AFCEA DC is a leading volunteer chapter of AFCEA International serving the intelligence, national security, and military communities. For nearly 50 years, their annual Winter Gala has been the premier social event for the defense and federal IT industry, fundraising for charities like Toys for Tots and various STEM initiatives. When COVID hit in 2020, the beloved gala was threatened. AFCEA DC needed to keep chapter members connected and engaged, when all other in-person gatherings had been called off. Being their comprehensive partner for everything from events to board meetings, Yes& accepted the challenge.

To galvanize the community, Yes& launched “7 Weeks of Giving,” an online charity drive with the ambitious goal of collecting 5,000 toys. The campaign included a website, animation, video, custom artwork, and a robust email and social media marketing effort.

And in 2021, Yes& restored the annual fundraising gala, transforming the massive National Building Museum into an immersive Holiday Village. We leveraged all physical spaces- columns, the ceiling, and chalets- for branding and sponsorship; and we optimized room flow for crowd control, so guests felt safe to enjoy the special evening and advance the event’s philanthropic objectives.