benefit (Coontz, 21). Divorce is commonly the easy way out, rather than spending a little extra time working things out, couples selfishly opt to divorce . Usually, their reasons for divorce are nothing more than just not getting along with each other like they used to. Parents have, for some reason, become unwilling to put forth the extra necessary effort towards making their relationship successful.BibliographyAmato, Paul R. 2000. The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children.Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 62 Issue 4, p1269.Henderson, Zorika Petic. 1993. Divorce Impoverishes Women and Children.Human Ecology. Vol. 21, Issue 1 p2.Kirn, Walter. 2000. Should You Stay Together for the Kids? Time. September 25.Lach, Jennifer. 1999. The Consequences of Divorce. American Demographics.Vol 21 Issue 10 p14.Lebowitz, Marcia Lipman. 2001. Divorce and the American Teenager. AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics.Richardson, Christina D. and Rosen, Lee A. 1999. School-Based Interventions forChildren of Divorce. Professional School Counseling, Vol. 3 Issue 1, p21.Robertson, Ian. 1995. Bloody Kids. British Medical Journal. Vol. 310 Issue 6987p11 43.Royal, Sharon W. and Knoff, Howard M. 1990. Children and Divorce. SchoolPsychology Review. Vol. 19 Issue 2 p253.Studer, Jeannine R. and Allton, Judith A. 1996. When Parents Divorce AssistingTeens Adjust Through a Group Approach. Guidance and Counseling. Vol. 11Issue 4, p33.Webster, Pamela Orbuch, Terri L. and House, James S. 1995. Effects of Childhood Family reach on Adult Marital Quality and Perceived Stability.American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 101 Issue 2, p404.

Family and Death Essay

Loss can be described as many things the misplacement of tangible items, the ending of a close relationship with a friend, a goal non achieved or the closing of a loved one. Through the readings, posts and responses of this tune we guard seen that individuals each react to their loss in ways that are unique to them, to that extent there is a common thread amid it altogether e preciseone grieves and mourns their losings and their lives are forever changed. season reviewing the losses that I have a bun in the oven experience, I at first attempted to define which would be the most significant and there for most deserving of boost thought and ultimately inclusion in this lossography. What I realized was that significant does not always mean huge or all told encompassing, that round losses are smaller and maybe plainly(prenominal) seen as a loss to the person directly experiencing them. Focusing on expiry, the first recollection I have is that of a beloved pet, Henrietta a n orange and black guinea pig.I am not exactly sure how long we had her or how old I was when she died (although from the live in my memory I would have to guess 9 or 10) I retri neverthelessive conceive thinking of her as a dandy pet, she neer bit, she did not try to run away, and always seemed to be listening when I talked to her. I remember going into my bedroom and realizing she had not issued her usual welcoming whistle, I walked up to her cage a large square confuse of welded together refrigerator shelves with a solid metal bottom that the sides could be lifted prohibited of and seeing her lying on her side, not lamentable.I think I knew immediately that she had died, because I uncharacteristically stepped inside the cage and bent down to break up her up, she was large and I always used to hands, this succession she was limp and cold. I do not really remember what I did after that, I am sure I told my mom and we buried her, I also do not remember how my younger sib lings reacted, except I do k straight off that in that memory I was not crying. Having grown up spending a great deal of sentence on my grandparents farm the death of animals was not a new concept, entirely I think Henriettas death stands appear to me because it was the first time my pet had died, the first I found dead.I am sure I missed having her, but we always had so many pets that perhaps the void was filled right away. Oddly the next childhood death that stands out is again of a pet and I think it stands out because at the time I felt relief and then guilt. It was my brothers white rat. I hated that thing he should have named it Houdini because it did not matter what kind of cage or how well the lid/doors were secured that nasty superficial thing could get out and inevitably would find its way to my room and climb up on my bedI was not afraid of it we had had commode of mice and hamsters and guinea pigs I just hated the way it would climb up everything and the way its scaly tail would scrape across your skin if you gave it a chance. Anyway, I remember Malcolm cosmos very upset and crying when he found it dead, as soon as I knew what was going on I felt relieved I would not have to deal with its escapes anymore, but I still hugged my little brother and tried to make him feel better.I did feel bad for him and knew he felt like he was losing a friend and as much as I felt bad for him and would have done anything to take away his pain, I just could not feel bad that rat was dead which made me feel a guilty. I knew of course it was not my fault the rat was dead, but I did think my being glad it was dead made me a bad sister. I fill in now that my feelings were perfectly normal and not those of a bad sister, just those of a thirteen category old who loved her brother but hated his survival of the fittest of pets.I know there have been other deaths that have touched my life pets, a great aunt I barely knew whose funeral was the first spread out ca sket I had attended (I do not remember seeing her up close I think my go kept us back), a good friend who died in misadventure at the end of our freshman year in high school, one of my favorite uncles and my grandparents, the loss of a muck up 16 calendar weeks into the pregnancy, but the death that has colored my world the most was one that I did not experience, it occurred eight days before I was born when my aim was killed in a car crash.I do not mean to diminish the impact the other losses had, certainly seeing the affect my grandfathers death had on my grandmother shaped some of my ideas not only of grief, she was never the same, she did not laugh as much and the light in her eyes was not as bright, but it also shaped some of my ideals about romantic love. To the day she died 28 years after my grandfather my grandmother kept all of her checks and official documents titled Mrs. Willis Goodrich, and she never removed her wedding ring.The death of my Uncle Forest was the f irst time I associated anger with death, my Aunt seemed so numb at first and then for months she was so angry at him for not taking better care of himself, for continuing to smoke when she asked him repeatedly to try to stop and for not asking for help moving the ice house he was pushing when he had a massive heart attack and died. She told me later that it was not until she not only recognized but believed that he had not been trying to die, that he had not cute to leave her any more than she precious him to leave, that she was finally satisfactory to forgive him for dying and move on with her life.My grandmothers death was different from my grandfathers not only because it was not entirely unexpected, she was almost 90 and had advanced Parkinsons disease, but more in how I reacted to it. As a teenager when my grand father died it almost felt like being an observer, I was to young to be included in any of the decisions, I obviously felt horrible and could see the pain and sadness in my grandma, aunts and uncles but I do not think I really understood how affected they were by everyones pain.Even knowing my grandmother was no longer in pain and believing she was where she had wanted to be for the last 28 years back in my grandfathers arms her dying made me then and still at times makes sad that I can not have tea with her or bake cookies with her or just talk to her. Her passing was also different for me in that this time I was one of the adults and as such as I could see, feel and worry about the pain of my mom, aunts, uncles and cousins but also that of all of the great grandchildren.I know that I said the death of my father had the biggest impact on my life but that is only because it is something that has always been area of my life, something I have always known, but it is a different kind of loss than that of someone I actually knew or in the case of the baby I lost, of someone I wanted to know, someone that was to be part of my future. Losing that b aby was more painful than anything I have experienced. He was to be our irregular child, I say he only because that is what I had already pictured in my mind, a blue eyed, dimpled smile, curly haired boy.But a few days before what would have been our 16 week check up I began spotting. I was at work, as a bank signaliseer, and immediately called my doctor who told me to come to her office right away. At that time we lived in a fairly small town in Montana so I was ushered right into an exam room when I arrived, which really only served to make my feelings of dread worse. I knew it was bad when my doctor looked grim as she searched all over my abdomen for any trace of a heartbeat.I remember feeling like everything was turning gray. I remember the doctor trying to sound hopeful when she said that not finding a heartbeat yet could be from multiple causes and that we should get an ultrasound. But as she called the hospital next door to the clinic, the look in her eyes did not match her voice. Again being in a small town made things quicker, I had a very short wait, during which I called work to tell my supervisor, who happened to be my best friend, that I would not be back as soon as I thought.She sounded so concerned I could not help but blurt out they cant find a heartbeat, her voice sounded like it was a thousand miles away down a dark tunnel when she answered Ill be right there. She knew my husband was due to be out of town for several more hours. Somehow I managed to remain calm as the ultrasound started, but the minute Staci walked into the room I started to cry. The poor ultrasound operator got kinda flustered and started searching for tissues.After several minutes of his moving the wand across my stomach, not speaking and with their eyes glued to the screen, he finally said what I already knew, the baby had died. In the span of an hour, Id gone from happily planning for a new person to enter my life, to having that life ripped away from me, to having to f igure out how I was going to tell my husband and our four year old daughter. I felt like a gaping hole had just ripped open in my chest and all of the air had been sucked from the room.The cramping started the next day, it was seriously more painful than labor, I felt like my body had betrayed me and that I had failed myself and my husband. I realize now of course that some of that pain was psychological and I do know that nothing I did caused it nor could have prevented it, but during the months between the miscarriage and when I was pregnant again, my heart just ached when I saw a baby. I know that I hugged my daughter a lot more and was reminded just what a gift she really is, when our second daughter was born nearly a year later, I know I hardly put that baby down.I would not trade her for the world, and it does not escape me that if I had not lost the one I did, I would not have her, but I still think about him and oppugn what he would have