September 2011

SDSF logo final
Fundraising Challenge  
Happy Spring!
It's fundraising time!! This year the 1st prize for the family who raises the most money over $1500 will receive an iPad2!! The second prize will be a high-end camera - both items perfect for use at Camp Sunshine!! Check out our  "Community Fundraising" section of the web site to get some ideas of how you can help. Scroll down on the left hand side of the web page to see our Fundraising Store, Post your Fundraiser page, etc. Send us your info about your fundraiser, whether it be a letter writing campaign or a golf outing, and we can post it on the web site for your friends and family to see.

What is our fundraising goal this year?

This year's fundraiser will be dedicated to raising the funds that SDSF needs to help host our bi-annual family conference.  

Our next scheduled conference will be in the Summer of 2012 

 

SDSF has been hosting Family Conferences since 1997- WOW! Since 2006 the Family Conferences have been held at a wonderful facility specially created for families with children with a life threatening illnesses called Camp Sunshine. For those of you who have been to the Camp, no further words need be mentioned. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, it is a fabulous place to meet other families with SDS and learn and share with each other. Some of our Medical Advisory Board of doctors/scientists also attend the camp, giving seminars and personal one-on-one time with the families. Each family lives in their own small apartment (no kitchen), dines in the family style dining room, and everyone who attends gets to participate in fun activities.

 

Even if you aren't planning to attend Camp Sunshine next year, it is still very important to fund the family conference. Discourse between questioning families and helpful doctors can later be used to propel research. As always, our ultimate goal is to find a cure!


The Camp itself asks for a donation of $10,000 from SDSF (making the experience free for all families). We also spend approximately $8,000 on travel and lodging for the 5-8 doctors (usually from our Medical Advisory Board), who we invite to help enrich everyone's experience at Camp Sunshine.  

 

If even just 18 families commit to $1000, we will have reached our goal. If we exceed our goal, all of the extra money goes straight into more research grants to help find a cure for SDS.

 

Please, please, please! help to raise funds and get us back to Camp Sunshine. We are truly running low on funds, and without your donations we will have to choose between funding research research or Camp Sunshine next year. We want and need both!!

 

Whatever idea you have that will raise funds to benefit the work we do (research, family support, doctor support, information dissemination, and more) let us know!! We would love to help you help us all!

 

 

Sincerely,

Blair Van Brunt
President SDSF
In This Issue
Fundraising Challenge
FUNd Raising Ideas
Planning a Fundraising Event
Join Our Mailing List!
SDSF Important Links:

 

 

 

 

 

SDSF FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE

 

Please help us fund our next family conference to be hosted in the summer of 2012 at Camp Sunshine, Casco, Maine.

 

We are hosting a fundraising contest and

the WINNER will receive an iPad2!  

 iPad 2

 

The 2nd PLACE will receive a high end, digital camera!

(we don't know the exact make and model yet but it will be fantastic!!) 

 

Camera 

 

Here's how this works: Starting now (whenever you read this) through December 31st, the person/family who raises the most money above and beyond $1,500 wins!

 

This money can come from corporations, family members, friends etc. All donations must be in check, cash, credit card through our web site (Paypal), and stock options, and may not be in-kind donations.

 

When you ask your family/friends/companies/churches/temples etc. to send in their donations, please ask them to add a note that states who the donation is associated with (this should be the name of the fundraising organizer) so that we can keep track of the funds that are sent in. The note can be on the check, in a separate email, separate piece of paper or a call to our 1-888-825-SDSF (7373) number. You can also ask them to send the donations to you, and you can then send everything in at once with a note. Whatever works best for the donor.  

Please do not create a seperate bank account for this purpose, as it is against the law.

 

 

Please feel free to call 1-888-825-SDSF (7373) anytime to discuss questions, comments or possible fundraising ideas with us. I personally have done quite a bit of fundraising and look forward to helping you plan a strategy or event. You can also read the article below for some easy fundraising ideas. Remember, it does take money to make money but we can help you figure out a way to keep your costs down and how to recoup them.

 

Please refer to this link to review tips and thoughts on fundraising

 

(please note that the offered prizes are acquired donations through the assistance of Bryan Sample, Treasurer of SDSF.)

MORE FUN FUNDRAISING IDEAS

 


SDS Rubber Bracelets can be bought through SDSF

 

and sold at any of these events below. We sell them for 10 @$25.00 and you can re-sell for whatever you feel your market will bear.  

 

Alumni Reunions - sell SDS Rubber  

Art Exhibit - of locals or kids - charge admission/sell tickets

Auction/Silent Auction -get donated items from friends, family and local businesses.

