Variety – the Children’s Charity’s first collaboration with Nouns DAO through Prop 420 brought together 5,000 kids, 3,000 carers, and 600 volunteers for an epic Nouns Christmas party in a whirlwind of joy and excitement, powered by the Nouns community. And now, we’re ready to do it all again—this time, with even more Nounish joy and magic! Building on the phenomenal success of last year, we’re excited to propose a second-year collaboration with new and exciting enhancements that will transform the 2024 Nouns x Variety Kids Xmas Party into an even more unforgettable Nounish adventure for kids in need who otherwise miss out this holiday season.

Re-live the joy!

Watch prop 420 in action

Want to see even more Variety impact powered by Nouns? Check out our prop 520, 106 cars, 3,000km+ journey across the Australian outback delivering $120,000+ in grants to kids at 21 schools in remote areas.

The Variety Kids Xmas Party, held annually in Melbourne, Australia, is a beacon of joy and inclusion for over 5,000 Victorian children facing diverse challenges. This year, we’re aiming to take the magic to the next level, and we’re seeking Nouns DAO’s support of $55,978 to make it happen!

With new additions designed to surprise and delight like an adventurous scavenger hunt in collaboration with Quack and Lola, VIP morning tea with catering by Nouns Deli, free Nounish take home merch for every child attending, giant Nouns Xmas tree, a Nouns films and animations section, interactive Nouns photo activations, eye-catching Nouns Bash cars, video editing by Nounish and enhanced signage, we’re set to transform the event into an immersive Nounish wonderland that will captivate and inspire all who attend, including:

• 5,000 kids in need
• 3,000 parents and carers
• 500+ corporate volunteers
• 100 VIP guests

Mark your calendars for Thursday 12 December Nouns fam — because, should we be successful, this year’s party is going to bring more joy, more engagement, and more Nounish fun than ever before!

Last year’s Variety Kids Xmas Party, powered by Nouns DAO, was a transformative experience for the kids and families who attended. Held at the 39,000 sq ft Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre, this joyous celebration brought together over 8,600 people for a day of inclusion, happiness, and unforgettable memories. The event, which was entirely free for all attendees, showcased Nounish activities, branding, and entertainment that made a lasting impact on everyone involved.

For many who attend, this party is the only celebration and the only gift they receive at Christmas time and the only activity in the year where they feel fully accepted for who they are in an event setting.

The Variety Kids Xmas Party is more than just a day of fun; it’s a lifeline for families who often feel isolated or overlooked. For many children, the event offers a rare opportunity to experience joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Parents often remark on the transformative effect of the party, noting the boost in their children’s confidence and self-esteem. The ripple effect extends beyond the children to their families, providing them with a much-needed respite and the chance to see their children thrive in a supportive environment. The memories created during the party serve as a source of strength and inspiration for families throughout the year. Running annually since 1986, we now have parents who still remember the impact of the event, bringing their own children.

This year, we’re taking it to the next level by building on our strong foundation with exciting new features and enhancements designed to immerse our special guests even deeper into the imaginative and vibrant world of Nouns.

Testimonials

We received hundreds of thank you’s from last years party - here’s just a few to fill your hearts:

“You have no idea what this means to us. Without Variety, we were having no Christmas.”

“Being on your own and battling to afford the basics, you are so conscious of trying to make Christmas special. I will be forever thankful that Variety did that for me and my boys this Christmas.”

“All my three children attended Variety Kids Christmas Party at The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre yesterday and for the very first time they felt so happy and relaxed at the funfair without having to worry about money and judgement."

“My children have been going through hard times in the past few years…activities like yesterday really brought them lots of love and joy.”

“I would like to say thank you so much from my heart for the event and Variety organisation did an amazing event for the kids.”

This impact was witnessed by our 600 volunteers and 100 VIP guests as well as the broader population screening on the nightly news as across our socials and a feature story to an audience of 350,826 with an ASR of $10,678.

To elevate the 2024 Variety Kids Xmas Party, we propose the following Nouns brand activations, building on last year’s success and introducing exciting new features:

New for 2024

• Scavenger Hunt Collaboration with Quack and Lola – Remember how fun treasure hunts were when you were a kid? This year we have an exciting and interactive scavenger hunt with Quack and Lola plushies as prizes throughout the event space. With clues and activities tied to the Nouns and Quack and Lola branded volunteers, kids will be encouraged to explore, engage, and immerse themselves in a playful Nounish adventure. 100 plushies will be available as prizes, kindly donated by Supriyo.
• Nouns Inclusion Project – A brand new space where families with children living with hidden disabilities can take time out from the noise and sensory overload of the party which will be monitored by professional staff including an Occupational Therapist.
• Take-home Nouns Merch for 5,000 Kids – Get ready for the ultimate Nounish gear! Every one of the 5,000 kids will score a pair of Noggle-branded socks. These exclusive items will be the hottest merch around, and these kids will be the lucky ones to bring the Nounish magic home to remember their special day.
• Catering by Nouns Deli – With thanks to Nouns Deli who are donating full catering for our VIP Morning Tea with deli goodness. Our corporate guests will experience the tasty delights from our local Nouns fam, experience more Nouns DAO funded activations with Nouns Deli branding, staff and coffee cards to visit and experience the venue IRL. 87Bones will also be interviewed on stage by local media personality Pete Lazer about the social impact work of the DAO.
• Nouns Films and Animations Section – A fun and chill zone where kids can dive into the Nouns universe, enjoying Nounish animations and short films in a dedicated viewing area designed for an immersive experience.
• Interactive Nouns Photo Activations – Kids are invited to capture the day’s excitement at a co-branded photo booth complete with fun Nounish props.
• Giant Nouns Christmas Tree – When we say giant, we mean giant! A centrepiece of the party, our 40 foot tree will be exclusively donned in Noggles!
• Nouns Car Displays – We’re showcasing the iconic Nouns DAO Mercedes and Benbodhi’s NOUNER car, fresh from their journeys across the Australian outback. Kids will have the chance to explore and interact with these unique vehicles on the day. Benbodhi will attend the event to discuss the impact Nouns funding has had on the kids Variety support and his experience on the Bash, and will promote the event on the way with the Nouner car as billboard travelling over 1,000kms to attend.
• Enhanced Nouns Signage – We’re ramping up the visual impact with even more vibrant and eye-catching signage throughout the venue, including giant Noggles suspended from the ceiling, ensuring that every attendee is fully immersed in the Nounish world, making the event even more engaging and memorable.
• Nounish Coverage – Filming and photo package from an external supplier with editing donated by Melbourne’s own Nounish.