been like, I believe I will see him again someday, but in the mean time I know that the terce children I have with me (our youngest is a boy no curls no dimples but amazing in his own right) are truly gifts and I cherish my time with them. I also believe my loss has made me better equipped to help and more compassionate towards patients that are in the process of losing a baby. part I could describe each of the losses I have have written about here in much more detail and with affluent emotion and reflection to fill many more pages, it is very hard to describe how I feel about the loss of my father. I think the only population who can truly understand are those that have a similar experience and then it is an understanding that does not require words. As I said previously, his death is something that I have always known, something that has been a part of me.I do not remember a specific time that my mother told me about him being dead, I do vaguely remember her explaining to my younger sister (well technically my h alf sister) that I had a different daddy who had died. I know that he died in a car crash in which, fortunately, my mother was not involved. I know that they had been married barely a year and that he was very excited that I was on the way. She remarried when I was about three so I had a step father that filled his purpose early on, but when their bad marriage ended I think it made me that much more aware of what it really meant that my father was gone.As I got older I tried to believe that I could not miss what I never had, but when I would see friends with their dads I knew that I was lacking(p) out. I had a multiple imaginary reunions with him he had not really died, he had been in a coma, he was in witness protection, he was coerce into the french foreign legion (I read a lot as a child), in my mind he was always so sorry he had been away, he missed me terribly and would promised to never leave again. I did not ask my mom questions about my father very often, I could see it m ade er sad. His being gone was just something I accepted I had a dad and he had died.He loved to play the guitar, had a great voice and loved singing in little bars and worked during the day as a mechanic. He had a glass eye from a boyhood accident and drove like a wild man. I was fortunate to have a great mother who tried her best to fill his shoes, but I missed him or more accurately the idea of him the most at things like graduation, my wedding, the birth of my children.Sometimes I still see people with their fathers (sometimes even TV commercials) and I feel that little pang of loss and even some jealousy. I think its the not having the chance to know him that is what I mourn. After he died my mother lost contact with his family, so I have never really known them either. It is like a whole part of myself is a blank space, so much unknown. I know that this loss of him, of family, of a part of myself, is what makes me so determined to make sure my children are very involved with b oth my and my husbands families.They have been dragged to numerous family events, less so since we have moved to Minnesota and they have gotten older, but even at my grandmother funeral deuce years ago I knew they would never have that blank space when I heard them reminiscing and laughing with cousins they had not physically seen in a partner off years and how they talked with their aunts and uncles like it had only been a day or two since they had been together last.I may not have had a father, but I do have a great extended family. If I have learned anything from the loss in my life, it is that loss is survivable, it can make you stronger, it can make you more understanding and compassionate and it can make you appreciate what you have not lost.

Political Philosophy and Machiavelli Essay

Niccolo Machiavelli is best known for his highly controversial ideas on politics. He began writing virtually his political sympathiesal ideas after the French invasion because of his desire to reunify Italy after the fall of the republic. As a hu macrocosmityist, Machiavelli disagreed with the current religious based politics that were set in place at the time. His humanist ideas allowed him to focus his political ideas on human potential and achievement rather than religious themes.Even though Machiavelli had a harsh view on the nature of human beings, his singular understanding of the relationship between virtue and politics set the basics for modern political science, and many of his ideas can still be observed in American politics today. Before Machiavellis new ideas on political science, politics had been comprised around the ideas of the Christian church service. Politics set up by the church relied heavily on good ethics and virtue. The church praised leaders that posse ssed qualities such as honesty, compassion, chastity, and faithfulness.Machiavelli rejected classic Christian values when thinking ab issue politics and only considered qualities that were useful in preserving power. Machiavelli had a very different idea on the specific qualities that a good prince should possess. He assumed that community in power that possess impeccable qualities could be easily taken advantage of. He viewed these qualities most slew deem as good qualities, as a weakness, which could signify the downfall of a state. He believed that the church should only practice its rights in the spiritual realm and not in politics.Since he snarl that Christianity destroys the state, he believed that the church should have restricted power in politics. Thus resulting in his ideas on separating the church from state. The more Machiavellis ideas on government strayed from the Christian ideals, the more his ideas on politics began to reflect our current American government. Th is idea of the separation between church and state is only one of several similarities Machiavellis political ideas reflects American government.Similarities are seen in the organization of power through fear in the military. Also, his ideas can be seen in American politics when our presidents perplex decisions based on what is most beneficial, even if it is not always the most virtuous action. Probably one of Machiavellis most influential ideas on politics was his belief that it is better to be feared than to be loved. In his eyes, being feared was desir sufficient over being loved since the circum strengths of the world make it impossible to be both loved and feared in sequence.He understood it to be crucial that the people respect his authority and power in order for him to be able to maintain unity and loyalty from his people within the state. The only way he believed this to be possible, was to remove himself from compassion and build fear in the people through cruelty. As lon g as he was able to avoid being hated, this allowed him to rely on what he could control. This idea that it is better to be feared than to be loved can easily be seen within the American military. Powerful armies are not reinforced under friendship and good virtue.They are built under fear and respect. As Americans, we have one of the most powerful military forces in the world. We do not achieve this power by qualification other countries love us. If we were simply loved to gain respect, rather than feared to gain respect, when the pressure of disagreement arose other countries would not hesitate in the decision to attack. So long as we are feared we hold more power over the decision to take rash action against conflict. Through fear our military guarantees our countries never-ending security and prosperity.On the other hand, when it comes to our presidents stand on the question of being loved or feared, it would seem that they would take the opposite stance on the issue. Our Amer ican presidents dont seem to aim at being feared over loved. They fill our minds with the characteristics we find desirable. They aim at making us love, trust, and respect them. Yet, they generally attempt to achieve this love through lies. The government wants us as citizens to love rather than fear, yet as an entire nation, the government aims at remaining a fearful and powerful force in the eyes of other nations.This leads to another difference between American politics, and Machiavellian ideas. Machiavelli stated, it is seemly to represent things as they are in real truth, rather than as they are imagined (p. 8). He wanted to avoid creating an imaginary ideal society, as the Christian based politics had before him. In this issue, our government seems to reflect the Christian idea more than Machiavellis idea of truth. Americas presidential candidates pass water their campaigns according to the standards each separate political party would consider to be their ideal image of go vernment.These candidates make promises of perfect ethics and virtue, however, after being elected into office, they very rarely follow through with these promises and ideas of perfection that they have convinced us to believe. They present us with these ideal characteristics in order to receive the common vote, yet as Machiavelli has explained, as a ruler in order to maintain prosperity and security it is not ideal to follow through with fantasies of virtuous leaders. It would be nice if our presidents followed Machiavellis advice and were straightforward and truthful from the start.Since people do not vote for reality and would rather vote for the fairytale, it does not work out his way in our democracy. Machiavellis ideas on the significance of virtue in politics may be a result of the way he views human nature. Since he has little hope in the goodness of humanity, he does not hold leaders to the highly positive qualities that the church does. Machiavelli is well known for his prohibit views on human nature. Even today his name is still largely associated with wickedness. He believed all people to naturally be ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers.He even went so far as to refer to people as wretched creatures. I feel that Machiavellis ideas are solid and well thought out. Although, that does not mean that I completely agree with all his ideas, especially those on the nature of humans. I refuse to confer that humankind is naturally evil willed. I the likes of to see the good in people, and to me it seems that the good in this world greatly outweighs the bad. However, I also do not agree that Machiavelli is the tyrant that history has make him out to be.Overall, I believe that most of his ideas aimed at improving the well being of his state. Even though he came off as an evil man it seemed to me that he always had his states best interests in mind. The way I see it, his negative understanding of human nature forced him to facet at issues from a differe nt perspective than most people of his time, and drove his ideas behind the irrelevance of virtuous traits in a political leader. Many of Machiavellis ideas are reflected in American politics. Machiavelli believed in practicing the separation of church and state just as America does.He believed that with fear came power, which is apparent in the linked States military. Although many of Machiavellis ideas reflect American government there are a few differences between the two, such as the qualities that can be viewed in presidential candidates and how our government goes about the real truth. Overall, Machiavellis ideas on virtue and fear, no matter how wicked in nature, seem to properly deem him the fall through of the modern political science that our government has been founded off of still today.