Bake Sale

Balloon Bouquets - buy wholesale, sell retail

Bazaar And Fair - charge for admission and food and drink

Block Party - sell SDS rubber  

Box Lunches -make them yourself and sell at retail

Breakfasts (Pancake,International Food, etc) - sell admissions or single meal

Car Wash - get volunteer students, ask fire dept for access to water

Celebrity Lunch Or Dinner -charge admission

Christmas Craft Sale

Christmas Wish Tree

Craft fair - charge admission and ask each vendor to donate a portion of their proceeds

College Final Exam Survival Kits -sell to friends/family

Community Festival Consignment Items Sale

Cookoff Contests (Dad& Daughter, etc.) - charge entry fee

Easter Gift Baskets for sale

Fashion Show Luncheon

Father/Daughter Dance -

Flower Sale -- Mother's Day

Game Contest Marathon

Guess Beans In Jar Count

Hobby Fair

Home Tours - charge admission

International Foods Sampling -charge admission

 Letter Writing Campaign - perhaps the easiest of all! Click here to see sample letter that you can mail/email to family/friends and include our Donate page link in the email for fast and easy giving. Marathon or any kind of running event - check out separate  article on this

Outdoor Concert

Poker Game- charge entry fee and re-supply of chips. Winner can donate winnings to SDSF

Pet Shows - charge admission and get donated prizes

Rummage/Garage sale 

Supper With Ticket Sale (Chili, Hamburger,Spaghetti, Pizza, Barbecue, etc.)

Ticket Sales Of Door Prizes At Special Events

Tournaments/Events (golf, walk/run event,tennis, softball, chess, etc.)-see separate article

Used Book Sale

Wine And Cheese Tasting's - charge admission and donate portion of sales of wine to SDSF

 

 

Most of the events that need to charge admission/sell tickets can be priced by finding out what other charities charge for fundraising events in your area.

 

INTERESTED IN PLANNING A GOLF/WALK/RUN/BIKE EVENT?

 Or anything -you- want event?

Want to plan an event in 6 weeks? Here's a guide:

  • 6 weeks out: Determine what event you think will work best for you and Ask for Help! Ask your family, friends and colleagues to volunteer to help. You'll want 2-3 people minimum as your organizing committee.   
  • 5 weeks out: Get Organized! Set a location, date & time. Determine a fundraising goal, and set up a fundraising web page (if you can) and create your invitation. Ask local businesses to sponsor/donate to your event. If you can't get dollars, get in-kind donations. Order SDS rubber bracelets or create and order t-shirts from your local supplier. 
  • 4 weeks out: Spread the Word! Email/mail your invitation. Ask friends and family to volunteer to help at the event. Reach out to civic & religious organizations you are involved with. Contact news media. 
  • 3 weeks out: Check Final Details! Print signs and other materials for event location. Gather donations of refreshments. Stay in touch with your volunteers.  
  • 2 weeks out: The Home Stretch! Send reminders to registrants and volunteers. Double check supplies and materials.  
  • 1 week out: Countdown to Success! Check weather reports. Verify contingency plans. Confirm volunteer assignments.
To get the word out and to help with registration, you could set up a blog for your race (Wordpress) which can be continually updated by you without having to have any web language and then use a Paypal button that links to our account for instant deposits for the registration fee. www.firstgiving.com does help you set up a web page for an event and many non profits use this. There is another family who uses a web site www.active.com. to register people who want to run in their 5K race. They get corporate sponsors for their race as well: US Track & Field in their area,  etc. Another web site to use is www.setupevents.com which will set up the registering, do the timing if you want and so much more. They are strictly a triathlon event company.

Of course, most of them have fees but it always takes money to make money and you can possibly recoup the costs by sending us an accounting of your expenditures so we can possibly reimburse you if you can't find a donor for that purpose!! Usually a family member, friend or company or someone can help:)

SDSF can post your fundraiser on its web site but does not have the interactive capability htat some of these other sites do. But if you list it with SDSF, we can always point the reader to the site that is more interactive.

If you know someone who has a Constant Contact account, you could get them to create an email for you to announce the event and then you can use it to print posters and continue to change it a bit to send out new information about the event as it gets closer. You can also put
our Paypal link in that email.
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation

 

 
FOUNDER:  Joan Mowery
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Blair Van Brunt - President
 Donna Garfield - Secretary
Bryan Sample - Treasurer
Ed Bickle - Publicity

 

Joan Mowery - Family Follow Up 

 Jane Fitz - Anna Angel Hospital Basket Coordinator

 

Kim McDowell - Administrative Assistant

 

 

ATTORNEY:  Ann Bodewes Stephens, Herzog, Crebs, St. Louis, MO
BOOKEEPER: Letitia Cote, Quickbooks Advanced Certified Proadvisor
Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Foundation
127 Western Avenue
Sherborn, MA  01770
1-888-825-SDSF (7373)
www.shwachman-diamond.org
[email protected]