Eliminate Project

Here we are in the lazy, hazy days of summer, and I am already thinking about fall. Not that I dislike the summer-far from it! I never seem to have enough beach time. But the next Kiwanis year is bound to be a very exciting one for the EliMiNaTe Project as we focus on fund raising.
In my last column I promised that I would highlight some fund raising programs. Here they are:
1. The Lucky U Program is designed and administered by our own Ed Stoddard of the Chester Club. Lucky U emphasizes character building for young people. An adult purchases the materials and speaks with a preteen or teenager about values, integrity, decision making, etc., and encourages the young person to be his/her best self. A club can purchase the Lucky U material at $5 per set and then offer it at a price they choose. If a club charges $15 they can keep $10 and use it for EliMiNaTe. Or they can divide the $10 between EliMiNaTe and another project they sponsor. There are ways of also involving the business community as well. Ed will have a table at Niagara Falls and will be happy to explain his program and answer questions.
2. JP Di Troia, the EliMiNaTe Division Coordinator for Queens West, has sponsored several events at local restaurants and stores. (I mentioned his fund raiser at Arby's in my last column.) After working with the businesses involved to set a date, he prepares a flyer explaining the EliMiNaTe Project and indicates that there will be a 10 percnet discount to patrons who bring the flyer to the establishment on that day. Many chain-type restaurants offer these discount days. It is a win-win situation as the stores receive free publicity and possibly more customers on a particular day, and the Kiwanis Club has a successful fund raiser with little effort. And - very important - the word about EliMiNaTe reaches a wide audience. Even if those who receive a flyer don't participate, they become aware of what the EliMiNaTe Project is about.
3. Macy's and Lord and Taylor Department Stores designate certain days as special event days for nonprofit groups in their local areas. Customers need an admission ticket to shop on that day or time, and the sponsoring group is able to offer these tickets at a price they set and keep. In some instances, customers can make a donation at the door and indicate which group they want to receive their donation. Customers are given special discount coupons on merchandise and usually special sale items are featured as well. If your area does not have a Macy's or Lord and Taylor, you can check your local department store for similar event possibilities. Again, there is very little effort needed to have a successful fund raiser.
4. Although I have a black thumb, I receive information regularly from Gardener's Supply. They offer a seed- and bulb-selling program gives 50 percent of sales to the sponsoring organization. The sale can be done in person, on-line, or both. While I cannot vouch personally for Garden's Supply, I did order bulbs online from another company for a relative's fund raiser and was pleased with the quality of the merchandise and speedy delivery. Many companies offer such opportunities-and not only for flowers! To cite just one, Hanalei Bay Eyewear, a company selling reading glasses, has contacted me several times from Hawai'i. These glasses come in different strengths and cost $5. The organization can sell the glasses for whatever price they choose, usually in the $10-$12 range. Their representative told me that several Kiwanis Clubs around the country have had great success for the EliMiNaTe Project with these reading glasses. I have samples, but was not able to test them out as I have worn prescription eye glasses since I was ten years old. I will invite them to take a table at Niagara Falls, and, if that is not possible for them to come because of distance, I do have the samples and information.
5. During the fall many communities hold festivals and fairs. A Kiwanis Club could rent a table and offer information about EliMiNaTe. The perennial favorite wristbands are available from the campaign office in Indianapolis at 30 cents each (sold in groups of 100). If you want to have the tried and true bake sale, I have templates for labels available, thanks to the computer skills of my student worker Matthew Windels. The little flags I had in the cupcakes at Midwinter were a label folded in half over a toothpick. How easy is that? The labels are formatted in Word and use standard Avery labels. In addition to the flags I have labels for plastic bags for brownies, but these labels can be edited customized for any project. Just contact me: kirmse@fordham.edu. Of course, there is no charge for these templates.
These are only a few suggestions to jump start our efforts. I challenge every club to have a fundraiser for EliMiNaTe during the next Kiwanis year. More about this challenge in the next issue of ESK. Whatever your club decides to do, don't forget to keep the FUN in fund raising!
See you in Niagara Falls!
 

Column Posted on Web Site July 28, 2012