Fundraising News From Around the World

Welcome to the March 2017 issue of Fundraising News From Around the World. It contains summaries and photos of fundraising activities by other groups such as yours. Some are traditional, some are unusual, and some are totally bizarre! We hope that you will find each issue interesting. You can subscribe at the bottom of this page if you would like to be notified each time a new issue is published. If you later decide you no longer want monthly notifications or if you don't find our newsletter helpful, just click on the unsubscribe link at the end of each notification. You will stop receiving newsletters immediately.

Crosby, CA - Friday night in Crosby was characterized by donkeys, basketball and a gymnasium full of folks ready for a show. The Young Farmers hosted donkey basketball at Crosby Middle School, offering students, parents and others in the community a chance to ride to victory; however, most found themselves unceremoniously tossed off more than once. "In the beginning, we hadn't bonded yet," Coy Hearn said of his donkey, which generally just refused to move. "Then, after 20 minutes - it felt like an hour and a half - we became one. I've ridden horses, but nothing like this. These things are just hard-headed, real stubborn."

Johnstown, PA - Area residents put on their dancing shoes and came with their best dance moves Saturday night for the seventh annual “Dancing Like a Star for Autism” fundraiser in Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown. Money raised at the event will go to support local autism programs at Beginnings Inc. The benefit was modeled after the hit reality television dance competition “Dancing With the Stars,” with dancers competing against each other to raise the most donations.

Westpoint, UK - This year’s Rainbow Run, in support of Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Bridge House hospice in North Devon, will move to Westpoint, near Exeter! This great family event will take place on Saturday, June 10 and Jayne Jarrett, events fundraiser at Little Bridge House, said: "Rainbow Run is our biggest fundraising event for Little Bridge House. "Last year the event raised more than £78,000 for the hospice, and was so popular that we have moved to a bigger venue now so even more people can get involved and help to support and raise awareness of our charity."

Fundraising News

Grayslake, IL - The Grayslake Library Foundation's fifth Annual MiniGolf in the Library fundraising event is on Saturday and Sunday. MiniGolf is sponsored by the Grayslake Library Foundation, a 501(c) 3 and will have family-friendly competitions in the afternoon on both on both days. An adults-only event will take place in the evening on Saturday. Bogey in the library with your friends at this fun after-hours event. After a round of MiniGolf hang out in the clubhouse and quench your thirst with adult beverages for purchase from The Vine of Grayslake. Enjoy music and score tasty treats from the Dessert Extravaganza included with your ticket purchase.

Pilot Mountain, NC - Plate orders are now being taken by the town for a fundraiser to benefit ”one of our own.” The fundraising event, sponsored by The Pilot Mountain Police Department, will benefit Captain Michael Palmer. Palmer is in “critical condition,” battling cancer according to Police Chief Darryl Bottoms. The event will be held on Friday. Officers will begin hand-delivering plates of port-a-pit chicken at 11 a.m. Plates will also be available for pick-up at the police department that day. The plates will include half a chicken, baked beans, barbecue slaw, roll and a dessert.

Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Empire Community Theatre will hold a fundraising event called The Reveal to announce what they have lined up for season 15, which starts in September of 2017 and runs through May of 2018. The Reveal will be held at Icon Lounge on Thursday, with a cocktail hour, dinner and then the show. Tickets start at $50 per seat. It includes a preview show of the eight productions that the theatre will be producing in season 15, a meal catered by Chef Carter Weiland of Parker's, and the chance to bid on items at the silent auction. People who attend can also get the chance to reserve prime seating of the shows for season 15.

Rancho Mirage, CA - Members and friends turned out in record numbers for a two-day fundraising event at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. The event supported two established fundraisers which, after 10 years, have merged into one. They are the club's "Scholar’s Festival" and ClubCorp's "Charity Classic. " Their new, combined event is called the “Light Up The Night - Scholars Charity Classic.” It was a huge success, raising close to $120,000 for four worthwhile charities.

