Monday, March 8, 2010

Fun Fundraising, it's worth a try!

I love our dog. He is amazing. ‘Nuff said.

So why wouldn’t I try to raise money so that Dogs4Diabetics could help more people? I didn’t have to pay for Lawton. He was given to us free of charge. I feel some responsibility to share the love.

Last week we had our annual school fundraiser for Dogs4Diabetics at the boys’ elementary school. All the kids were asked to bring in one dollar sometime during the week, and if they did, they could wear their favorite hat to school all day on Friday. As I alluded to in my last post, I spent most of last week in classrooms giving presentations and answering questions about our dog, and about diabetes.

You wouldn’t believe some of the great, thoughtful questions that came from these children’s mouths.

Example: “If your boys forgot to give themselves insulin, they must have a lot of sugar staying in their bodies. How do they feel when this happens? “

You also wouldn’t believe some of the crazy, not so well thought out questions that came from these children’s mouths.

Example: “What would happen if Lawton would die, right here, right now. Would your boys die too?”

Over the past few years, I’ve learned that if I visit a class, and talk with them about what we are raising money for, the class will participate on a MUCH greater scale then those I do not speak to.

So this year I spoke to almost every class.

It was a HUGE success…an entire school of children wearing Disney hats, baseball hats, summer hats, construction hats…

And we raised….

DUM DA DUMMMMMMM!!

$1000.00

NICE!

This is a great fundraiser for your walk team too! Before we got Lawton we had the caps day, but instead it was, “Caps4aCure.” It is really easy to put together. A flyer in the school newsletter. A little spiel at the kid’s assembly. Envelopes with class lists attached, so the teachers can check off who brings in their dollar. Maybe a few classroom presentations. Kids wear their hats….BAM! Done.

(Our family makes dog bone shaped cookies for all the classes that have over 80% participation.)

Kids CAN make a difference. It is empowering. I hear stories every year of kids wanting to use their own dollar, or kids who ask their parents how they can earn more money to donate. The whole experience is so positive for everyone!

Give it a shot!

7 comments:

  1. Awesome! Amazing job Meri... and that pic is so, so cute! I love Lawton's hat!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congrats!!! That's fantastic! What a great fundraiser for such a worthy organization! And I love how you make bone-shaped cookie as a reward for participation. Very cute! :)

    I really want to get a D dog for Jack. I so wish D4D placed dogs in AZ. I would love to know more about Lawton.

    Again, congrats on a terrific fundraiser!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. How wonderful Meri! What good you are doing! Congrats to you, the boys and to Lawton too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Has anyone told you today that you are simply AMAZING?

    Thanks, as always for inspiring us all.

    Love you Meri!

    ReplyDelete
  5. GREAT picture and WOW thats some good funds raised!!! You are awesome as always!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent, I love the photo of the boys and Lawton in their hats!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How cool is that?! Give yourself a huge pat on the back, mom, you did good! =)

    I love the D4D program - I first heard about it when the AZ Republic did an article on a little boy here who has a dog trained to sense his highs & lows. It was a great story. I would love to learn more over time. I know the kids have to be older before they qualify, so we have a ways to go, though.

    ReplyDelete

Comments=Love
Moderation now enabled, so comments will not immediately be seen.