Ancient China Summary Essay

Ancient China Essay By Zach Ellwood Summary There were four groovy dynasties in Ancient China the Han, Shang, Qin, and cabbage. Some of the Shang accomplishments were set up an empire, and started the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou Dynasty set up a Feudal System and started the smashing Wall. The Qin Dynasty increase the Great Wall and standardized coins, weights and measures. The Han Dynasty accomplished to a greater extent things than the other dynasties, they invented paper, the seismograph, set up the Silk Road, started exams for civil service and finished the Great Wall.Thesis Statement Although the other dynasties were great, the Han Dynasty was the greatest. oblige Paragraph Although the other dynasties were great, the Han Dynasty was the greatest. The Han Dynasty was the greatest because they accomplished more things than the other dynasties, they invented paper, the seismograph, set up the Silk Road, started exams for civil service and finished the Great Wall. The Qin and Zhou Dynasties failed to complete the Great Wall.The Han Dynastys philosophy was a mixture of Confucianism and Legalism making ruler Wu Di and Gau Zu really respected and powerful leaders. Ruler Qin Shi-Huang Di only used Legalism so he was more powerful than respected and Confucias only used Confucianism so he was more respected than powerful. The Han Dynasty also improved Chinese writing. The Shang Dynasty made a simpler not as good writing system called pictographs. Conclusion Paragraph There were four great dynasties in Ancient China the Han, Shang, Qin, and Zhou.Some of the Shang accomplishments were set up an empire, and started the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou Dynasty set up a Feudal System and started the Great Wall. The Qin Dynasty extended the Great Wall and standardized coins, weights and measures. The Han Dynasty accomplished more things than the other dynasties, they invented paper, the seismograph, set up the Silk Road, started exams for civil service and finished the G reat Wall. That is why the Han Dynasty is the greatest.

Event Sponsorship as a Value Creating Strategy for Brands

Event tell onship as a mensurate creating dodging for carrys Dimitra Papadimitriou University of Patras, Patra, Greece Artemisia Apostolopoulou Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pennsylvania, USA, and Theofanis Dounis University of Patras, Patras, Greece Abstract Purpose The preface seek involves corporations that served as Grand matter Sponsors of the capital of Greece 2004 surpassing Games and aims to explore whether a strategicalal memory access was employed in the acquisition and concern of their prodigious givership.Design/ methodology/approach A eight-fold guinea pig postulate compendium was employed, for which data were collected through semi-structured inter experiences. The study take in included vii of the ten Grand National Sponsors that signed agreements with ATHOC, the Organizing Committee of the 2004 capital of Greece majestic Games. Data analysis was organized around ? ve themes inspired by the exist literature. Findings With the excep tion of devil ? ms, the majority of the Grand National Sponsors describe no clear or measurable objectives and restrain consideration to strategic or trademark- cogitate initiatives in their decisions to invest in the national Olympic sponsorship program. However, they did report plans to invest alternatives to supplement their rights, notwithstanding though in most cases no speci? c evaluation demonstratees had been designed. Research limitations/implications Given that the Olympic Games atomic number 18 organized e very(prenominal) four long time in a radical location, the ? ndings of this explore may not ? d direct application to opposite trades and organizing committees that implement their own sponsorship programs. Nevertheless, this look into did show comparatively poor actualisation of the role of sponsorship in creating value and building the unified provoker. Corporations considering becoming involve in gaming sponsorship and overly fount organizers be support to adopt a more(prenominal) strategic approach in the sponsorship solicitation and focusing surgical procedure. Originality/value Existing literature has discussed the role of caper sponsorship in note guidance and the talk mix, and has gritty easily-situateded the bene? s for ? rms that establish long-term ties with the Olympic Games. The present question adds to that line of work by highlighting if and how a strategic and stigmatize building approach was adopted in the context of national-level Olympic partnerships. Key linguistic process Sponsorship, Olympic Games, blemish management, Corporate schema Paper reference Research paper An administrator summary for managers and executive readers disregard be found at the end of this article. Introduction The meaning of sponsorship as an integral element of the market mix has been conceptualised by Sandler and Shani (1993) with the succeeding(a) de? ition Sponsorship is the provision of re addresss (m a ney, people, or equipment) by an organization directly to an termination or activity in exchange for a direct association to the thus fart or activity (p. 39). Corporate spending on sport sponsorship in mevery European countries and in wedlock America has increased dramatically (Lachowetz et al. , 2003). ball-shaped spending on sponsorship was estimated to reach $US28 billion in 2004 (from $US25. 9 billion in 2003) of which, according to the The current issue and skilful text archive of this diary is functional at www. meraldinsight. com/1061-0421. htm daybook of produce & Brand Management 17/4 (2008) 212 222 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited ISSN 1061-0421 DOI 10. 1108/10610420810887563 external Events Group, 69 per cent relates to white events (International Events Group, n. d. ). There is plenty of evidence that sport sponsorship, including Olympic sponsorship, can be very effective in achieving a number of objectives, not the least of which is free-enterprise(a) adva ntage related to brand jut and reputation (Amis et al. 1997 Copeland et al. , 1996 Meenaghan, 1998). The sport marketing literature provides some discussion on the value of sport sponsorship in in addition delivering other bene? ts, such as increased assuredness levels, sales and greater market share, and opportunities to develop employee and client (i. e. hospitality) relations (e. g. Abratt et al. , 1987 Apostolopoulou and Papadimitriou, 2004 Irwin and Asimakopoulos, 1992 Lough et al. , 2000 Ludwig and Karabetsos, 1999 Scott and Suchard, 1992). The technological developments related to porting, events along with the increase fill of the media for such activities, account to some extent for the steady increase of sport-related sponsorship investments (Meenaghan, 1998 Shilbury et al. , 2003). Meanwhile, the decreasing corporate trust in the ef? ciency of traditional media advertising channels may excessively explain why corporate investments in sport follow a growing trend (M eenaghan, 1998). Despite the pervasive appeal of the sport sector, however, companies countenance plenty of other event options at a local, national and international level from which to choose thus greater emphasis on return of 212Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis ledger of Product & Brand Management passel 17 scrap 4 2008 212 222 investment will prevail their sponsorship decisions (Copeland et al. , 1996). Also, as the corporate demand for accountability in marketing expenditure increases, so does the need for a deeper on a lower floorstanding of the funny elements of event sponsorships as a strategic imaging and a tool of marketing (Meenaghan, 1998 Thwaites et al. , 1998). Given the emf bene? ts involved in sponsorship, and in order to maximise ? ancial and other returns, corporations need to be strategic not only in their choice of properties (sport or other) with which to fo rm partnerships but besides in the allocation of resources to those agreements. Businesses must consider strategic priorities that suit their necessarily and systematically exploit the opportunities indoors their markets, and engage in partnerships that are aligned with those priorities. Furthermore, within those partnerships they need to nexus corporate objectives to particular strategic initiatives, a process that could turn sponsorship to a value-creating strategy capable of creating a distinctive advantage.Surprisingly, research is scarce on corporate sponsorship and its importance as a strategic resource and a brand management tool. As Meenaghan (1998) stresses, The sponsorship literature has traditionally viewed sponsorship as an activity largely similar to advertising and generally, though not always, spoken of in terms of short- quite an than long-term horizons (p. 25). Indeed, most existing studies are descriptive, and focus on objectives and general motivation for mak ing those kinds of investments (e. g. Berrett and S lack, 1999 Cornwell and Maignan, 1998 Doherty and Murray, 2007).Amis (2003) has also outlined the dearth of research on how intangible resources are identi? ed and managed in relation to image and reputation through sport sponsorship. This is also re? ected in the industry, as many companies invest immense resources but still ignore the capacity of sport sponsorship for ensuring longer-term bene? ts (Amis et al. , 1999). fit inly, the present study attempts to explore the adoption (or not) of a strategic approach to the sponsorship process on the part of large companies involved in Olympic sponsorship.This is a research avenue that