Clallam Bay, WA - The Clallam Bay Library will host its Fifth Annual “After Hours @ the Library” Valentine fundraising event Tuesday, Feb. 14. Admission is free, although there is a suggested donation of $5 per person. As in previous years, the evening promises to be full of fun and laughter! Guests can enjoy listening to live music, eat savory snacks or buy a freshly made dessert from the dessert bar, try their luck at a Chinese auction featuring delightful donations from area merchants or try to outbid their friends and neighbors during the Silent Auction. The Clallam Bay Friends of the Library will provide refreshments.

Danville IN - Raise a glass to raise funding for Hope Haven's therapeutic horseback riding program at the second annual 'Cheers to Hope Haven' beer and wine tasting fundraising event Friday at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds Conference Center in Danville. Attendees can enjoy sampling a variety of artisan beers from local breweries and wines from Indiana wine vendors. Food, live music and dancing will round out the evening, along with the opportunity to bid on silent auction items.

Winona, MN - Twenty-three different varieties of chili were on the lunch menu at Winona National Bank’s 23rd annual Chili Cook-off fundraiser event for Ready Set School midday Saturday in Winona. This year the event had its highest amount of entries for an event that continues to grow. For $10, the community was invited to sample all the chili they could eat and enjoy entertainment from local dance studios and musicians. All the funds raised from the event would benefit Ready Set School, an organization that provides classroom materials to area students in need.

Boca Raton, FL - What started off as a fun and delicious way to raise money for a church turned into a large annual fundraising event. This Saturday, the Second Annual Downtown BBQ Throwdown will be held at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Though last year was a success and had such an unexpected turnout, this year is expected to be bigger and better. The event will provide entertainment, music, food tastings and a BBQ contest that will feature American celebrity chef, Bobby Flay, as a guest judge for the contest.

Fundraising News

Huntington, WV - What do roller derby girls, Cinema Under the Stars, Ritter Park chess tables, Porch Unplugged and the band Ona all have in common? All have had their projects propelled along with a little help from the Create Huntington mini grant program. To help replenish funds for its mini grant program, Create Huntington is hosting for the second time Create Lovington, a fundraiser Friday at the V Club. The event will feature live music from three Huntington-based, regionally traveling live music acts. There will also be a photo booth, silent auction, raffles and a $10 donation at the door.

Coventry, UK - A support charity is urging Coventrians to take part in an annual ‘Sleep Easy’ fundraising event to support some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire will host the event on Friday to raise awareness of youth homelessness while raising vital funds to support young people. Participants will have to brave the cold and sleep outside in a make shift cardboard box at the Butts Park Arena. This year marks the first ever national ‘Sleep Easy Week’ – which has been organized by the 15 national YMCA branches across the UK.

Jeffersonville, IN - One of the things that sets Jeffersonville’s growing public arts scene apart from others may be how much it is infused by the community itself. “Passport to the Arts” fundraising event will feature a silent auction with original artworks, a raffle with smaller handmade pieces and donations from local businesses and a look ahead to the next year of projects and initiatives through the Jeffersonville Public Arts Commission 2017 plan. Tickets are $35 and include appetizers, provided all evening by Orange Clover, and two free drink tickets.

Tillamook, OR - Jell-O. It can be molded into fun shapes. It’s colorful. It’s perfect for wrestling. On Wednesday, the Tillamook High School Class of 2017 hosted its annual Jell-O Wrestling event for Charity Drive, the 10-day fundraising event for Tillamook and Doernbecher Children’s ospital. The marquee event of the night was a surprise even to the participants. “Last year, our main event was Tristan Radcliffe versus Mr. [Slade] Sapora,” said class advisor Ryan Weber. “This year, we didn’t have one, so I walked up to my dad and said, ‘If we can get 200 bucks, you’re Jell-O wrestling me.’ He shook my head and said, ‘It’s on.’” Prior to the start of the event, Weber made the offer to the attendees and within a couple minutes, the money was raised and Weber was set to face his father in the grand finale.

