It's graduation season, everyone! From universities to high school to adorable pretend-playing preschools—when spring is in swing, it's time to don the cap and gown, grab some flowers, and prepare to celebrate. Now is the time for families and friends to send their congratulations, and what better way than to give a graduation group e-card? Remember, graduation is more than just a formality signaling the successful completion of a course of education. Graduation is a celebration of the graduate and all they've become. It's a chance to share love and admiration and come together.
When you start to receive graduation announcements in the early spring months, you might start hoarding cash or write down a reminder to withdraw some fresh bills from the ATM or bank to send along with your graduation wishes. (We've also got great non-cash graduation gift ideas!) Slipping a cash gift into a graduation group e card is a tradition to help them fund their next great adventure (such as their next degree, a trip, a wedding, or a house downpayment). But when you get a graduation announcement or invitation from someone you love, take it to the next level with a group e-card from Kudoboard.
Late spring and early summer are filled to the brim with collegiate celebrations. It's a joyous time to honor the dedicated students and faculty who worked so hard during the previous year. College graduations (and high school graduations, too) are a perfect opportunity to reflect on the value of education and important accomplishments.
At Kudoboard, we love to see universities finding creative uses of our online group cards and special event boards. Here are three particularly impressive universities using Kudoboard to unite their faculty, alumni, and communities.
Athabasca University created a board to celebrate their college graduates this year. On the public graduation board, students, faculty, and proud family can post messages of congratulations and gratitude, share photos and videos, and learn more about the Athabasca convocation.
Congratulations to our amazing grads of 2022! We're so proud of all that you have accomplished, and look forward to your future successes!
Peter Scott President, Athabasca University
We are so impressed with this graduation board and the brilliant 2022 graduates! Check out the online graduation board here.
Alumni Reunions
Returning to your alma mater can be a sweet and rewarding experience, and the alumni of Sarah Lawrence certainly found that to be the case this spring. As alumni flocked to campus, plenty were able to share their photos and memories on-campus and virtually for those who couldn't travel.
A marvelous reunion, felt amazing to connect once again.
Leda Polinger Canino, Class of 1952
A custom event board allowed Sarah Lawrence to created a branded online board that coincided with their weeklong reunion so that alumi could easily share photos, videos, memories, and more. See the reunion board here.
A Dean's Retirement
When Dean Blackburn retired this year, leagues of students and colleagues came together to send him off with well-wishes and gratitude for all he's accomplished. Check out the online retirement card here.
Since you joined the GSBS Faculty in 1998, I’ve respected your work ethic, your quiet brilliance, and your kindness. Who knew, back then, that you’d one day be our dean?!? This is truly the end of a very special era. Stay well, have fun, enjoy life and please keep in touch … THANK YOU doesn’t really cover it
Cheryl
Whatever your university system needs for connection and appreciation, Kudoboard is the right choice. Check out our University enterprise plans, with bonus features that universities love. Best of luck on campus!
Veterans Day is November 11 and honors all those who have served this country as members of the military. It began as Armistice Day, marking the end of the Great War (WWI). Eventually, it became a national holiday and was later renamed Veterans Day by President Nixon in 1971 to honor veterans of all wars and conflicts. (Not to be confused with Memorial Day which recognizes those who have lost their lives in the service of the nation.)
Even if you don’t personally know any veterans, you have benefited from the service of the military and the freedoms they provide. It’s important to acknowledge the sacrifice of military servicemen and their families each and every day to protect us. We have 12 ideas for ways to honor veterans this Veterans Day.
This week, September 18-25th, is an important one for the Centre for Suicide Prevention. The Centre hosts a yearly fundraising and awareness event called Run for Life.
"A journey from darkness into light to remember loved ones lost to suicide and raise awareness for suicide prevention."
Participants register with a $15+ donation and then complete a run, walk, or other physical activity in solidarity with those who struggle with mental illness or who have lost loved ones to suicide. Challenges can be completed virtually, or in person at various events across Canada.
The Centre for Suicide Prevention is using a special event Kudoboard called the Virtual Tree of Hope to allow participants to share their photos, videos, thoughts, encouragement, and memories of loved ones gone too soon.
My dear Son,
There is not a moment that I am not thinking about you.
You were only here for a short time - I am blessed, grateful and cherish all the beautiful memories we shared together.
You are forever in my heartbeat , until we meet again.
My sweet Angel - Sending my love, hugs and kiss to you in heaven.
We have been incredibly touched by this annual event and its critical cause. If you are in crisis or know someone who is—please find help in these resources:
Call the Suicide & Crisis hotline at 988 (United States)
Humans across the world are uniting to offer condolences and awe at the 70+ years of dedicated service which ended on September 8th, with the death of the longest reigning female monarch—Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Citizens of the United Kingdom and the sovereign states are finding unique ways to express their condolences for the Queen, support for the new King Charles, love for the royal family, and marking the historic occasion. We've been amazed at all of the tributes, but our favorites are the online book of condolence Kudoboards to share thoughts, memories, photographs, and more in honor of the Queen.
We mark with sadness the passing of Queen Elizabeth II our longest serving monarch and a longstanding member of the WI. While the whole country mourns her, our thoughts go particularly to her family for whom the loss is so much greater. Her commitment, sense of duty, and selfless service to her people has been an example to us all and she has truly earned her final rest.
Rest in Peace, Your Majesty.
Regional governments across the United Kingdom are also sponsoring book of condolence pages for their constituencies in honor of the deceased monarch and entire royal family.
For all of my life Elizabeth II has been my Queen. A chapter in my life has been closed but my love and faith in the late Queen, the monarchy and now King Charles III will live on.
