I was nominated for the Student of the Year award for lls.org – Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by a former teacher, Mrs. S Fernandez. Mrs, Fernandez was represented in a commissioned painting I did years ago. If you are doing some fundraising, maybe some of the ideas I worked through can help.
Area businesses can help by promoting your initiative. You can even ask local restaurants to donate a certain % of sales on a certain day / night – get at least a month’s notice and be prepared to promote it.
Area locations in NJ offered to accept donations on behalf of the team I pulled together (Team Breakthrough), including:
– Dr. Dan Sheeley’s West Windsor Chiropractic Center
(Francine is a Team Member!) Thank you Jill!
– Dr. Matt James / Specialized Physical Therapy in Princeton
– Teddy’s Luncheonette in Cranbury
– Dr. Blase Toto at Toto Chiropractic & Total Rehabilitation in East Brunswick.
– Perkins in East Windsor
Donations were also directly accepted on the Team’s lls.org site.
I had to ask for banners, donation boxes, trinkets / prizes, droplet name pads etc. If I did not ask, we would not have had them. Ask, you never know what is available and the people you are working with at the organization may be told that you must ask before they can supply promotional things.
FORM A TEAM: Bring others on board, meet to talk about ideas. Ask if they can provide collection boxes, posters etc where their parents work. Meet to talk about local businesses you can ask.
HAVE AN END DATE
DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR PITCH: All members should know what the goal is and why you are doing this.
HAVE CLEAR AND DEFINITE WAYS FOR OTHERS TO CONTACT YOU: Put it on all collection boxes, flyers posters etc. Are you a minor? Find an adult who can help with this.
CONTACT ALL RELEVANT NEWS OUTLETS: Do this immediately and at least 3-4 times until you get someone to answer. Ask everyone you know if they know anyone in media. Put your cause and end date in classifieds. Contact team members for updates on events every few days so it can be included in news releases. Consider paying a small amount to put a public service announcement about it online.
BAKE SALES: Some team members wanted to have bake sales and I went along to help them. There are many things to consider, I suggest looking it up before putting in the effort look up ‘bake sale best practices’ or something.
Things to think about – items need to be prepackaged and it is best if they are all the same price, say $1. Have change, a heavy box in a safe place for money you collect. Buying fresh fruit (whole pieces) or prepackaged things like powdered donuts, cinnamon rolls, chips etc. to supplement homemade things is an option. Don’t break cases if you are not sure they will sell, you might be able to return them. Again, make sure all food is individually wrapped to grab and go, it is more sanitary and helps avoid other problems.
If your venue is an art show, sporting event, karate class – bring yourself a chair, plan on decorations (maybe a few balloons). Also consider a case of water or other drinks.
If you are selling when school lets out – bring FRIENDS because you will be mobbed for 10 minutes and then done. ADVERTISE 2 weeks in advance. Have clear, bold signs ‘Bake Sale, Everything $1’ EVERYWHERE.
Have a plain box with a large slit on top labeled ‘DONATIONS ACCEPTED’.
This alerts customers that they are not ‘buying baked goods’ they are choosing a treat as a thank you for their donation. Very important distinction.
Save prepackaged things for the next sale or for a thank you to a business that might help you (ask if you can put them in their break room).
Keep track of all money you spend – it is either a donation or you can pay yourself back from proceeds for things purchased.
Bake sales are not necessarily effective or an efficient use of your time but they are a fun thing to do with your friends and they definitely raise awareness for the cause you are supporting.
DRESS DOWN (or other fun idea) DAYS: Go to all schools, restaurants or businesses you can, meet with the manager or principal and ask if they can have a ‘day’ for your cause. Advertise a month or more ahead in the organization newsletter – ask for the event to be in their staff email, break rooms etc.
Prepare flyers and ask if YOU can post them in halls (don’t give them work to do). Give them collection boxes a week ahead, something catchy like huge paper flowers in your theme color or balloons and flyers for mailboxes. Don’t forget a very clear, simple poster or 2. Print out works in an easy to read font in black. Put the logo and website on it.
ASK if you can keep your banner, signs, collection box (empty periodically) in their reception area until your campaign is over.
ADVERTISE the companies that are helping you. Tell everyone to visit the businesses.
LLS Finale at The Imperia
Team Breakthrough was invited to attend the NJ SoY finale in Somerset early in March. Elaina Phillips, of Princeton High School (center), is with Viktor Pullan, Russell Burns, Anlin Kopf, Giavanna Toto and Sarah Staggs.
Published in the Central Jersey Princeton Packet / Cranbury Press:
Team Breakthrough was given 7 weeks to raise money and increase awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Students of the Year (LLS SoY) Initiative which ended Saturday night. There were 22 teams from across New Jersey involved this year. The 15-member team from Princeton was composed of 9 students from Princeton High School, Russell Burns from Cary Academy, NC and Giavanna Toto from Notre Dame High School.
Elaina Phillips, a resident of Cranbury and sophomore at Princeton High School was Team Breakthrough’s Candidate. The Team sent hundreds of letters and emails, posted on social media outlets and put banners out at schools, businesses and events. They organized fundraising initiatives, went canning, and reached out to friends and family for support. They contacted dozens of companies for sponsorship, to buy space in the program book and also asked for contributions of items, tickets etc. for an auction. Bridget Schmidt, PHS Art Teacher and students Jackson Henry Whetstone, Sarah Staggs and Elaina Phillips put together an Art of Craft Auction basket with items such as a quilted coverlet, throw pillow, ceramic pieces and Philadelphia Museum of Art tickets.
The team faced many setbacks and did not secure huge individual donations but through the help of several 100 people and area schools and businesses, they raised approximately $20K for cancer research and patient support. The 22 candidate teams for the NJ 2019 LLS SoY campaign raised approximately 450K.
Elaina was grateful Robert Ginsberg, Principal at Johnson Park Elementary School in Princeton, Luis Ramirez Principal at Littlebrook Elementary School in Princeton and Dr. Genco, Chief School Administrator at Cranbury School were supportive. Each school held a “Dress Down Day” to raise awareness at their schools. Area businesses offered to accept donations on Team Breakthrough’s behalf, including Dr. Matt James at Specialized Physical Therapy, Princeton, Dr. Sheeley’s West Windsor Chiropractic Center and Dr. Blase Toto at Toto Chiropractic & Total Rehabilitation, East Brunswick. Teddy’s Luncheonette in Cranbury and Perkins in East Windsor helped distribute flyers.
“We have worked hard, and we will find out soon if we exceeded our goal of $20,000. There were donations given Saturday night that have not been added to our total.” Elaina Phillips said. “My idea of the Students of the Year Campaign wasn’t for me to win. Our team goal was to raise money and increase awareness about the impact of blood cancers. We succeeded… I feel fortunate to have been a part of it.”
Elaina was nominated to be a candidate by Sara Fernandez, her former social studies teacher at Cranbury School. Ms. Fernandez told Jill DeMaio, of LLS, about Elaina’s community service and past accomplishments.
At the final event, held Saturday, March 9, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society presented Elaina with the Student of the Year Citizenship Award for integrating the LLS mission and the outreach and awareness that resulted. Overall, nominees were judged on creativity, passion, reach and leadership.
Team Breakthrough: Elaina Phillips, Candidate, Russell Burns, Manuel Chaland, Moriah Eley, Jake Iken, Matt James, Anlin Kopf, Bob Phillips, Viktor Pullan, Francine Sheeley, Sarah Staggs, Giavanna Toto, Julia Troilo, Leah Ziegler and Nina Phillips, Campaign Manager.
My first LLS meeting!