Erie, PA - About 250 people attended the Flagship Niagara League's fourth annual Wintertime at the Maritime fundraising event on the Erie Maritime Museum's outdoor plaza Friday night. Some of the outdoor activities included cannonball bowling in which U.S. Brig Niagara crew members built a wooden bowling alley measuring 25 feet long by 4 feet wide. Attendees hurled 12-pound, 24-pound and 32-pound cannon balls. Friday's festivities included live music, food and activities inside heated tents, fire pits on the plaza, a vodka ice bar, a warm bar on the Brig Niagara, and a funky winter hat contest. A portion of the proceeds will support the Flagship Niagara League's operations and its eighth-grade day-sail program.

Bartlesville, OK - Children's Musical Theatre of Bartlesville will host an entertainment-style fundraising event on April 7. CMT, an award-winning musical theatre arts education nonprofit organization, has been fulfilling its mission "enriching the lives of children and youth by providing quality musical theatre education and performance opportunities" in Bartlesville since 2000. CMT's signature event, the main-stage summer musical, is the most widely recognized program. But CMT also provides other arts education programs throughout the year. The upcoming "Taste of the Territory" will raise financial support for year-round programs.

Bullhead City, AZ - Cool drinks, warm food and hot music chased away gray skies during Sunday’s fourth annual American Jam. The fundraising event, featuring live music, an outdoor beer, bloody Mary and wine garden, vendors, a raffle and barbecue beef prepared by Mohave Steakhouse and pizza from Little Caesars, benefits Soroptimist International Bullhead City/Laughlin Inc.

Groton, CT - Patches of snow still remained on Eastern Point Beach on Saturday, but participants at the fourth annual Seal Splash fundraiser to benefit Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program were undeterred from their mission of running into the water. At the sound of a horn and the start of the song "Eye of the Tiger," about 55 participants ran into the chilly water and splashed and shrieked. They then ran back to dry off and join friends and family members standing on the shore on the sunny day with temperatures in the 40s.

Lakeland, FL - Achievement Academy will host its third annual Top Chef of Polk County fundraising event April 10 at the Lakeland Center to raise money for programs and therapies for children. The event is a multicourse, fine-dining experience that spotlights up to a dozen Polk chefs, who prepare their own menus tableside with accompanying wines or libations that complement the flavors of each course. An expert panel will judge the chefs and present awards including best in appetizer, entree and dessert, and the top title of Top Chef of Polk County 2017.

International Falls, MN - The Business Professionals of America class at Littlefork-Big Falls High School recently organized its annual fundraiser for a cause. This year’s fundraising efforts will go to the American Cancer Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, noted Meyers. A total of over $3,900 was collected this year and will be distributed to the non-profit organizations according to the amounts raised by the respective teams. A few of the notable fundraising events included hoop shoots, silent auction and bake sales, staff versus staff volleyball, three-on-three basketball tournament, spaghetti feed, concession stand sales, ice bucket challenge, sucker sales and more.

Roseville, CA - The Jessup Athletic Association will host the inaugural TopSwing fundraising event – a fun gathering, providing golf, games, food, beverages, prizes and awards – on Sunday at Topgolf entertainment complex in Roseville. The fundraiser is open to the public for both sponsorship and participation. All proceeds raised at the event will go directly to support William Jessup University athletic programs with scholarships, improved team facilities, and help reduce student debt. TopSwing will become a yearly event.

Willoughby, OH - Lake Humane Society announced its seventh annual Rescue Rock Off will take place March 12 at Willoughby Brewing Company. The fundraising event features five live performances by local bands that support the cause. The event also includes an all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet, chances to win various prize baskets, cash in raffles and door prizes. Tickets are $25 presale and $30 at the door. The ticket includes admission to the event and access to the buffet. Nonalcoholic beverages are included.

Farmington, ME - The Mt. Blue Music Boosters will host fundraising events in March and April. Ice cream socials will take place in March following the spring concerts held at Mt. Blue High School. The flamingo event is planned for April 16-29. For $15 participants can arrange to have a flock of 10 flamingos delivered, under the shadow of darkness, to a local address. The flock will be there to greet their host for the day, and they will disappear that evening to be delivered to another address.

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Fundraising News From Around the World is published monthly by the Fundraising Ideas & Products Center, 1328 Fairway Village Drive ~ Fleming Island, FL 32003-8398.