This past weekend in the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, Trinity Christian College threw a party for 1400 people. The party has been in the works since 2007. Trinity hosted said party, entitled “Jubilee!”, in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Thousands of hours of preparation and attention to every little detail went into a fantastic night of food, flowers, fellowship, fireworks, and most importantly film. The centerpiece of the party? The premiere of a Cultivate-created promotional documentary entitled, “With Courage, Faith & Vision: The First Fifty Years of Trinity Christian College.” Why all the fuss? Why Navy Pier? Why a promotional documentary?

Fundraising. Milestone anniversaries are a fundraising goldmine for organizations. This may not be that revelatory, but I think it’s worth noting. This is not a bad thing. And for Trinity, it’s worth doing right. Making a night to remember. Everyone wins. A plate full of gravy-drenched chicken and rusted iceberg lettuce in some Holiday Inn banquet room just isn’t going to cut it (the check). Trinity is a private college that relies heavily on the support of those who helped build the college, community members and churchgoers, and thousands of alumni. It is important that Trinity perpetually connects with all of these constituents. Trinity, and any college like it, constantly strives to keep these constituents informed, involved and invested. We are proud of the video we created to help Trinity achieve that goal.

On Oct 1, 1959, Trinity opened its classroom doors for the first time to 37 students. Their campus was a still functioning golf course nestled in the community of Palos Heights, IL. Today Trinity is home to 1450 students. “With Courage, Faith & Vision” is a 39-minute promotional documentary that explores the founding, development, present and future of Trinity Christian College. Personally, I thought the founding of Trinity was quite intriguing. I don’t know how to start a savings account, let alone a college. How did Trinity grow from a coffee-time idea to a bustling college? I went to Trinity, and until I made this documentary, I didn’t have a clue.

The event again reminds me how video can help organizations tell their story like no other medium. Promotional documentary brings to life a dusty archive and a foggy memory. It preserves fading history and unfolds a story no powerpoint, pamphlet or development person can share. It connects supporters all across the country to that story and creates a platform to rally support for the future. Trinity stands with everything to gain by entertaining and simultaneously informing its supporters. Quality video is still a significant investment for schools, organizations and businesses, but they are all increasingly turning to it and this trend will continue. It brings you right there, and it’s just too easy to share.

Attendees of “Jubilee!” all left the party with a DVD copy of “With Courage, Faith & Vision” and the Cultivate designed commemorative book, “At the Heart of Community,” in their hands. They had fireworks still flickering in their eyes, warm fuzzies in their hearts, and only traffic to contend with…

View the Documentary in its entirety.

We’ve been creating promotional documentaries for organizations and business at Cultivate Studios for almost 5 years now. Give us a call to find out what Cultivate can do for you.