Sheltering Arms Institute: Donor Recognition as a Beacon for the Community
In October 2019, Heurista was engaged by the Sheltering Arms Foundation in Richmond, Virginia to develop the donor recognition strategy for the “state of the science” Sheltering Arms Institute rehabilitation hospital. From the earliest stages of the building’s design, there’d been a desire to draw attention to the verticality of the prominent, all-glass atrium at the entrance. Referred to as “the Beacon,” the four-story atrium serves as a focal point and is visible from the highway and the approach to the new facility. In conversation with the foundation, Heurista recognized a unique and exciting opportunity – to combine a visually dynamic hanging sculpture with recognition of the campaign donors.
Heurista takes pride in finding ways to take donor recognition beyond a standard list of names on a wall. The Sheltering Arms Foundation enthusiastically agreed to the plan, and after entertaining a number of design options, settled on a two-part sculpture that alludes to the shapes and colors of their logo and referencing common motifs in the Sheltering Arms rehabilitation vernacular such as: “the power to overcome”, “rising”, “movement”, and “rooted in the community”. All donors to that campaign are listed at the same size and organized randomly, furthering the idea that all members of the donor community contribute to the success of the Sheltering Arms Institute. Sheltering Arms celebrates the community – family, friends, caregivers, and supporters – that surround the rehabilitation process.
”When Heurista first suggested a hanging sculpture instead of a traditional donor wall, we were a little skeptical. But, the design was well coordinated with our brand and supported our plan to list every donor to the campaign – because all gifts are significant no matter the size! Now that it is in place, our donor recognition is the talk of RVA! We've had many people ask how they can support the Sheltering Arms Institute after seeing the sculpture.” — Lisa B. Resch, Director of Donor Relations, Sheltering Arms Foundation
Richmond-based Acorn Signs worked with Heurista to engineer, build, and install the piece. The donor recognition sculpture includes two illuminated components, one pointing up and one down, to create a column of light when viewed from the outside of the building. As mirrored shapes, the top floor unit alludes to rising movement, growth, and the power to overcome while the unit in the main entrance lobby extends downward to show the roots of the community where every single donor to the capital campaign is recognized on the faces of the “roots”. To plan for the continued success and support of the mission, the pedal “bulbs” on the bottom sculpture are easily removed much like a light bulb so that new donor names can be added at any time as needed.
The sculpture is accompanied by a flexible display that presents the core values of the Sheltering Arms Institute and provides visitors and patients with historical context for the Sheltering Arms Foundation and the newly formed Sheltering Arms Institute. The building opened in June 2020. Virtual tours and campaign celebration videos can be accessed online.