TEP Gumbo Contest Sponsorship

Gumbo teams preparing
for the contest.

Tennessee Equality Project’s Gumbo Contest returns to the Bridges Center in Downtown Memphis in 2016. The sixth annual Mardi Gras celebration held on Sunday, January 24, 2016 will provide ample room for this year’s gumbo contestants, gumbo fans and live music. Gumbo contestants will be awarded prizes by an appointed panel of judges and by individual tasters in the People’s Choice competition.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL VIP TABLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED OR RESERVED FOR SPONSORS. AS OF 12/29/2015, NEW HOT AND EVENT LEVEL SPONSORS WILL NOT RECEIVE A VIP TABLE.

Take me to the main TEP Gumbo Contest Event page.

The annual Mardi Gras gumbo competition continues to draw large crowds who support the LGBT community of the Mid-South and draws many public and elected officials. Bill Dries of The Daily News wrote about the 2015 contest:

The turnout by candidates in the 2015 city elections, as well as those not running for any office, shows the growth in the event in its five years as well as the TEP’s approach of crossing political lines and barriers to pursue support for its positions on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues that are the project’s purpose.

Jackson Baker wrote about the 2014 event for The Memphis Flyer:

It is not to be doubted any longer. The massive success of the Tennessee Equality Project's (TEP) "gumbo contest" fundraiser, held Sunday evening at Bridges downtown, was one more indication that in Memphis as elsewhere, the LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) community has achieved mainstream status.

You can support this year’s event and the work of TEP to advance and protect equality in Tennessee as the Event sponsor, a host sponsor, or an in-kind sponsor:

EVENT SPONSOR

Event sponsors giving $1000 or more will receive*

VIP Table (8 seats) with complimentary King Cake (while supplies last). After making your sponsorship donation, you will be prompted to choose a table in the Rex Room on the lower level or the Bacchus Balcony on the upper level:

8 gumbo tasting tickets for the People’s Choice competition (which includes live music and 8 beer pass wristbands)
Promotional advertisement of your business on the main website of TEP at tnep.org and in email messages sent to TEP’s list of 13,000 supporters as a Corporate Circle Donor for all of 2015
Promotion of your business or organization on the TEP Gumbo contest website and in the event program (full page ad - 5.5 x 8.5”), event announcements, event advertising poster, and event projection display.
The option of hosting a booth for your business on the main floor of the competition.
Event sponsors giving $5000 or more receive exclusive naming rights for the event (e.g., TEP Gumbo Contest sponsored by “AAA Goods and Services, Inc.”).

Host Sponsorship

How spicy do like your gumbo? Gumbo contest sponsors may contribute as hosts for this event at the Hot, Medium or Mild level as individuals, organizations or businesses:

HOT	$500 +	Includes VIP Table with 8 seats with complimentary King Cake (while supplies last), 8 gumbo tasting tickets for the People’s Choice competition (which includes live music and 8 beer pass wristbands) and promotion of your organization on this website and in the event program (full page ad - 5.5 x 8.5”), event announcements, event advertising poster, and event projection display. (Tax deductible amount = contributed amount - $200). After making your sponsorship donation, you will be prompted to choose a table in the Rex Room on the lower level or the Bacchus Balcony on the upper level:
MEDIUM	$250-499	Includes 4 gumbo tasting tickets for the People’s Choice competition (which includes live music and 4 beer pass wristbands) live music, beer and soft drinks, and promotion of your organization on this website in event program (half page ad - 5.5 x 4.25” or 2.75 x 8.5”), event advertising poster, and event projection display. (Tax deductible amount = contributed amount - $100)
MILD	$100-249	Includes 2 gumbo tasting tickets for the People’s Choice competition (which includes live music and 2 beer pass wristbands) and promotion of your organization on this website in event program (quarter page ad - 5.5 x 2.125” or 2.75 x 4.25”), event advertising poster, and event projection display. (Tax deductible amount = contributed amount - $50)

*Sponsors must submit program ads and organizational logos (300+ dpi image) to Jeff Harwood at [email protected]by January 6, 2016 to guarantee ad placement. Click the bulleted sponsor level links below for ad specifications:

Click the "Continue" button on the left to contribute your desired sponsorship level based on the above table. If you prefer to write a check for your sponsorship, mail a check to "TEP Foundation", c/o Jonathan Cole, 1889 Nelson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38114.

In-Kind Sponsors

In-kind gifts of decorations, beer, or other supplies used in the event may be donated. In-kind sponsors will receive 2-8 gumbo tasting tickets (which includes live music and one beer or soft drink ticket per admission) and promotion of your business in the event program. In-kind gifts of $500 or greater will receive a VIP Table with 8 seats. In-kind gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

In-Kind Sponsor Donation	$100	$200	$300	$400	$500+
Tickets given	2	4	6	8	VIP Table

Laissez le bon temps rouler!

For more information or to volunteer for this event, contact Jonathan Cole at [email protected] / 901-301-3306.

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TEP Gumbo Contest Sponsorship

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