Valerie Jean Leigh
Kudoboard's online memorials or custom event pages are perfect for bringing people together in the face of a tragedy, celebration, historic moment, or special event. Thank you for letting us be a part of your most important days.
The war in Ukraine has now lasted over 150 days. On February 24, 2022, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, escalating a conflict between the two nations that has been brewing since 2014. This 2022 conflict has created the largest refugee crisis since World War II, as nearly 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced.
Among the ⅓ of displaced Ukrainians, children are facing devastation as over 6 million have emigrated and more than 200,000 were forcibly deported to Russia. Current reports are showing 358 child deaths and 686 child injuries as forces clash in Ukraine. Even those children who were safely relocated are now facing psychological and developmental challenges due to the trauma of displacement.
One of the most impressive organizations stepping up to help Ukrainians is the Voices of Children Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to supporting all children and their families who have been affected by this conflict. Whether children have been safely evacuated, violently displaced, or are sheltering hopefully in their homes, the trauma of war affects everyone and families need support to heal the unjust wounds.
We are for a future where children are not victims of war, but free and happy citizens.
Voices of Children provides support in a variety of ways:
Art therapy
Play therapy
Mobile psychologists
Offline and online therapy options
Group and individual therapy sessions
Video stories
Teaming up with Kudoboard
Like the rest of the world, the Kudoboard team was shocked and heartbroken at the stories coming out of Ukraine. When we had the opportunity to work with Voices of Children this spring, we were in awe of their efforts. We provided them with an enterprise account, free of charge, so they can continue sharing the stories and artwork of these brave Ukrainian children as well as a modest donation from our entire team.
Join Kudoboard in donating to Voices of Children, so they can keep providing vital support to the most vulnerable among us. We are committed to Voices of Children and the protection of innocents everywhere, and we’re grateful to be included in this noble effort.
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina exists to protect and support the natural life of sea turtles on the east coast. When sea turtles are injured by boats, debris, disease, or anything else, they can be lovingly rehabilitated by the talented teams at Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue.
Kudoboard is perfect for gathering a group 🙌🏻
A Kudoboard business plan makes special events, birthdays, shout-outs, and retirements SO much easier. Check out our business plans.
When a community loses a public figure, the grief is shared and public. The deceased person touched many lives and will continue to impact loved ones and community members well into the future. In our digital world it simply isn't enough to have a public memorial service managed by the family, and an obituary for out-of-towners to read.
For well-loved public figures, it's best practice to create a public memorial page or online memorial for community members to see, contribute to, and share via social media. An accessible memorial website allows people from all locations and walks of life to honor the life and death of a significant person, and to offer their condolences.
If you're like me, you will drop everything to see cute pet pictures. It's even more fun if you get to cast a vote!
There are so many fantastic reasons to create an online photo contest. During the pandemic, we saw Halloween Costume Photo Contests for workplaces that had gone remote. Large organizations like universities or corporations might use a special event board to share photos or memories for a particular event. It doesn't have to be National Geographic to make a great photography contest. The winning images might only enjoy bragging rights as a main prize (or perhaps a cash prize if you're serious!). Photography contests are still a great way to bring your organization together and to create an impressive photo gallery.
Our personal favorite might be this Cutest Pet Photo Contest put on by Washtenaw Community College. Students and faculty were invited to upload a photo submission of their pets of all types for this lighthearted contest.
With Kudoboard, it's easy to create an online bulletin board, shout-out wall, photo contest, or any other custom event board to meet the needs of your organization. A huge thanks to Washtenaw Community College for letting us share this adorable photography contest board, and keep those cute pets coming our way!
There are many reasons why a coworker, friend, family member, or loved one is missing from regular activity. Healing takes time, and courteous people keep their germs to themselves. (Especially in this post-pandemic world.)
No matter the reason, when someone is stuck at home missing the action, sending a group get well soon card can be a thoughtful way to let them know they’re missed and to send happy, healing wishes for a speedy recovery. Get well soon cards are a little different from a birthday card, sympathy card, or other types of group greeting card, as they can be both an empathetic AND optimistic message, but they’re still a perfect way to say “We’re thinking of you.”
An Injury in Indiana
One of our favorite group get well soon cards was a Kudoboard created by the Indiana Pacers’ marketing team, when NBA all-star Victor Oladipo suffered a season-ending injury after rupturing the quad tendon on his right knee in a win over Toronto on January 23rd, 2019.
As anyone who has spent time in Indiana knows—that state loves its basketball. While they were heartbroken that their star would be out, they also wanted to let him know that they were behind him 100% in his recovery and eventual return.
Once the Pacers marketing team created Olidapo an online group greeting card, they put it on their website and let the fans take it from there. Nearly 1000 (!!!!) posts and well wishes later, Olidapo has one of the largest Kudoboards ever created.
If you’re missing a team member out with an illness, or your sister just underwent surgery, a group get well soon card is a quick and easy way to show them you care and to send them the positive message of hope and wishes they need to heal.
With Kudoboard, a virtual get well soon card takes only moments to set up. Create your board by selecting a custom card design or card template, invite others to contribute a personal message via email or with the link, and then schedule the delivery to the healing recipient. It is that easy. It really is that easy to send a photo card and message that makes them smile. (Seriously. Try it for birthday cards, anniversary cards, and any occasion cards you can think of!) Bonus points are given if you pair your speedy recovery card with flowers or a chicken noodle soup delivery.
Don’t hesitate to share the love—even if you don’t want to share any germs. Start your virtual get well soon card today!