has been largely unexplored in the existing literature. and ideals and on leverage its key brand on a national and international level. The Olympic Partner (TOP) program, which represents the IOCs sponsorship program, holds a key role in the IOCs general marketing efforts as it attracts the interest of many international corporations due to a number of factors, including the long-term (a required minimum of four years) linkage to a very attractive intelligent proportion, exclusive creative activity(prenominal) marketing rights, and the principle of intersection point/service-category exclusivity. The ? st TOP program (1985-1988) involved nine partners and generated $US95 million, a far cry from the more lucrative 2001-2004 program, which engaged 11 corporations contributing $US603 million. Global corporations like Visa, Coca-Cola, Kodak and Panasonic view this type of partnership as strategic, and this is manifested by the fact that since 1986 all of them prevail invested solid resources to remain part of the program until at least the 2012 Olympic Games. The IOC has extended their particularly successful marketing concept to a lower story by introducing Olympic sponsorships at the national level.Revenues from those sponsorships contribute to the ever-increasing cost of hosting the event. The Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs) manage this program, which involves an array of sponsors, suppliers and providers from the host country (provided they are approved by the IOC). The 2000 Olympics attracted the interest of 93 such national partners who contributed $US492 million to the Organizing Committee of the Sydney Games (SOCOG), while the 2004 Olympic Games held in capital of Greece generated e570 million through their national Olympic sponsorship program (Jeanrenaud, 2006).Present research The present study foc engages on the national companies that signed on as Grand National Sponsors of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and explores the role of these partnerships in sponsors brand management efforts, as perceived by order executives, as well as the degree to which these sponsors approach to their Olympic sponsorship was strategic. Furthermore, sponsors plans to integrate the sponsorship in corporate strategy and to exploit rights curren t by the Organizing Committee are also discussed. Given the increased pressure of corporations to maximize ef? iency in the use of their resources and to avoid opportunity cost, there is much interest in identifying whether a strategic approach was adopted in these companies Olympic interestingness. The practices of these sponsors could provide valuable insight not only to other ? rms considering investment in sport sponsorship, but also to event organizing committees aiming to secure corporate support. The remainder of the paper includes a review of relevant literature, followed by a summary of the methodology and the ? ndings of the study.The paper concludes with a discussion of the theoretical contributions of the study and also practical recommendations for brand management and marketing executives as well as sport prop representatives. Corporate sponsorship and Olympic Games The Olympic Games hold a few distinctive characteristics that make the event a particularly desirable property for a liberal range of sponsors, but also for conducting research. First of all, it is a unique and highly prestigious event with a powerful ability to reach a oecumenic audience through television networks.Secondly, the marketing program and policies of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic Movement and the Olympics, actively preserve exclusivity for the limited number of international and national sponsorships and favor long-term partnerships. The IOC has worked extensively to raise awareness about how corporate contributions enhance the Olympic Movement and invests resources to achieve sponsor recognition. Thirdly, Olympic sponsorships are linked to attractive hospitality packages, which corporations value highly for networking, roduct display, and employee incentive purposes. Continuing a pattern which began in the late 1980s, sponsorship investments in the Olympic Games confuse increased exp unrivalledntially, accounting for 34 per cent of the IOCs $US4 billion Olympic marketing revenue for the 2001-2004 Olympic quadrennium (International Olympic Committee, n. d. ). This is the end result of the IOCs strategic plan, which since 1985 has concentrate systematically on enhancing the Olympic image 213 Literature reviewThe review of literature is structured around three themes 1 sponsorship and corporate strategy 2 the integration of sponsorship within corporate marketing efforts and 3 sponsorship and brand management. Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 Sponsorship and corporate strategy Understanding what companies do or do not do to remain militant in a constantly changing environment is at the heart of strategic thinking.Practice has shown that sport sponsorship, because of the bene? ts associated with those agreements, is a frequent strategi c choice of many international corporations. Of the most indicative examples are Coca-Cola, Kodak and Visa International, three companies with long-standing relationships with the Olympic Games. These particular ? rms wee co-ordinated those agreements well into their long-term marketing strategies and are continuously promoting their involvement in order to gain competitive advantage (Farrell and Frame, 1997).However, such costly agreements cannot be treated in an ad hoc manner. Successful corporations are well aware that sponsorship deals should be approached as a resource, with the capability to lead to distinctive competence if effectively combined with other organizational resources (Amis et al. , 1997, 1999). Sport sponsorship, if viewed as a strategic resource, can support brand management objectives by enhancing brand image and reputation and by assisting the partnership to gain competitive advantage in tar seek marketplaces (Amis, 2003).This, however, implies that corpo rations are prepared to engage in long-term commitments and to actively exploit those agreements, or otherwise face the disappointment of low return on their investment. Though limited, research evidence has shown that many companies engage in sport sponsorship with limited planning and integration (Farrelly et al. , 1997 Polonsky et al. , 1995). A few companies make those investments with con? ned understanding of the range of bene? ts involved and how those bene? s can be sureized. They even lack the growing knowledge of the nature of the particular communication intend and this is depicted on their objectives and the poor principle for involvement. The empirical results of Farrelly et al. (1997) with a sample of zero(prenominal)th American and Australian companies engaged in sport sponsorship showed that more time is spent into negotiating deals than in integration and planning. Moreover, their research showed that a few noth American ? ms approached sponsorship management a s a strategic tool, whereas the majority of Australian businesses concentrated more on the communication opportunities of sponsorship (Farrelly et al. , 1997). Similarly, Amis et al. (1999) have provided evidence that companies often engage in sponsorship without integrating it in other marketing initiatives. The consequence involves delivering an unclear and inconsistent image to the customer. Any partnership considering entering into a sponsorship agreement should ? rst assess the probable bene? s and the probability of gaining a competitive position in the marketplace and then make a decision of whether or not to invest in the sponsorship. Building on the work of Hamel and Prahalad (1994), Amis et al. (1999) argue that sport sponsorship can become a potential source of competitive advantage if it meets three criteria 1 it allows for a signi? cant increase in the perceived customer value of the service or overlap 2 it permits for differentiating the brand from the competitors a nd 3 it provides space for exploiting the deal through new operate and products. 14 The employment of sport as a strategic tool for growth a position of competitive advantage is well described by Amis (2003) in reference to the case study of Guinness. That particular accompany has used sport extensively and consistently to build a unifying brand message on a global level. This was achieved by ? rst engaging in a global survey to identify a key brand bene? t (Guinness brings out your inner strength) that would unify its global brand and also ensure specialization from other popular beer brands (Amis, 2003, p. 200).Secondly, the company used sport and sport sponsorship as a central element of its brand positioning strategy, creating advertisements featuring athletes and driving on-trade promotions and sales during world jazzy events (Amis, 2003). The critical element of Olympic sponsorship is that it offers sponsors the opportunity to make use of unique business opportunities by p roviding concrete rights and speci? c bene? ts associated with the strongest sporting brand in the world (i. e. the Olympic Games), depending on the sponsorship category.Accordingly, and given the competitive nature of the growing Olympic sponsorship industry, other sport and non-sport sponsorship options, and the signi? cant resource investment required to get into a sponsorship agreement, strategic thinking becomes critical. Following the example of multinational corporations, one would expect that sponsors involved in Olympic sponsorships on the national level should also engage ? rst and foremost in fundamental