11 replies to this topic

[Murray]

A gimp buddy and I are Associate Directors for the Placerville Spinal Cord Injury Support Group. Every now and then a local medical agency will contact us with a request - anything from "Who are you guys, really?" to this:

A young local fella - 19 - had an accident and is now a C-3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & T-1 quad. He's about 4 mos post. In rough shape. He requires turning every 2 hrs - a job his mom's been doing since he left the hospital. The family has MediCal (For you UK, other folks - that's ... well, it's lousy medical insurance). The family's unable to purchase all the stuff he needs. (And we can't wait for Obama to sell Congress on universal health insurance!)

So, the Support Group is undertaking various fundraising efforts to purchase a laterally rotating air mattress that will move his body automatically and protect him from skin breakdown. An expensive set-up, but that's what's needed.

I posting this to ask if any of you have good ideas for fundraisers. (Please do not list bake sales, etc) To date, we have acquired funds from a county emergency assistance provider, from a handful of private parties, from an ecycling event, and from various community service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Masons, etc).

Thanks for your suggestions.

Lynn

Edited by Murray, 06 May 2009 - 06:07 PM.

[Hapahowlee]

Hi Murray ~ First of all have you done a search on this site about fundraisers? I know I posted some things sometime last year about fundraisers that I assisted in developing. I remember Texas Wheelz posting something about a poker tournament, I think.

When my hubby was hurt (I wasn't around then), but his coworkers, friends and their wives all got together and did several fundraisers that raised quite a bit of money. When I came around I became involved with this great group of people and we held fundraisers for anyone who had gotten ill or had a family member who was ill and needed financial assistance.

For my husband, BBQs were done in a parking lot of a high traffic area. They managed to get the meat donated by a local grocery store and there were 2 side dishes that all the wives worked on making. They also managed to get the sectioned containers donated and they all just spent the day cooking and selling dinners like hotcakes. I don't know the exact amount, but it was in the 4 figures.

When I came around, we held a bowling marathon and tried to make it exciting by doing different things throughout the night such a glow in the dark bowling and had a special section for kids. The bowling alley let us use their facility for free. We managed to talk to business owners to come up with prizes.

We held a dance at an Elk's Lodge. There were some people in our group who were Elks and they managed to get the hall for free. We knew a guy who was a DJ for his side job and he volunteered his services. I got the wives together and decided to make theme baskets for a silent auction. This was in 2000, so I made up a Millenium basket filled with all kinds of things I got for practially nothing that commemorated the Millenium. That basket went for $75. I also did a pamper basket full of items considered relaxing. Again, I got most of the stuff in the basket for practically nothing or even free. We made about $3,500 on this event. We tried to contact Mickey Carol (sp?) to come and make an appearance, but we couldn't get a hold of him in time. He was one of the "Little People" from the Wizard of Oz who lived in St. Louis.

I have been involved in a lot of fundraisers, but mostly for the agency where I worked. We did 2 major fundraisers a year. One was a evening banquet and the other was a luncheon. For each we would have a keynote speaker. Usually someone famous who would speak about recovery (alcohol/drugs) or something pertaining the that field. We made about $150,000 net at one of our banquets. We actually stopped doing the evening banquets and began doing golf tournaments. We would have a car dealership as the big sponsor. The owner would put a car up for a "Hole in One" prize. The owner took out a very inexpensive insurance policy in case someone did make a "Hole in One" and the owner's only expense was the small premium he paid to the insurance company.

Murray, it all depends on how many people are involved and it helps to know people who know people who are willing to donate items or time. It seems you already have media coverage so that will help when asking vendors for donations of items or whatever. My first duty for the small fundraisers was to make up nice flyers and tickets to be sold that would help in reassuring vendors that you are serious about raising money for the person in need. Do you have any literature on the your group? Are you limited to only particular types of fundraisers b/c your group is comprised of persons with SCI?

Well, that's all I have for now. I'm sure I am forgetting something, but in a hurry to get going. Good luck with everything.

Hapa

[E-DOG]

Is Placerville near Hombolt or Trinity counties?
If you or any of your buddies up there know some of the horticulturalists in that area maybe they could be persuaded to pitch in say, a quarter pound each for a good cause.
You have a ready market with the medical marijuana pharmacies all over California. Since the money is desperately needed for medical supplies you probably wouldn't get a whole lot of opposition from any direction.

E

[joye]

Hi Murray -- I received a NTAF Catastrophic Injury Program pamphlet the other day from the Project Walk folks. I haven't any personal experience with them, but like what I read so far. Here's the info . . . might be worth talking to these people. This is an organization that specificially helps SCI patients raise money for unisured medical expenses.

NTAF Catastrophic Injury Program
150 N. Radnor Chester Road
Suite F-120
Radnor, PA 19087

800-642-8399

www.catastrophicfund.org

Hope this helps,
Joye

[Murray]

THANKS, GUYS! KEEP 'EM COMIN'!

