Now is our only given. How we choose to invest our time differs for each of us. Thankfully, many generous Houstonians voted with their time and financial resources to make the first "fun"draising and "friend"raising luncheon for The Rose a tremendous success!
The Rose's mission is to reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing screening, diagnostics and access to treatment for all women regardless of their ability to pay.
My friend, Donna Mittendorf and I were honored to chair this luncheon, and thrilled that so many friends helped increase funds and additional friends for this amazing organization.
Our stellar media celebrity panel: Melanie Lawson, Andrea Watkins and Debra Duncan beautifully moderated by Ernie Manouse, vividly highlighted the importance taking time to care for ourselves. Melanie's MS, Andrea's breast cancer and Debra's brain aneurysm brought to focus the reality that health issues don't wait until we have time to address them.
Unless we take time to care for ourselves, we won't be able to give our best to others.
Showing posts with label charity fundraising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity fundraising. Show all posts
Monday, April 15, 2013
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Exceeding an Enormous Goal!
I enthusiastically accepted a request to lead Comerica's Houston United Way campaign. We first thought that we'd be asked to exceed last year's campaign by 10%, which was imminently doable. However, when we were asked to raise over $40,000 more than the previous year's campaign, I knew that creating a stellar team was the only way we could succeed (or exceed goals).
We realized that all of our colleagues were not familiar with the amazing impact of United Way and created 3 distinct Kick-Off events with speakers from United Way and community agencies. Knowing that every dollar we raise benefits 1 in 2 of our Houston residents creates a compelling case to participate.
This stellar team of committed leaders and engaged colleagues has exceeded our ambitious fund-raising goal!
Lessons reinforced by this experience are:
We realized that all of our colleagues were not familiar with the amazing impact of United Way and created 3 distinct Kick-Off events with speakers from United Way and community agencies. Knowing that every dollar we raise benefits 1 in 2 of our Houston residents creates a compelling case to participate.
This stellar team of committed leaders and engaged colleagues has exceeded our ambitious fund-raising goal!
Lessons reinforced by this experience are:
- education is a critical component for buy-in
- leading by example really matters
- individual requests for participation increase engagement
- creating an ambitious goal creates a rallying point for success
- asking a newbie to lead the charge allows new questions to be addressed
Friday, June 15, 2012
45 Ways to Make a Difference
45 Ways to Make a
Difference
1. Volunteer!
2. Contribute financially to a
non-profit organization.
3. Join a non-profit friends group.
4. Become an advisory board member.
5. Serve on a board.
6. Chair a committee.
7. Plan an event.
8. Make friends aware of the great work
of your chosen non-profit organization.
9. Walk, run or bike for an
organization.
10. Donate your new or gently used items
to an organization.
11. Vote.
12. Bring someone with you to volunteer.
13. Recycle.
14. Collect non-perishable food items for
a food bank or pantry.
15. Give blood.
16. Register as an organ donor.
17. Provide toiletry items to a homeless
organization.
18. Be a mentor.
19. Teach a class.
20. Encourage a friend, stranger,
colleague, family member or neighbor.
21. Speak up for someone who needs an
advocate.
23. Take the magazines you’ve read to a
nursing home or hospital.
24. Organize a group of colleagues,
friends or neighbors for a volunteer project.
25. Conserve natural resources.
26. Fund-raise for a non-profit.
27. Assist a classroom teacher.
28. Coach a team.
30. Thoughtfully re-gift.
31. Donate books to the library.
32. Motivate positive action with a
letter to the editor.
33. Donate or recycle your old cell
phone.
34. Keep reusable bags in your car for
shopping trips.
35. Support a non-profit through social
media.
38. Shop for a cause.
40. Support our troops.
41. Share knowledge.
43. Become a foster parent.
44. Attend a fund-raising event.
45. Make a donation in memory or honor of
someone.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Out of Our Element
One of our new, unique Sterling Bank "fun"draising projects for March of Dimes was "Dress an Executive for Halloween". I had 10 other willing senior executives who agreed with me to be bid upon for dressing rights. Our teams were tame, and only three chose to bid. Each of these teams chose to dress their own senior executive. Since I was not an executive to be dressed, I rallied my other "non-chosen" colleagues to donate to dress our willing CEO.
We "mummified" our CEO, discovered that our Operations EVP is a "hot dog", realized from our HR "flapper" EVP that there's a lighter side to work and ascertained that our Specialty Banking and Investments EVP will step way out of his comfort zone to make a great impression.
When we're willing to be vulnerable, we often make great connections and memories.
We "mummified" our CEO, discovered that our Operations EVP is a "hot dog", realized from our HR "flapper" EVP that there's a lighter side to work and ascertained that our Specialty Banking and Investments EVP will step way out of his comfort zone to make a great impression.
When we're willing to be vulnerable, we often make great connections and memories.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Funding Classroom Projects
For anyone with a desire to help fund projects in individual public school classrooms, DonorsChoose.org provides an easy way to select from thousands of teacher requests. DonorsChoose.org is an award-winning online charity that presents public school teachers' classroom project funding requests from across the U.S. Small gifts really make a difference because the site pools donor funds to make individual classroom dreams a reality. It's easy to search for projects by location. And the projects are incredibly diverse, allowing incredible donor flexibility.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Charity Fundraising Ideas for Companies
Sterling Bank supports many deserving non-profits in our focus areas through direct contributions and volunteer hours. Much of our employee fundraising involvement in Houston and Dallas is committed to March of Dimes. In San Antonio, our bankers raise funds for United Way.
Employee fundraising ideas that we've successfully implemented include:
Employee fundraising ideas that we've successfully implemented include:
- Meals and snacks of every variety
- Bake Sales
- Chocolate Sales
- Sending Singing Pink Flamingos Office-to-Office
- FunFests with Children's Activities, Camel Rides and Music
- Water Balloon Toss to Douse Your Favorite Managers
- Rent-a-Manager for a Day
- Rent-a-Team for a Half-Day
- Silent Auctions
- Children's Art Calendar
- Selling March of Dims Labeled Products including bears and bracelets
- Jeans for Babies
- Pumpkins or Booties for Babies
- Garage Sale
- Change Wars
- Cutest Pet Contest
- Extra Vacation Day Auction
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