strategic thinking related to company brand management efforts and overall corporate strategy, and consider how a potential sponsorship agreement would enhance corporate strategy and objectives.This question is the point of exploration of the present study. Integrating sponsorship into organizational marketing In her discussion on sponsorship-linked marketing development, Cornwell (1995) proposes a influence of sponsorship development. That model involves six steps, each linked to the next, including 1 analysis of the situation 2 determination of objectives 3 development of sponsorship-related strategy 4 creation of sponsorship link 5 sponsorship implementation and 6 sponsorship evaluation.In another research effort to standardize the process of selecting a sport sponsorship program and utilizing it as a viable marketing tool, Arthur et al. (1998) proposed a multistep process that involved many of the points discussed earlier by Cornwell. The authors emphasized the necessity of a careful consideration of all options available to an organization in order to achieve company objectives, as well as the need to incorporate the sponsorship within the organization, manage, oxygenize, and evaluate it (Arthur et al. , 1998).Therefore, it should be stressed that sport sponsorship can be an invaluable tool as long as it is to the full integrated into a ? rm s marketing and communication efforts. This involves ? rst of all spot of the corporate sponsorship activities into the marketing departments, clear and enchant objectives and planning, and full integration into the communication mix. Otherwise, sponsorship activities, including those linked to the Olympic Games can be turned into costly mistakes with no substantial return on investment.Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 Sponsorship and brand management Wong and Merrilees (2005) stress that, in pursuing competitive advantage in the marketplace, the brand should be in the heart of corporate strategy. In other words, managers should be able to combine corporate, marketing and promotional plans in a brand-based strategy, which can offer their company a sustainable edge over their competitors and lead to high levels of bra nd equity.Brand equity is one of the most fundamental signi? ers of a powerful brand because it represents the end result of strong brand loyalty, high name awareness, coercive brand image, favorable brand associations, and the perception of superior quality (Aaker, 1991). As companies strive to build powerful brands with high value in the marketplace, sport sponsorship can serve as a tool for supporting brand management objectives (Amis, 2003 Sandler and Shani, 1993).Establishing and exploiting a partnership with a sport property can assist a company to strengthen some or all of the elements of brand equity and consequently increase the overall value of its brand (Roy and Cornwell, 2003). A few authors have discussed sport sponsorships role in enhancing brand image and reputation, increasing brand awareness and familiarity, and altering globe perceptions (e. g. Amis et al. , 1997 Cornwell et al. , 2001 Gwinner and Eaton, 1999 Irwin and Asimakopoulos, 1992). Bene? s have also been reported in terms of brand personality and brand differentiation (Amis et al. , 1999 Cornwell et al. , 2001). The brand-related bene? ts outlined above can be delivered with an even greater effectiveness via Olympic sponsorship agreements. dark-brown (2000) discussed how AMP (an insurance and investment company) and Visa, both companies in the services sector, used their Olympic sponsorship of the 2000 Olympic Games for brand development and brand differentiation initiatives. Crimmins and Horn (1996) have also reported that Visa has bene? ed from measurable changed perceptions of its brand over MasterCard as a result of the Olympic sponsorship. Furthermore, Stipp (1998) showed that managers are well aware of how sponsor image is signi? cantly affected by the special qualities of Olympic advertising, the favorable universe attitudes toward Olympic sponsorship, and the strength of the association amid the sponsor and the Olympics. This is attributed to the fact that the general pu blic expresses high respect for the Olympic Games and attaches special value to Olympic sponsorship (Stipp, 1998).Even though there is evidence that sport sponsorship, and particularly Olympic sponsorship, is a distinctive resource capable of ful? lling brand management objectives, it should be stated that its effectiveness depends on active management (Amis, 2003 Cornwell et al. , 2001), divert and adequate leverage (Chalip and Leyns, 2002), and longterm agreements which allow time for strong associations to be developed between events and brands (Keller, 1993). Companies should not make the mistake of mismanaging sport sponsorship agreements.They should approach these agreements as a distinctive resource, which needs to be integrated within other company activities in order to produce sustainable competitive advantage (Amis et al. , 1999). Sample On the national level, ATHOC, the Organizing Committee of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, instituted a sponsorship program, the National Sponsoring Programme, which offered three levels of involvement 1 Grand Sponsor 2 Of? cial Supporter and 3 Of? cial Provider.This sponsorship program contributed a total of e570 million to the Organizing Committees budget (Jeanrenaud, 2006). The present research effort focused on the highest of the three levels, the Grand Sponsors. It was assumed that, given the size of the companies and the extent of their investment, there were higher chances that a strategic and/or brand building orientation would have been adopted at that level. Therefore, the sample for this study was drawn from the population of the Grand National Olympic Sponsors of ATHOC. The ten ompanies that served as Grand sponsors were 1 of import entrust ( cloak-and-dagger bank) 2 Athenian Brewery (beer producer) 3 DELTA (dairy product company, co-sponsor with FAGE) 4 FAGE (dairy product company, co-sponsor with DELTA) 5 Hellenic broadcast medium Corporation (ERT, national broadcasting company) 6 Hellenic Post (ELTA , national postal services provider) 7 Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE, national telecommunications company) 8 Hyundai Hellas (automotive company) 9 Olympic Airlines (national airline company) and 10 habitual Power Corporation SA (DEI, national electrical power provider).Data collection The design of this research involved a multiple case study approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with the trade Directors or other company executives responsible for coordinating the Olympic sponsorship activities of their particular organization. The particular research design was deemed appropriate for the study objectives as it facilitated the exploratory nature of this research. It also allowed for motivating the interviewees to explore and discuss asp viperects of their sponsorship-related thinking and enabled in-depth probing into unexpected issues during the discussion.Interviews took place between January and May 2004, and the duration of e ach interview was approximately one hour. Research efforts resulted in a total of septette of the possible ten interviews. Consequently, all results are based on information from the seven sponsors interviewed. An interview guide was developed to incorporate the following key themes . the reason(s) for which the ? rms entered into the Olympic sponsorship agreement . the way(s) in which the Olympic sponsorship was integrated into the ? rms overall corporate strategy, their marketing strategy, and their brand management efforts . he amount of resources deployed into the sponsorship . the initiatives introduced to leverage the sponsorship and . companies plans to evaluate the effectiveness of their Olympic sponsorship. 215 Methodology The present study follows a multiple case study approach to investigate the extent to which Grand Sponsors of the 2004 Olympic Games were involved in strategic planning and systematic leverage activities related to their Olympic sponsorship agreements. E vent sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis DounisJournal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 Data analysis In an effort to explore whether a strategic approach was adopted (or not) by the Grand Sponsors of the 2004 Olympics in the acquisition and management of their sponsorship, the present study focused on four indicators, namely 1 sponsors stated goals and/or objectives 2 resources allocated to the acquisition and activation of the sponsorship 3 sponsorship leveraging initiatives and 4 sponsorship evaluation plans The study attempted to assess the degree to which each of these areas was considered in the sponsorship process.In addition, the perceptions of company-sponsor representatives in terms of the incorporation of their sponsorship in the overall corporate strategy and brand management efforts were used as a ? fth indicator. These ? ve elements were chosen to frame the an alysis because they have been proposed in past research (Arthur et al. , 1998 Cornwell, 1995) as indicators of a strategic approach to sport sponsorship, and thus were deemed appropriate for the objectives of the present research.All data received through the interviews were therefore contentanalyzed based on those ? ve parameters. Results A discussion on each of the ? ve parameters as they relate to the seven companies-sponsors in the sample is presented in the following section. Sponsorship as part of corporate strategy and brand management efforts In order to explore whether a