25th
Anniversary
3
Charity Designations
350
PATH water bottles
The Challenge
The Black Swamp Classic is a two-day charity golf tournament and gala in Northwest Ohio that raises money for youth health and wellness programs through The Braden Kramer Foundation and the Findlay and Putnam County YMCAs. Since 1999, the event has brought together community leaders, sponsors, local businesses, golfers and volunteers.
For its 25th anniversary, the Classic needed an event branding program that matched the milestone – one that carried a consistent identity across the golf tournament, the Extravaganza gala and every touchpoint in between.
The tournament’s branded merch partner took on end-to-end support: printed materials, custom packaging, branded apparel, VIP kits, signage and a sustainability initiative. The result was the Classic’s strongest year to date, with more than $300,000 in net proceeds.
This event branding program case study shows how branded merchandise, signage, packaging, apparel and sustainability choices can work together to create a more cohesive charity event experience.
The Solution
The event branding program started with a curated VIP golf kit presented in a custom branded box with anniversary messaging. Each kit included a divot tool, challenge coin, golf ball cleaner, magnetic ball marker clip, golf balls, a custom koozie and a premium polo with a rinse-and-repeat pattern. Participants also received a custom hat with a dimensional emblem tied to the Classic’s branding.
From there, the partner extended the visual identity across both days at Findlay Country Club. On-course signage, printed collateral, invitations and volunteer apparel gave the event a cohesive look from check-in through the Extravaganza finale. A luggage tag with a QR code linked to event updates kept participants connected throughout.
The team also donated PATH reusable water bottles for all attendees–more than 350 across two days–eliminating single-use plastics entirely. The full program came in at approximately $46,000.
VIP Kit Design
Custom branded boxes with anniversary messaging set the tone before participants opened them. Every item, from the challenge coin to the polo, reinforced the Classic’s 25-year identity.
End-to-End Branding
The merch agency supported signage, collateral, invitations, volunteer apparel and branded kits, giving the event a unified visual identity that held across both days and every venue.
Sustainability
The merch agency donated PATH reusable water bottles for more than 350 attendees, eliminating single-use plastic water bottles – a practical contribution that aligned with the event’s community mission.
Results
The program helped the Black Swamp Classic deliver its strongest year in 25 years of operation. The event raised more than $300,000 in net proceeds across two days, engaged over 400 participants and volunteers, and drew a record 120-plus attendees to the Extravaganza gala.
The branding work tied the experience together from first impression to final toast. VIP kits gave participants something memorable before they reached the first tee. Consistent signage, collateral and apparel carried the anniversary identity across every part of the event. And the donated PATH water bottles eliminated single-use plastic water bottles without adding cost for organizers – a detail that reinforced the Classic’s values as clearly as any piece of branded touchpoint.
The Classic has already invited the same merch agency back for next year.
Proceeds
$300K+
Net proceeds raised across the two-day tournament and gala
Participation
400+
Participants and volunteers engaged across the full event
Sustainability
100%
Single-use plastic water bottles eliminated across both days
“What makes this partnership so meaningful is not just the quality of the merchandise — it is the personal commitment they bring to the Classic. Their team has been invested in this event, its mission, and its beneficiaries for decades, and their contributions go well beyond products.”
Chris Webb, Chairman, Black Swamp Classic