We Love Band

Beyond individual high school sponsorships, We Love Band™ extended its reach by partnering with seven major competitions and festivals in 2024, ensuring meaningful engagement with local communities and celebrating musical excellence.

2024 Partnered Competitions & Festivals:

• Mead Jazz Festival – Mead, WA
• Spectacle of Sound – Liberty Lake, WA
• Southeastern Washington Cavalcade of Bands – Kennewick, WA
• Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships – Mead, WA
• Pride of the Northwest Marching Competition – Grants Pass, OR
• Harvest Marching Band Festival – Yakima, WA
• Festival of Bands – Eugene, OR

Each event received title sponsorship, maximizing Wendy’s presence through:

• Custom We Love Band™ swag (backpacks, water bottles, bucket hats, and Band Key Tags) for students and staff
• A Wendy’s booth with a prize wheel, offering free food coupons (Dave’s Single, Frosty, French Toast Sticks)
• Active participation in awards ceremonies, with Wendy’s representatives presenting 1st place trophies
• Financial sponsorships, radio, and social media promotions, ensuring widespread community engagement

These competitions, hosting 15–30 bands each, provide a unique and impactful way for Wendy’s to invest in the arts while connecting with local communities.

To maintain engagement leading into the fall, Wendy’s hosted Sponsor Nights—fundraising events where local high school bands perform live in the Wendy’s parking lot. These two-hour events donate 25% of all sales back to the participating bands.

Marketing Approach:

• Social media ads (Facebook & Instagram) and school-led promotions ensured strong community turnout
• Outstanding financial results:
  • 2023: Average sales increase of 68.5% per event
  • 2024: Average sales increase of 88.6% per event
  • Highest sales increase: 186.2% at Lincoln Southwest High School (Lincoln, NE)
  • Largest single payout: $832.10 to Cheney High School Band

These nights have become a powerful community event, reinforcing Wendy’s role in championing local music programs.

To kick off the fall marching band season, Wendy’s visited each partner school’s summer band camp, treating students and staff to free Frostys and exclusive We Love Band™ swag.

Student Swag Packs Included:

• Custom We Love Band™ cinch packs to replace traditional band-provided bags, alleviating financial costs
• Water bottles, lanyards, and the 2024 Band Key Tag (granting free small Frostys with purchases for the school year)
• Highly coveted 2024 We Love Band™ Bucket Hat (reversible, featuring a "We Love Band" pattern and Frosty/Nurddle playing a sousaphone)

Director & Staff Swag Packs Included:

• Upgraded We Love Band™ backpack featuring the Nurddle Musician graphic

This initiative not only provides practical support but also builds excitement and brand loyalty among students, educators, and communities.