strategic approach was adopted in the acquisition of the Olympic sponsorship at the national level, companies were asked to discuss how iOlympic sponsorship ? tted in their overall (i. . corporate) brand management strategy. From the responses received to that question alone, it appeared that two of the seven companies in the sample clearly saw this sponsorship as an opportunity to support major shifts in t he structure and orientation of their companies. More speci? cally, Alpha Bank, a private bank that had gone through a merger in recent years, saw its Olympic sponsorship as a way to support the union of the two banks that merged and also as a cause behind which to unite the two distinct cultures and staffs.Its involvement with the Olympics was seen as a platform to promote the new, post-merger company and to solidify its new name and identity in the minds of consumers. ELTA, the main postal services provider in Greece, which had been a sponsor of the ? rst modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, was also going through major changes at the time leading up to the Olympic Games as the company was preparing for an initial public offering (IPO). Their main interest was to use their Olympic sponsorship to strengthen and promote their corporate image.According to a company representative, we want to promote a modern image of effectiveness and quality a humane image (personal communic ation, February 2, 2004). Their investment in this sponsorship intended to support the companys brand repositioning efforts that focused on promoting a more positive, a more customer- and service-oriented image. In addition to the role of the sponsorship in shaping a new image 216 for the company, it served as a means to celebrate a milestone in company history, i. e. the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the organization. When asked the same question of how their Olympic sponsorship ? ted with their brand management efforts, the remaining ? ve companies in the sample did not discuss any strategic initiatives that were supposed to be supported by the sponsorship. Instead, they provided reasons for which they decided to become a sponsor. Athenian Brewery, a beer producer, and DELTA, one of the dairy product co-sponsors, mentioned that their decision to become a sponsor was driven primarily by the fact that the Olympic Games was the largest and most important athletic event to occur in the modern history of the country, while the other three cited being a logical choice for the pro? e and size of their company (FAGE, dairy product co-sponsor) obliging to a matter of honor (Olympic Airlines, airline) and supporting their companys social responsibility strategy (DEI, power provider) as their precept for entering into those agreements. Even though it seems that, from their responses to that question alone, these ? ve sponsors did not consider any strategic or brand-related initiatives in their decisions to become involved in the program, there was some relevant information that ould be deciphered from their commentary on their sponsorship objectives, which indicates that some consideration of corporate strategy or branding was present. That information is discussed in the following section. Stated goals and/or objectives All of the companies in the sample seemed to have, to a greater or lesser extent, some stated goals for this sponsorship. However, with t he exception of two cases, none of them were speci? c or measurable. In general, stated goals/objectives fell into two categories 1 pro? -oriented (i. e. sales) or 2 brand-oriented. Table I outlines companies goals and/or objectives in terms of their Olympic sponsorship agreements and groups them based on their orientation. In terms of the pro? t-oriented goals/objectives, the majority of the sponsors in the sample seemed to agree that increasing sales for one or all of their products/services was one of their goals. Olympic Airlines, the national airline company, had speci? c objectives in terms of the amount of additional traf? it would generate during the summer months and was also expecting long-term repeat business. Alpha Bank, the private bank, was more speci? c in terms of the group it was targeting it was looking to attract a younger demographic for its services. As was noted, we are aiming to attract a younger audience as the pro? le of our clients is middle age (personal c ommunication, January 20, 2004). Interestingly, there was also the case of one sponsor (ELTA, postal services provider) that did not concur any speci? pro? t-oriented goals, but rather expressed a desire to at least make up the funds they invested in acquiring the sponsorship. As stated by a company representative, one of their goals was to cover the minimum guaranteed amount spent to acquire the sponsorship (personal communication, February 2, 2004). The same company representative indicated that they did not view their Olympic sponsorship as a means that would produce any signi? cant commercial bene? ts and that the ? ancial returns were expected to be marginal. In addition to the pro? t-oriented goals, there were also other stated goals/objectives related to some aspects of brand Table I Goals/objectives of Grand National Olympic sponsors Brand-oriented goals/objectives Brand awareness, recognition Brand loyalty merge staff members of two banks Integrate two company cultures B rand associations Brand image, positioning Organizational culture, employees (internal branding)Other goals/ objectives Grand National Olympic Pro? t-oriented goals/ sponsors objectives Alpha Bank Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Strengthen employee relations through leveraging initiatives Support the efforts of ATHOC altruism 217 Receive moral bene? ts affix market share Establish the new bank name in the minds of consumers Gain new customers Attract younger consumers sire pro? of e50 million Athenian adjoin sales (target group Enhance brand recognition nominate a legacy Make Heineken a yearBrewery 18-34) of Heineken after the Games round beer Community involvement DELTA augment sales Create brand recognition, Community Strengthen company image awareness involvement Project interest in community matters and the country FAGE Generate sales from visitors Promote products abroad Turn fo reign visitors into upon return to their Create brand awareness consumers of their countries among visitors (foreign products consumers) Hellenic Post Avoid losses make up the Create a positive image, (ELTA) money spent on sponsorship customer- and serviceoriented Support company repositioning efforts Increase prestige as a new Olympic Airlines Increase traf? c by 150,000 Generate exposure and buzz post-Games company travelers (e50 million) Generate repeat travel in the future Create image of trust and Public Power Create credibility association Corporation, SA with the event Create prestige (DEI) Strengthen social pro? le of company Unite employees behind putting green effort Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 Serve noble cause of sponsorship Coordinate communications under one strategy Take advantage of sponsorship rightsEvent sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Do unis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 management. More speci? cally, the two areas that seemed to be more prevalent in sponsors priorities were brand awareness and recognition and brand image. Five of the seven sponsors in the sample stated that they were interested in raising awareness/recognition levels for their brands or a particular product under their brand. For Athenian Brewery, the beer producer, the goal was to enhance brand recognition for Heineken one of the products of that company . . . to promote Heineken and make it a year-round beer (personal communication, March 4, 2004).Alpha Bank, the private bank, was more interested in raising peoples awareness of the new name of the bank, while FAGE, one of the dairy product co-sponsors, was focused on making foreign consumers who were visiting Greece for the Games familiar with their products in hope that they would continue inhalation upon return to their native countries. The second aspect of brand building that seemed to be important amongst at least four of the seven Grand National Olympic sponsors in the sample was brand image. Through association with an event as grandiose and unique as the Olympic Games, sponsors felt they could grow a more positive image for their company.This goal was particularly important for ELTA, the postal services provider that was hoping that the sponsorship would support its repositioning efforts. As their representative stated, our company is at the stage of planning or promoting a change in its nature and orientation . . . we are now shifting from the era of the citizen to the era of the customer, and that is important (personal communication, February 2, 2004). Using the sponsorship to create an image of trust and credibility was one of the goals of DEI, the national power provider, while projecting their companys interest in the community and the country and creating prestige as a new company were goals expressed by DELTA ( dairy product co-sponsor) and Olympic Airlines (airline), respectively. some other area related to branding, other than the two mentioned above, which also became evident from the data, is the use of sponsorship for purposes of branding within the organization (i. e. internal branding). Two of the companies in the sample, Alpha Bank (private bank) and DEI (power provider), indicated that they saw their Olympic sponsorship as a means to promote employee relations. According to the representative of one of the sponsors (DEI), one of the goals of our company for the Olympic sponsorship is to unite employees around a vision and a common effort (personal communication, May 6, 2004). A third company, DELTA (dairy product producer), made reference to that goal not directly, but through the discussion of their sponsorship activation initiatives.In addition to the two main groups of goals, there were also some other goals/objectives expressed by Grand National Olympic sponsors. Those re? ect ed mainly altruistic motives and moral bene? ts sought through their involvement in the particular sponsorship program. Allocated resources Another indication of whether a sponsorship is seen as an investment and a brand building tool is the amount of resources invested in the process. There were two types of resources examined in this study, i. e. human and substantive resources. Furthermore, material resources were distinguished between in-cash versus in-kind, and those invested in the acquisition versus the activation of the sponsorship. 