July Team Tidbits for Friends of Heroes
FOH Team Message Board Update
We’ve had 89 members register on the FOH Team Message Board this month. In the last 30 days, we’ve had 23,828 page loads from 5,679 unique visitors. If you haven’t joined yet, come meet us there and start posting! http://friendsofheroes.proboards80.com/
Fundraising and Corporate Sponsorships for Light The Night
Submitted by Beck
Fund raising does not have to be a chore….REALLY! It can be a lot of fun. I always get “Beck is at it again!” from my whole family. My almost four year old is taking after her mama, she likes to help me raise money to help her two best friends who have A.L.L. feel better. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has become a part of our family.
For fund raising I try to think of fun ways to earn money and not “over do it”. Three years ago, I hosted a “Mother and Daughter Prom”. We charged $25 for each couple and we got our local kids gym to donate a few hours. We also got pizza and pastries donated as well.
This year, I am working on getting corporate sponsorships. Three years ago, I would have run away at the word corporate, but really, it is easier then I thought. A great place to start is your local WalMart stores. Each store has their own budget and can choose on how to spend it. If you are planning an awareness day this year at WalMart, ask if they will match you dollar for dollar. They will almost always say yes, UP TO $500. Letters asking for the match must be submitted 8 weeks ahead of time.
Another great way to get the sponsorship is to go to the “mom and papa” stores in your area. Ask for smaller amounts. Offer to add them to your banner, or put their logo on your active.com page.
If you plan on taking the step to large companies, do it soon. Most of them get many requests for donations. You may even consider asking them to donate in 2008. Most of them will not do a rushed donation, however, once you get your foot in the door, you are more likely to get it from there in the future, even it is not this year.
If they do turn you down for this year, be sure to send a thank you letter stating something similar to “Thank you very much for your consideration this year. I would love for your company to be a part of our team next year, so please add us to you next years budget agenda.” Then a few weeks later, send off the 2008 proposal.
I have a great feeling about 2007 and I know that it is going to be worth every second of fund raising! My one bit of advice is, PLEASE DON’T FEEL DISCOURAGED, every dollar made is a dollar closer to the cure. Don’t be scared to ask for help. If it was not for this team, I doubt that I would be at where I am today.
Kathie, FOH Team Captain in St. Louis MO, has been busy! Over the winter ‘hiatus’, her son and his school had a balloon selling competition. For eight days in December, the elementary students sold balloons during the mornings and at lunch and raised $550! Great job!
This summer, she’s still busy, but with her annual fundraising event. She writes, “We’re having our 2nd annual BBQ fundraiser on July 14th. I did A LOT of letter writing to local business and we now have lots of baskets to raffle off that include lots of things such as hotel night stays, $50.00 gift certificates to some nice restaurants, Six Flags, year membership to the Science Center, baseball game tickets, and much much more. Cross your fingers more people come than last year.”
Sounds exciting, Kathie! We’re crossing our fingers and look forward to hearing how it goes!
(Originally from the July Newsletter)
Friends of Heroes is a national Light the Night Friends and Family team. We are comprised of moms, dads, families and friends compelled to help find a cure for blood cancers.
