Summary

• An unprecedented event celebrating Scouting's 100 Year Anniversary, An Adventure of a Lifetime welcomed approximately 15,000 guests.
• Sullivan Group provided comprehensive planning and management services for this massive event in Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.
• A host of underwriters, benefactors, corporate citizens and Scouting pioneers were honored as part of this inspired gathering.

Objective
Approximately 15,000 Boys Scouts, Cub Scouts, Eagle Scouts, family members, Scouting sponsors and key corporate citizens descended on downtown Houston's Minute Maid Park for An Adventure of a Lifetime, a first-of-its-kind gathering marking Scouting's 100th Anniversary. For many months prior, Sullivan Group team members had passionately worked to orchestrate an event that would entertain, acknowledge and inspire, while meeting the client's marketing communication goals.

Challenges
The Scout motto "Be Prepared" held special significance for Sullivan Group this night, as long hours of meticulous planning and coordination soon came to fruition.

Sullivan Group's greatest challenges included:

• Coordination of more than 15 on-stage presenters, including custom scriptwriting and assignment of a dedicated team member who addressed each presenter's unique needs
• Orchestration and direction of several hundred volunteers, perhaps the evening's most significant challenge

As thousands of guests explored interactive concourse activities, dined on Scouting-inspired delicacies and took their seats for an energized multimedia program, it was clear that the Sullivan Group team had addressed these challenges and met its client's goals.   

Production Management
As lead event manager, Sullivan Group was responsible for virtually every happening throughout Minute Maid Park's massive concourse, on the field, on the stage, and behind the scenes.

Sullivan Group's notable production management tasks included:

• Management of all event logistics within strict guidelines of the Houston Astros organization
• Consultation on content of video and multi-media productions
• Complete event timeline management

Upon arrival at Minute Maid Park, Scouts and family members were treated to complimentary boxed dinners and also enjoyed access to discounted ballpark fare from concession stands. Throughout the park's circular concourse, thousands explored interactive booths hosted by the likes of Space Center Houston, NASA, the Children's Museum of Houston, the Houston Zoo and the city's professional sports franchises. Many Scouting-oriented vendors and activities also peppered the concourse. The park's Club Level and Diamond Club were specially reserved for VIPs, who enjoyed cocktails and a progressive dinner featuring gourmet delights reminiscent of Scouting's 100 Years. Taking the field's center stage, Ezra Charles' Texas Blues Band provided a festive musical backdrop throughout the evening's opening reception. As VIPs were escorted to the field by Texas A&M Cadets, and guests took their seats, the night's multimedia program began. Highlights included a welcome from Houston Astros owner, Drayton McLane; benediction by His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo; remarks by United States Texas Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison; welcome from Governor of Texas Rick Perry and words from former NASA Astronaut and Apollo 13 Commander, Jim Lovell. The event's culmination came with a symbolic passing of the torch to Scouting's next generation by Rex Tillerson, National Chairman of Boy Scouts of America and CEO of ExxonMobil.

Results
As the largest event of its kind ever held, An Adventure of a Lifetime proved to be a rousing success for Scouting, its benefactors and underwriters, who included Drayton McLane and the Houston Astros, KBR, Reliant, Mustang, Anadarko, ExxonMobil, David Weekley Homes and the Holthouse Foundation for Kids, among many others.

As a result of Sullivan Group's efforts:

• Scouting ushered in a new era as it celebrated a century of growth, achievement and success
• Many of Scouting's most passionate supporters and benefactors were saluted and thanked for their ongoing efforts
• The client achieved numerous ambitious marketing and communication goals thanks to an especially engaging first-of-its-kind event