Kids at Hope Yuma and the Power of Partnership.

“For those first two years, we did all the advertising in-house using information we found online,” Hardy explained. “It served its purpose, but it didn’t look professional and it wasn’t reaching as many people as it could.”

That is when a chance encounter at a Yuma County Chamber of Commerce breakfast changed everything.

“I heard Jon Perry speak for about sixty seconds,” Hardy said with a laugh. “He packed more value into that minute than I’d heard in a long time. After the breakfast, I scheduled a meeting with him, and that is how our partnership started.”
From that first meeting, Hardy knew he had found the right collaborator.

“The determining factor was simple,” he said. “Jon is an expert in marketing, and that is an area no one at Kids at Hope really had any experience with.”

The first project they tackled together was a Sponsor Book, also known as an Opportunity Guide, a clear and visually engaging way to present sponsorship levels, benefits, and impact. It gave board members and volunteers the confidence to approach businesses with a tool that looked professional, explained the cause, and made it easy for sponsors to say yes.
“It is like a menu,” said Perry. “When people can see what is available, what fits their budget, and what they get in return, they feel good about investing. It builds trust and makes everything more transparent.”

The partnership grew quickly.

Imaginary Friends did not stop at the Sponsor Book. They helped define the look, feel, and tone of the entire event, which became known as the No Exceptions concert series. Every year, the visuals, posters, sponsorship packets, forms, and tickets come together in one unified design that captures both the excitement of the concert and the heart of Kids at Hope’s mission.

The upcoming No Exceptions 2026 concert, set for February 14, will continue that tradition, bringing top acts like Sawyer Brown and beloved local performers such as The Gwen Sisters to the stage while reminding the community that every ticket and every sponsorship helps make a difference for Yuma’s youth.

Since partnering with Imaginary Friends, Kids at Hope Yuma has raised more than $500,000 in donations over the last five years, with the annual concert now generating over $120,000 in sponsorships.

“The biggest result for Kids at Hope is that we now have a very professional-looking Sponsor Book,” Hardy said. “Jon and his team have supported us from business cards to all of our advertising needs. They have truly helped us grow.”
But it is not just the fundraising totals that stand out. It is the way Kids at Hope shows gratitude. Every sponsor receives a meaningful token of appreciation after the concert, something tangible they can proudly display. For the top-tier sponsors, those gifts are as unique as the event itself, such as custom platinum record plaques designed specifically for No Exceptions.

“That is something rare in our community,” Perry said. “Tim and his team really understand that gratitude goes a long way. Their sponsors feel appreciated, and that creates long-term relationships.”

The collaboration between Kids at Hope and Imaginary Friends has become more than a business relationship. It is a creative partnership built on mutual respect and shared passion. Hardy gives the team freedom to be inventive, and that trust has produced work that continues to elevate the organization year after year.

“Kids at Hope does incredible work for this community,” said Perry. “We just help them tell that story in a way that connects and inspires.”

For Hardy, the feeling is mutual. “Jon has helped us reach a level of professionalism that we could not have achieved on our own,” he said. “It has made all the difference.”

And for Imaginary Friends, that is what success looks like.

When creativity meets community, when stories are told clearly and beautifully, and when people work together toward something bigger, that is when real impact happens.

That is an evidence of success.