At 360 Impressions, we help dealerships become trusted community partners by creating intentional, people-first engagement initiatives that lead with service and authenticity. This case study highlights the foundational partnership between Mazda of Corpus Christi and the Ronald McDonald House of Corpus Christi, beginning with a shared-meal event designed to bring people together through hospitality and care.
Objective:
Mazda of Corpus Christi wanted to explore a deeper level of community involvement with the Ronald McDonald House. The goals of this initial initiative were to introduce leadership teams, define an appropriate level of involvement, support families in a tangible way, and set a strong foundation for future community engagement initiatives.
Relationship Introduction and Alignment:
360 Impressions facilitated the introduction between the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House of Corpus Christi and the General Manager, Michael Palmer, of Mazda of Corpus Christi, hosting an initial meeting to align values, expectations, and opportunities for collaboration.
Event Concept – Share A Meal:
As the first collaborative initiative, 360 Impressions planned a Share a Meal event where the Mazda team prepared and served dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Using a dealership-provided budget, we designed an Italian-themed dinner as a nod to the general manager’s cultural background, including an entrée, salad, and drinks.
Planning, Research and Execution:
360 Impressions handled all planning and coordination for the event, including researching how to feed approximately 80 people, calculating ingredient quantities, sourcing supplies, providing recipes, and supplying necessary utensils and serving ware. We arrived early to begin cooking and coordinated the meal preparation as a group.
Branded Details and Staff Experience:
To enhance branding while maintaining a service-first environment, 360 Impressions designed and produced embroidered Mazda of Corpus Christi aprons for staff to wear during the event. These aprons created a cohesive, professional appearance and reinforced dealership branding in a subtle, respectful way.
Event Leadership and Engagement:
360 Impressions scripted the purpose and flow of the event, guided staff participation, and assisted with cooking, serving, and clean-up. Dealership staff were encouraged to wear red to align with Ronald McDonald House branding and reinforce unity.
Community Impact:
This shared meal served as the first proof point for the partnership between Mazda of Corpus Christi and the Ronald McDonald House of Corpus Christi. It demonstrated the dealership’s commitment to service while building trust with nonprofit leadership and residents.
Ongoing Strategy:
This project marked the beginning of an ongoing community engagement strategy. Since this initial collaboration, 360 Impressions has continued to support Mazda of Corpus Christi with thoughtfully planned initiatives that connect the dealership with local nonprofits and the surrounding community.
Capabilities:
• Dealership community engagement marketing
• Nonprofit partnership coordination
• Event planning and execution
• Budget management and sourcing
• Branded apparel and promotional items
• Team engagement and experiential activations
