Fundraising News From Around the World

Fergus Falls, MN: School district gets custom designed toolbar from Yahoo!. The school district receives 10 cents each time a search is done on a Yahoo!-sponsored result site; San Marcos, CA: Teammates hold 5K race fundraiser for former runner who was paralyzed from the waist down during a family outing; Rockland, MA: Meat raffle fundraiser held to benefit figure skating team travel to nationals; Marian, IN: College softball team holds scrapbook fundraiser; Lowes, KY: Elementary and high school student alumni basketball game raises funds for school trip; Battle Creek, MI: Arboretum holds ‘Desperate House Plant Sale’ fundraiser; Bowling Green, KY: Girl Scout ‘Desserts First fundraiser’ features local chefs making original desserts and hors d’oeuvres using Girl Scout cookies as the key ingredient and presenting them for tasting; Roseburg, OR: Nonprofit group holds bread making class fundraiser to benefit children who have suffered sexual or physical abuse or neglect; Stittsville, ON: Grandmothers to Grandmothers group holds games party fundraiser to help grandmothers in Africa; Tucson, AZ: High school students compete in Guitar Hero competition to help one of their classmates attend Presidential inauguration; Plainfield, IL: Middle school math students participate in math-a-thon fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Students complete a series of math problems and puzzles in a "Funbook" distributed according to grade level; Chico, CA: Boy Scouts pick up Christmas trees in annual fundraiser; Beaumont, TX: Rival grocery store chains join together to raise 3 million pounds of food for food bank in ‘Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive’ fundraiser; Gulfport, MS: Hockey players wear pink jerseys during news conference to promote second annual 'Pink in the Rink' hockey game to raise funds for uninsured women.

FundraisingIdeas.com: Most people, like you, have a lot going on in their life and are looking to raise more money in less time and with less hassle. Our goal is to help you make that happen!  Proven fundraising ideas to help you reach your fundraiser goals and objectives with fundraising strategies & advice and a variety of fundraising tips as well as reviews on the most popular fundraising products. An excellent resource for first time and seasoned fundraisers.

Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser Of The Month

Pink Flamingo Sale: Purchase pink plastic flamingos (lawn decorations) and pick several yards in your community to be the lucky recipients.  Attach cards to the flamingoes' necks with a phone number along with all the pertinent information regarding your group.  State that for an $"x" donation, the flamingos will be moved to a yard of their choice.  (Also give the option to simply pick up the flamingo gratis, since some people have no sense of humor.)  Make sure you also place a sign that has a contact name and phone number among the flamingos for those who drive by and would like to have the flamingos placed in a friend's yard. Alternatives: Substitute a colorfully decorated toilet (bowl and tank) for the flamingos.  The mechanics are identical although it is a lot heavier than the flamingos.
 

Fun Pasta Fundraising:  New, unique, fun! Pasta in fun shapes like cheerleaders, soccer, music, holidays, collegiate logos, and more! Up to 50% profits with no hidden costs. Informative videos available for kids and leaders on website! Free brochures, free samples, posters, envelopes, bags, DVD, and free shipping! Great prize packages include Itunes gift cards, Walmart gift cards, & more!. Learn more at www.funpastafundraising.com , or call 1-800-247-0188 x205. Have Fun, Eat Pasta, Raise Money!

Non-Profit In The Spotlight

Bert's Big Adventure allows children with a chronic or terminal illness ages 5 to 12 years of age that prove financial need and live in The Bert Show (Atlanta) radio listening area, to experience a magical weekend with their families at Walt Disney World as our guests. Each year, Bert's Big Adventure will escort these children to Walt Disney World with their parents or guardians and the other members of their family household. Because of their special needs and financial strain, this is an experience that many of these children and families would not be able to know without the help of Bert's Big Adventure. Our vision is to charter a flight with these children, their families, and a medical staff to Walt Disney World. Upon arrival in Florida, Bert's Big Adventure will provide hotel accommodations, Walt Disney World park passes, transportation to and from the park, VIP events and meal coupons. In addition to the trip to Walt Disney World, Bert’s Big Adventure also provides the children certain additional charitable services that are necessary to the fulfillment of its charitable purpose. These additional charitable services are provided subsequent to any prior year’s trip and are available only to children and their families that have participated in the Walt Disney World trip.
 

Spring into action with a fun flower bulb fundraiser. Colorful flower bulb brochures can be used to sell bulbs February through April and offer a variety of beautiful decorative annuals as well as tasty strawberries and cherry tomatoes. What if your supporters don’t have a green thumb? Go with a tried and true “evergreen” – frozen cookie dough. This “perennial” sells well all year long and iLoveFundraising makes it even better with free shipping and a low 96 item minimum. Visit iLoveFundraising.com or call 1-800-441-8599 for more fundraising ideas. iLoveFundraising knows fundraising – they’ve been in the business for over 40 years.

Holiday Facts

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine's Days. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Tern. No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400); in Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century; Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
 

  BAKE & Co. Fundraising: USA-made quality since 1993 for non-profits of all types and sizes. Presale brochures or direct-sell items for schools, sports, cancer awareness. Custom rubber flip flops, bulbs, coffee, color-changing hand soap, pasta, tees, apples, $1 items and more. Printer-friendly all products brochure www.bakeco.com Brenda at 1-800-535-2253 PST

 G&R Publishing: Custom cookbook fundraisers. Your group can easily create your own custom cookbook – just use G&R’s simple online system or let us type your recipes. Cookbooks not only make a great keepsake, but G&R will guarantee your fundraising success! Simply call 800-383-1679 or visit www.gandrpublishing.com to get started.

 Ezfund.com   Our Go-Green Fundraising programs help protect our planet. Choose from our new DoDo bags (reusable heavy duty cotton shopping totes ), scented soy candles (made from soy beans instead of oil based paraffin), Smencils (scented pencils made from recycled newspaper), and flower bulbs (brings beauty to your home and community).