Ottawa Library Foundation

When 'Thank You' Gifts Fly Through the Air

Last spring, more than 400 Ottawa Public Library employees filled a local sports complex, for the organization's annual staff training event.

As staff members took their seats, each found a blue stress ball, emblazoned with the Ottawa Library Foundation logo, sitting on their chair. With stress balls in hand, they sat down, expectantly waiting for a speaker to take the stage.

Instead, green stress balls began flying through the air. At the front of the room, library leaders were pitching them into the crowd. The room erupted with laughter, excitement and conversation as staff members reached up to grab the stress balls out of mid-air. Those who landed one of the flying green stress balls were awarded giveaways or prizes.

"It made a huge difference," said Catherine Bragg, Ottawa Library Foundation. "We have 400 people who rarely get a 'thank you' for what they do. A lot of them were feeling unappreciated. Giving them something they could take with them and use really helped boost morale."

The stress ball purchase was made possible through 4imprint's one by oneSM program. Bragg discovered the online donation application while surfing the 4imprint Web site for giveaway ideas.

"It was easy, quick and efficient," Bragg said. "They went the extra mile to make sure we would be happy with what we got."

At staff training day, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

"The whole point of the event was designed to relieve stress," Bragg said. "We did that and more."