218In terms of human resources allocated to their Olympic sponsorship, all companies in the sample formed some type of committee that was responsible for managing all sponsorshiprelated activities. The size of those committees ranged from two to 15 members and, in most cases, membership included employees from a number of departments within the organization. Furthermore, two of the companies in the sample, Alpha Bank and Athenian Brewery, discus sed their intention to involve their employees in the process by initiating employee Olympic volunteer programs. Not all sponsors in the sample were volition to disclose the ? nancial investments they made to acquire their Olympic sponsorships. Of the seven companies in the sample, six provided some information in terms of the ? nancial resources allocated to becoming a Grand Olympic sponsor.From the information provided through the interviews, it was concluded that Athenian Brewery and DELTA invested in cash only, DEI invested in kind only, while Alpha Bank, ELTA and Olympic Airlines invested both in cash and in kind. In general, there seemed to be a commitment toward the sponsorship, which became more apparent from the stated intentions of sponsors to allocate ? nancial resources in sponsorship activation initiatives. Even though all seven companies in the sample discussed some sponsorship activation plans, only four of the sponsors (Alpha Bank, Athenian Brewery, FAGE, Olympic Ai rlines) mentioned that they were planning to invest ? ancial resources on that aspect, with two of those (Alpha Bank and Olympic Airlines) disclosing the speci? c amounts. Some more information on sponsorship activation is provided in the section below. Sponsorship activation In addition to the resources allocated to sponsorship activation, information was collected on speci? c leveraging initiatives. Although there was some variation in terms of the means chosen by each company to activate their sponsorship, most initiatives involved the use of the Olympic logo and symbols as well as the Olympic mascots on sponsors products, employees, distribution vehicles, and at points of sale. The most common sponsorship activation initiatives involved Olympic-themed sales promotions (e. g. ontests), themed packaging, new products (e. g. Olympic-themed faith card), and collectible pins. Furthermore, three of the sponsors in the sample (Alpha Bank, ELTA and Olympic Airlines) mentioned the exist ence of a hospitality program for their clients or partners. In terms of the use of communication media to activate their Olympic sponsorship, the most popular choices appeared to be advertising through mass electronic (e. g. television) and print (e. g. newspaper) media, posters and billboards, displays at sponsors distribution outlets or specially created kiosks, and internal company communication media or publications (e. g. employee newsletter).Surprisingly, the use of the internet and the companies websites (provided one existed) did not appear to be prevalent, with only three sponsors (Athenian Brewery, Alpha Bank and FAGE) mentioning its use in leveraging their sponsorship agreement, while three other companies (DELTA, ELTA and Olympic Airlines) indicated that promotion through the internet would be limited. Sponsorship evaluation Of all ? ve indicators used to determine the role of these sponsorship agreements in companies strategy and brand management efforts, this measure is probably the one for Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 which more general and more vague responses were received.With the exception of three companies that either did not provide any information on this area (Alpha Bank) or provided very general information (Olympic Airlines and DEI), the remaining sponsors in the sample indicated at least some plans to measure sales, company awareness/recognition levels, and perceived image amongst consumers, or to conduct cost-bene? t analyses after the Games. Discussion In light of the ? ndings received from a representative group of the Grand National Sponsors of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, some general observations and practical recommendations are offered for marketing and brand management executives interested in investing in sport sponsorship. Firstly, even though the mark eting literature has repeatedly cautioned corporate executives about the need to be strategic with their decisions to invest in sponsorship and also in the selection of an appropriate property that could further corporate objectives (e. g. Farrelly et al. , 1997 Meenaghan, 1998), the ? dings of this study indicate that only a small number of the national sponsors of the Athens Olympic Games truly saw this sponsorship as a tool to further corporate strategy. For a number of other ? rms becoming a sponsor was explained by generally stated objectives of assisting the Organizing Committees efforts to put on a good event of the greatest national importance. However, even those companies that did not speak about corporate strategy and brand management made it clear throughout their interviews that solidifying an association with the Olympic Games could affect their brand image and positioning in a positive manner. The use of words such as legacy, honor, prestige and image indicates that t hese companies were well aware of how an of? ial relationship with an event as unique as the Olympic Games and as important for the history of the country (i. e. Greece) would help to build strong brand associations. This con? rms past research suggesting that sport sponsorship can be used as a brand-building tool through the creation of positive and favorable brand associations (e. g. Amis, 2003 Roy and Cornwell, 2003). Secondly, the companies in the sample highlighted the key strengths of their national Olympic sponsorships by stating the goals and objectives attached to those agreements, even though they were not, in most cases, speci? c or measurable as it has been recommended through past literature (e. g. Arthur et al. , 1998).Interestingly, many of the goals and objectives stated were brand-related. It was evident through the interviews that companies recognize the opportunity to sharpen their brand image and increase levels of brand awareness, but also saw the chance to do that in a favorable light by taking advantage of the positive feelings and emotions people had toward the Olympic Games. Being seen as one of the contributors to an event as important to the country and its citizens even though not directly related to pro? toriented objectives if achieved, could have led to positive outcomes via strengthening the companys image and emotional connection with current and potential consumers.Past research also has connected the existence of positive brand associations to favorable consequences for brands (e. g. Amis, 2003 Gladden et al. , 1998). Thirdly, it appeared from the data that all the companies created teams to manage their sponsorships and, in most 219 cases, those teams involved employees from a number of departments. The involvement of various departments in the sponsorship management process could indicate efforts of sponsors to integrate their Olympic sponsorship throughout their organizations. Furthermore, for those companies that decid ed to involve their employees via Olympic volunteer programs or to incorporate employee bene? s and special corporate hospitality programs, it seems that they also saw this sponsorship as a tool to build employee relations and strengthen their brand internally. Fourthly, the willingness of companies to allocate resources not only in becoming sponsors but also in leveraging their sponsorship relationships indicates an even greater commitment in using this sponsorship as a brand building tool and receiving full bene? ts from their involvement even though that was not clear from responses related to the ? rst indicator. It also implies that companies saw value in the intellectual property of the Olympic Games and in the rights received through their agreements with the Organizing Committee. Although most of the managers interviewed failed to report with speci? ity the resources committed in sponsorship activation, this ? nding is in agreement with previous research that proposes spend ing money to leverage the associated bene? ts of a sponsorship (e. g. the $2-for-$1 additional spending found by Farrelly et al. , 1997). The leveraging initiatives described throughout the interviews were clearly efforts to capitalize on the positive feelings and fervency that were widespread throughout the country. Using a variety of promotional and communications initiatives