Plus Nouns Fun & Entertainment Zones

• Nouns Displays - showcasing large-scale Noggle sculpture and cutouts featuring Nouns characters
• Distribution of Cardboard Noggles & Tattoos - A fun and interactive way for kids to engage with the Nouns brand.
• Roving Nouns Character Costume – Our beloved Big Hearted Noun will be making a return offering photo opportunities and handing out Noggles and hugs throughout the party.
• LEGO Nouns Creation Station - Hosted by kid’s entertainers and LEGO experts, this station will feature live-building of giant Noggles as well as a creation station for attendees to contribute to the Nouns sculpture.
• Large-scale Nouns Entertainment Zone - From on-stage entertainment (characters, dancers, magicians, and more!), all-abilities sports demonstrations, craft activities, and the big man – SANTA – himself, Nouns will be bringing the entertainment to our 5,000 kids! The entertainment zone will be branded with Nouns corflute signs (Nouns Entertainment Zone) with Nouns brand ownership of the main stage through stage signage, on-stage screens, signage on grandstand seating, on-stage Noggles sculpture, Noggles signage and activities across 39,000 square feet.
• Nouns Community Volunteers - An opportunity for members of the local Nouns community to take part and witness the Nounish party through volunteering for the event (all volunteers require a current Working with Children’s Check which is free to apply for) as well as providing filming and documentation for distribution in the Nouns community.

What about the presents? Every child who attends our party receives a bag chock-full of gifts! Each year, our generous donors contribute to our Christmas appeal, helping us provide these presents and experience the joy of making a difference in a child’s life. We will continue this tradition of spreading happiness to our donors and kids alike, so the presents are not included in this budget request.

Apart from all your holiday season good feels sorted, here’s some of the benefits to the DAO:

By integrating the Nouns brand into the Variety Kids Xmas Party and its associated marketing campaign, we aim to increase brand awareness, foster a positive association with the Nouns community, and create exposure for the DAO to our ongoing corporate partners who will be in attendance at an associated VIP event. This event will serve as a platform to showcase the Nouns brand’s commitment to social causes and its ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands, reaching a diverse and expansive audience through a large-scale IRL experience amplified online and through media outreach.

Deliverables include:

• All new 2024 activations detailed above
• Refreshed prop 420 Fun and Entertainment Zones
• Variety Kids Xmas Party – Powered by Nouns byline on all marketing, media, and communication channels.
• Photo and video documentation of the event by a dedicated team with the output edited by the Nounish/Pixel team, including a Nouns-specific video story highlighting the event-wide Nouns activations and funding (estimated views: 5,000+).
• Nouns logo on 500+ volunteer t-shirts.
• Content creation, distribution, and amplification on social media channels on all Variety Vic platforms and supporting Nouns channels post-event, including Variety boosted post with an estimated reach of 100,000 to targeted audiences.
• Potential for mainstream media coverage (the party receives television and print media coverage). Event releases plus specific story pitches centred on Nouns funding.

Invitation to contributing Nouns community members to:

• Volunteer to assist with Nouns activations.
• Attend our corporate VIP morning tea overlooking the party, followed by a tour of the party, plus a speech opportunity to over 100 Variety sponsors and major donors about Nouns, the DAO’s work, and how to get involved by buying Nouns (contributing to long-term growth and prosperity of the Nouns project), plus networking at the VIP event.
• Exposure to 500+ blue-chip corporate volunteers from major banks, telcos, and more on event setup day and event day. Inclusion of an About Nouns blurb and video QR code in volunteer comms.
• Comprehensive post-event promotion detailing the impact and reach of the Nouns brand during the event.

We are ready to build!

The Variety team are proven builders and expert event managers. Builder Georgie will work with Event Manager Jodie (who has an extensive history working on large scale events including all on field production for Cricket Australia around the world, including high caliber entertainment such as Katy Perry). Jodie is supported by Ella who is a creative event coordinator, delivering many of our Nouns activations at our 2023 event.

Here’s a brief overview of our timeline:

October - November - supplier booking, signage production, merch design and production, discussions with Nouns filmmakers, Quack and Lola character design, kids support management, invitation coordination (kids, families, VIPs), gift management, stage and venue production finalisation

December - bump in 10th and 11th December, party day 12th December, content delivery on day with final video production and propdate presented to the DAO prior to Xmas.

Update notes to original candidature V1

Since our original proposal we have had to adapt our activations to fit reduced timelines and happily we have also received sponsorship of our carnival area. And we have also added our brand new inclusion project!

• Quack and Lola costumes - production timeline has passed
• Carnival rides - now sponsored by local corporate
• Nouns hats - production timeline has passed
• Base Variety signage is now already in production but will be co-branded with vinyls and corflutes if successful