Valpak gives back to local St. Petersburg Community as annual sponsor of St. Pete Pride Parade

On June 25, 2016, Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, was well represented among the rainbow colors and flags at the 2016 St. Pete Pride Parade. The company showed support through sponsorship and participation in one of the largest pride celebrations in the U.S. This year, about 60 Valpak employees and their guests marched in the event and celebrated the company’s diversity by throwing beads and interacting with parade attendees.

Colorful costumes, glowing floats and festive music filled the atmosphere on Central Avenue as the parade kicked off at sunset. This was Valpak’s fourth year participating in the parade and the company’s first year as a proud sponsor of St. Pete Pride Weekend. Valpak President Michael Vivio and his family again participated in this year’s parade.

“I’m proud of Valpak’s commitment to give back to the communities we serve,” said Vivio. “Each year, I am continually impressed by the St. Pete community who shows up to support this important cause.”

As part of its sponsorship, Valpak also had a booth at the street fair, boosting visibility in the community.

“It is remarkable to see how Valpak’s involvement in a community event has evolved into such a strong strategic partnership over a short period of time,” said Lisa Gibbings, marketing strategy manager of Valpak, who helped organize the company’s participation in the event. “We were not only proud to support such a great cause but we were able to involve the Valpak of Tampa Bay franchise office and provide them with revenue and lead generation opportunities.”

This year’s parade was particularly special to the LGBT and Tampa Bay community given the recent tragedy in Orlando, Florida. The parade kicked off with a tribute to the 49 victims of the mass shooting with participants holding signs with each victim’s name. An estimated 250,000 people attended the parade, which featured more than 150 organizations celebrating the area’s LGBT community. Valpak joined other leading companies participating in the celebration including AT&T, C1 Bank, Wells Fargo and the Tampa Bay Rays.