Blakeford Senior Life – Grand Opening
After three years working together on an ongoing media relations and marketing campaign, Blakeford Senior Life, a non-profit provider of senior living solutions in Nashville, tasked REED with planning an event and executing media relations to celebrate the $75 million community expansion and renovation of its Green Hills campus. Along with the opening, REED supported the announcement of the Blakeford Foundation to ensure that Blakeford’s programs and services continue to serve future generations of Nashville seniors.
INSIGHT
When it comes to event planning, it’s all in the details, from the welcome table to the flow of the space.
STRATEGY
REED worked to understand all the aspects of the renovation and new buildings and planed the event flow to showcase these new additions. This included creating an engaging activation in every room for people to stop and enjoy, including a live pianist in the living room space, before and after photos in the leasing office and residents’ art displayed in the new art studio.
We also tied the ribbon cutting with the announcement of the Blakeford Foundation and invited a councilmember to speak to increase traction on the press release to local and trade media.
ACTIVATION
REED planned the ribbon cutting and grand opening event to celebrate the completion of the renovation, showcase the state-of-the-art spaces and give a glimpse into the unique offerings for residents.
We planned for 250-350 attendees and coordinated all vendors, including rentals, florals, balloons, the photographer, catering, event staff created exciting invitations, bites and sips, entertainment, parking and signage and special moments, including a puzzle in the shape of the Blakeford logo tree for attendees to sign upon entering the event, seedling paper party favors and a slideshow of residents and the building process in the ballroom.
RESULTS
Blakeford’s leadership team and board were impressed by the thorough event plan and the success of the media announcement. We welcomed the expected number of attendees, and residents and guests delighted in seeing the space filled with Blakeford’s partners and friends. REED secured 16 media placements, reaching over 9,820,190 people, covering the renovation and expansion.
Through our efforts, our team was awarded in 2025 by the Nashville chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in the Media Relations: Associations/Government/Nonprofits category for empowering growth and leadership in senior living.