to take advantage of product/service category exclusivity rights (even for the two dairy product producers that signed on as co-sponsors) and of the of? cial af? iation with the Olympic Games could provide a competitive advantage to those corporations and differentiate them from their competition. Lastly, the lack of data on sponsorship evaluation plans might intimate that assessment of the effectiveness of process and of the ful? llment of goals might not be an area to which companies devoted much energy, at least in the early stages of their sponsorship relationship. This ? nding is consistent with the ex isting literature, which indicates that many companies spend signi? cant resources on sponsorship agreements but fail to establish formal sponsorship evaluation systems or procedures (Miyazaki and Morgan, 2001).Furthermore, the fact that most objectives stated throughout the interviews were rather general and not speci? c could make any effort to evaluate the effectiveness of these sponsorship agreements even harder. Consistent with past literature (e. g. Cornwell, 1995 Meenaghan, 1998), in this case it is also strongly recommended that plans to measure whether corporate objectives were achieved should be an integral part of the sponsorship design and implementation, and not merely an afterthought. Olympic sponsorships, especially at the national level, are slenderly unique in that they are typically once-ina-lifetime opportunities, with sponsorship renewal being less of an issue. Even so, easuring return on investment could prove valuable in channelize a company through future de cisions to invest in sport or other sponsorship opportunities. Managerial implications and conclusions Given the increased pressure on corporations to maximize ef? ciency in operations and maximize return on all company investments, sport sponsorship has naturally fallen under Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 scrutiny in terms of its potential to further corporate goals and help strengthen the brand.The main contribution of this research is showing that there are still large corporations such as the Grand National sponsors of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games that enter expensive sponsorship agreements with only moderate consideration to the strategic and brand-building elements of sponsorship. As this study showed, not all cases prove that speci? c brandbuilding initiatives were put in place from the start of those rela tionships. The ? ndings discussed above hold managerial implications for both sponsorship executives and (sport) event properties. In addition to an overall strategy involving corporate brand management, it is important for sponsors to fully understand what speci? advantages are delivered through their sponsorships and how customers might view those companies sponsorship efforts in relation to other media tools. As Farrelly et al. (1997) have suggested, ? rms need to ? rst research the role of sponsorship in the strategic plan, communication mix, and its place in the organizational hierarchy (p. 178). Using a manager-based view of the Grand National Olympic sponsorships, the ? ndings are quite clear in showing that this type of thinking had not yet (i. e. at the time of the interviews) been adequately established in these agreements. The majority of the 2004 Olympics Grand sponsors had dif? culties approaching their partnerships as a valuable esource able to create competitive advan tage in the marketplace. Nevertheless, the marketing department of ATHOC, the Organizing Committee of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games also holds part of the responsibility for the lack of strategic thinking in the investments of some Grand sponsors. Organizing Committees in general hinge on the success of these agreements in order to generate income and positive evaluations on corporate business developments. In addition to the promotion of the unique image of the Games and the rights of the Olympic sponsorship program, it is in the overall interest of the event property to integrate real strategic thinking in the sponsorship program process.This strategic thinking can be oriented, for example, by encouraging and/or assisting candidate sponsors to explore their strategic link between the Olympic Games audience and their ? rms target market and overall brand-related objectives. If the property (in this case OCOG) works proactively to promote the unique business links associated to thei r audience, the brand bene? ts, as well as the other opportunities for meaningful interactions with costumers, sponsors will be more willing to allocate resources on entering the agreements and spending for their full activation. This could result in real strategic and brand management thinking on the part of the selected national Olympic sponsors, as well.Given that the Olympic partnerships involve a four-year period of sponsorship privileges, a strategic approach is particularly critical in order to facilitate a sustained long-term successful partnership with mutual bene? ts. In closing, the results of the study imply that the need for adequate planning and strategic integration of sponsorship within other corporate marketing and branding efforts cannot be overstated. Especially with a property as unique as the Olympic Games, the need to be strategic in all decisions related to the sponsorship, to create new and leverage existing unique brand associations, and to implement speci? c measures of success in every step of the process is imperative for sponsors if unique bene? ts are to be realized. 220 References Aaker, D. A. 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Thwaites, D. , Aguilar-Manjarrez, R. and Kidd, C. (1998), Sports sponsorship development in leading Canadian companies issues and trends, International Journal of Advertising, Vol. 17, pp. 29-49. Wong, H. Y. and Merrilees, B. (2005), A brand orientation typology for SMEs a case research approach, Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 155-62. About the authors Dimitra Papadimitriou is a Lecturer in the Department of Business Management at the Universi ty of Patras, Greece. She teaches in the area of sport management and marketing.Her research interests include organizational theory, sport sponsorship and sport tourism, and her work has appeared in the European Sport Management Quarterly, Sport Marketing Quarterly, Sport Management Review, Managing Leisure, and the International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship. She is also the author of the book Management of Sport Enterprises and Organizations, published in 2005 by Kleidarithmos Publications. In addition, Dr Papadimitriou is an elected board member of the European Association for Sport Management and serves on the Editorial Board of the European Sport Management Quarterly journal. Dimitra Papadimitriou is the corresponding author and can be contacted at emailprotected gr Artemisia Apostolopoulou is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the School of Business at Robert Morris University, USA. She teaches sport management and marketing at the undergraduate and gra duate level.Her first area of research involves brand management and brand extension strategies implemented by sport organizations. Her secondary research interests include sponsorship and endorsement issues, as well as entertainment aspects of sport consumption. She has presented work at numerous national and international conferences, co-authored book chapters, and published research in Sport Marketing Quarterly and the International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship. Theofanis Dounis is a PhD candidate in the Department of Business Management at the University of Patras, Greece. He conducts research in the area of strategic management in the professional football industry.Executive summary and implications for managers and executives This summary has been provided to allow managers and executives a rapid appreciation of the content of the article. Those with a particular interest in the topic covered may then read the article in toto to take advantage of the more compreh ensive description of the research undertaken and its results to get the full bene? t of the material present. This sporting life Corporate sponsorship of sport is a big business and it is growing. In 2003, for example, spend on sponsorship was calculated at $US25. 9 billion. A year later in 2004, it had risen to $28 billion. In anyones money, thats a big business. Of this spend 69 percent goes to sporting events. Sport, it seems, is the ? rst among equals.Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands Dimitra Papadimitriou, Artemisia Apostolopoulou and Theofanis Dounis Journal of Product & Brand Management Volume 17 Number 4 2008 212 222 Within this or any other context the Olympic Games has become a phenomenon of our times. The ancients surely could not have imagined what was to come. The late nineteenth century/early twentieth century revivalists would be, one would suppose, either amazed or aghast. Organizers picking up the baton after the Second World War, such as the modest London Games of 1948, would still have little inkling of what was to come. A global TV audience and, some might argue, a shift in values, have changed the game.For global companies the Olympics deliver a global audience and provide a more or less unique opportunity to reinforce brand values and build reputation. It is an opportunity not to be missed. It only comes around every four years. Athenian outcomes British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, on being asked what represented the gr