Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser Of The Month

Sitting Pretty: The Howell Area Arts Council, Howell, Michigan, holds an annual "Sitting Pretty" fund-raiser, in which the group auctions off hand-painted chairs. Proceeds benefit the arts council's community programs. For chair types, just about anything goes. They have had piano benches, a parade ladder, and even a toilet. Those who want to paint a chair for the fund raiser can simply make it colorful or choose a theme. Some chairs have had a Halloween or Christmas theme. Others decorate in a garden motif. The council has fun with the fund raiser and members continually collect old chairs in anticipation of it. The minimum bid is $30.

  The Florida Trail Association is a volunteer organization responsible for building, maintaining, promoting, and protecting hiking trails for the public across the state of Florida, with a special focus on the 1,400-mile Florida Trail, one of only eight National Scenic Trails in the United States. With 17 local chapters throughout Florida, the Florida Trail Association offers educational opportunities for people to learn to appreciate and conserve the natural beauty of Florida, and provides recreational opportunities for hiking and camping. The Florida Trail provides a unique hiking experience through more than 80 different habitats in Florida’s tropical and semi-tropical ecosystems.

 Featured Fundraising Ideas

eKidsFUNdraising.com: The most requested program this year. Imagine a program that truly works! This fundraiser brings profits that cookie dough once earned. Color-Me-Again-Tee fundraising earns you $6 for each shirt sold. Your customer chooses from 24 unique designs. 100% preshrunk cotton tee comes with 5 washable markers & packed in a drawstring bag. Student packed, no freezers, no delays, no more headaches! Sell direct or pre-sell brochures. Call 1-888-474-5900 & start your next fundraiser.

Silver Jangles has no upfront costs, no calories, 50% immediate profit, no shipping charges. We are a new and different fundraiser with all fine quality all sterling silver jewelry. More than 150+ charms, earrings, necklaces and bracelets! 1-866-745-5264. Many groups raise $5000 in their first effort! Perfect for church groups, cheerleaders, booster clubs, PTO's and schools. Ask about our custom charms and theme charms to fit your group. Email us your mailing address for a free info kit today at info@silverjangles.com

Fundraiser News Briefs 

Midland, TX: Two bloggers write for 24-hours straight to benefit housing facility for women and children; Saskatoon, SK: Volunteer bikes and online skates from Regina to Saskatoon (286 km) to raise money for milk for food bank; Columbia City, IN: Humane society sponsors beer tasting and hog roast to support operations; San Luis Obispo, CA: Artist conducts portrait marathon to benefit art gallery; Los Angeles, CA: Animal services department cancels planned bikini contest called "Hooters for Neuters" for spaying pets because of complaints that it was degrading to women; Princeton, NJ: Nassau Presbyterian holds karaoke fundraiser to benefit Katrina-damaged churches; Waco, TX: Celebrity pig refuses to pucker up for kiss-the-pig fundraiser; Pocono, PA: Motorcyclists drive around Pocono Raceway to benefit local VA hospital; Bridgewater, NJ: Doggy camp marks anniversary with animal-shelter fundraiser; Marco Island, FL: Timeshare donation to be rented, sold or raffled as middle school fundraiser; Victoria, AUS: Nutritionists oppose school doughnut fundraiser because of fat content; Lexington, KY: Schools put fun in fund-raiser with localized town-opoly game; Chambersburg, PA: Rocking chairs painted by local artists to be auctioned for the artists and the Council for the Arts; Pembroke, MA: High school softball game supports athletes with developmental disabilities; London, UK: Carnival Princess contender holds teddy bears picnic fundraiser; Towanda, PA: Volunteers have heads shaved to support local pediatric cancer fund; Kings Mill, OH: Bags of water softener salt sold to support touring ensemble of drum students; Dillsburg, PA: Elementary school students participate in national Math-a-Thon to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital; Memphis, TN: Memphis Mayor (65) to challenge former heavy weight boxing champ Joe Frazier (62) in three-round bout to raise funds for the County Drug Court.
 

Interesting or Fun Facts

Charles H. Pajeau, invented TINKERTOYs in 1914 after watching children play with pencils and empty spools of thread. He noticed that children would play for long periods of time by mixing simple household items with lots of creativity. Charles and his partner, Robert Pettit, formed a new company "The Toy Tinkers of Evanston, Illinois". Since their first product inspired kids to "tinker" with the spools and sticks to create objects, they decided to name their first product "TINKERTOY". They were first introduced to the public in 1914 but nobody was interested. To create interest, they set up TINKERTOY displays in Chicago area store windows and the rest is history. They became one of the favorite toys of children the world over.

Review products and services from top U.S. and Canadian fundraising companies. You can also download a free directory of these companies and review at your leisure.