AND, DAWG - NOT NEAR THOSE COUNTIES, BUT HAVE THE FAMOUS (INFAMOUS?) GEORGETOWN 20 MINS DOWN THE ROAD.

The boys are purdy spooky about lettin' loose of their stuff that way. I'm not big on buckshot. What the hell - it's for a good cause. Maybe the boys'll just use rock salt.

Lynn

[fatdave]

hmm, rock salt hurts a bit also. really hurts when the damn nurse starts pouring saline solution into all the holes to get the chunks of salt out

[Murray]

fatdave, on May 7 2009, 09:10 PM, said:

hmm, rock salt hurts a bit also. really hurts when the damn nurse starts pouring saline solution into all the holes to get the chunks of salt out

Ya' ever try stealin' watermelons from the farmer's field? Those fellas get all pissed about it. My brother and I used to do that when we were kids. Got shot at, but never hit. Hearing buckshot slappin' the grass at your feet gives a guy an amazing burst of speed. Lost that melon real quick! What the hell - another freebee for the pheasants.

Keep those fundraiser ideas coming.

Has anyone tried a car show?

Thanks again.

Lynn

[Mat]

Hey Lynn, I was hurt in 08 and I was a gm of country club before that a chef and event planner. So I was qualified to put events together.

First it helps to have a strong support team family friends are the best because they care the most. I've done golf outing, eucker tournaments, and dinner events. I've been very succesful rasing a large amount of very useful dollars. Second I hooked up with the national sci and got a 5o1-c3 tax detuctible so people can write it off. Third put together a good flyer about you your injury and what you need. Then pick your venue and fundrasier ie. Golf, food, whatever. I do those rubber braclets with a sloggen. Then you and friends gotta sell. I do silent auctions and raffles plus 50/50. Get a good person on the mic.

It's work and hard work. Use your chair and disability as much as possible to get help doations whatever.

Hope this help a little

[Murray]

Mat, on Sep 7 2009, 01:17 AM, said:

Hey Lynn, I was hurt in 08 and I was a gm of country club before that a chef and event planner. So I was qualified to put events together.

First it helps to have a strong support team family friends are the best because they care the most. I've done golf outing, eucker tournaments, and dinner events. I've been very succesful rasing a large amount of very useful dollars. Second I hooked up with the national sci and got a 5o1-c3 tax detuctible so people can write it off. Third put together a good flyer about you your injury and what you need. Then pick your venue and fundrasier ie. Golf, food, whatever. I do those rubber braclets with a sloggen. Then you and friends gotta sell. I do silent auctions and raffles plus 50/50. Get a good person on the mic.

It's work and hard work. Use your chair and disability as much as possible to get help doations whatever.

Hope this help a little

Excellent! Thanks a bundle! Think I'll get on the 501©(3) first - almost finished. Then, I can get started on one of those you suggested. Thanks again. (The best advice I've gotten to date. Gracias!)

[Ches]

those 501c3 cost about 500 bucks... thats all I know!

[dsueb45]

Murray, some family members are putting together a 'Bike & Rod Run' for my 20 yr old nephew (only 1 month post injury). It's turning into a huge thing. My brother-in-law's brother belongs to a bike group. Those bikers really get into charity and they love the 'runs'. How they're doing it is this - each bike or hotrod pays $15 registration the day of the run. They get 5 raffle tickets at start & 5 more at each of 2 more stops. Tickets will be on sale the day of for non-riders, plus 50/50 raffle tickets. We've had tons of stuff donated from local businesses, just from going around and asking, like gift certificates for restaurants, car washes, local small businesses, services, gift baskets, etc. All those items will be displayed on tables with a box in front. People will choose which box they want to put their ticket(s) in and we'll draw names after all bikes & cars have returned. Family & friends are making TONS of food, which will be free for all attendees. There is a DJ and some local musical talent will perform (free).So you have all the elements people want -free food, prizes, free food, music, cool cars and bikes & free food (hey, everyone likes free food!). A family member's church is donating the parking lot for our use. Lot's of prep-work but very little expense involved for us and should be a big pay-off. Pray the weather holds out! We're outside Akron-if anyone's interested in coming!
Good luck in your venture! Some great ideas on here! I may use some......

[Murray]

My wife's a hog freak! I can't ride with her anymore - every bike that goes by (or that she heard - no matter how far off), she slams on the breaks, trying to get a look at it. Meanwhile, I'm diggin' my face out of the dash! Dammit - I love bikes, too. But I'm kinda partial to my nose the way it is.

Anyway - thanks for that idea. The bikers in this area (the real ones; not the Sunday show-offs) are a good bunch - and like you indicated, they've got hearts as big as a house.

We're lookin' into it.