We're glad you're here. Connect with other parents and parents-to-be, ask questions and join the conversation.
When you walk in March for Babies, you give hope to nearly half a million babies born too soon each year. The money you raise supports programs in your community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies as well as allows us to maintain the amazing support of the ShareYourStory community.
In reply to skylarsmom1512:
I believe I've put this out there before, but we hold an annual Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament, with silent auction and raffle. It's a $60 buy-in with half of that going directly to the March of Dimes. All proceeds from the silent auction and raffle go as well. This year. we're adding a re-buy option (with a time limit) at $50 per re-buy. 100% of those proceeds go too. We came up with the idea of the poker tournament by thinking of what our friends like to do, and trying to turn that into an event.
We also utilize Facebook and my blog to reach out. We've use the "color in the states" map this year as well. And we still send out the traditional solicitation email. Keep asking!
Thinking of adding a restaurant day/night. One of my sisters sells 31, and she will usually donate 50% of her profit for a designated month to our team.
In the past, I've made preemie hats, booties, and bought sleepers. Then I put them on my facebook and asked for 'sponsors.' I made up little tags with the MOD logo on them. they said, "This _____ (hat, booties, sleeper etc) was loving donated by ___________. Sometimes people requested an "in honor of" or "in memory of" for the tags. On the back of each tag, I put the link for this SHARE site. All the preemie items were then donated to the local NICU for the nurses to distrubute however they were needed. I made each item worth a specific amount, like hats were $5 donations while sleepers were $25. It was a quick way to raise funds while sharing SYS with moms in need of support! Plus I usually bought the preemie items throughout the year when they went on clearance so I only paid $3 a sleeper!
This year our Team has done a Laundry Detergent fundraiser. We actually paired up with another Team to help sell more detergent. It was a lot of work but it was also very fun!
We are thinking about having a fundraising night at some of the local restaurants here as well. We haven't had the greatest weather and Mother Nature seems to still be deciding if its Spring or not so that has caused some delays.
Everyone has had some really great ideas and I will have to remember these for next year!
jami
My Original goal was $1000 and I now have a personal goal of $3000 and team goal of $3500. Right now I am at $2663 and the team is at $2753!
We started our campaign for March For Babies at the end of last year 25 weeks from the week we were to walk. I had as many people as possible commit to $1.00 a week till the day we walked (many coworkers) In total In total I think I had some where around 36 people and about 75% held to their commitment.
We also did T-shirt and I added a bunch of names of NICU grads and Angels. I set out with the mission that this year we are not just walking for our kids on this team but for all the kids past, present, and future babies that have been or will be born premature. I have called in all the stop put people on the spot and just had a great time!
I did a U.S. map that we have colored in Purple as the someone in the state Claimed the state by donating and we currently have 36 of the states filled in!
Social Media has been a huge help during this years campaign!
We are not done yet! 36 days till we walk!
68 THank you cards to 36 states, Tshirt Back & U.S. Map
_
In reply to Akeelah's Mommy:
Ooh garage sales, yes! We have a community thingy coming up here on the 5th. I think I'll put out a MOD banner and make that another fundraiser. Planning on baking items too and maybe selling water bottles out there too. You're so right Shannon, we do have to remind people as to the why.
Great ideas everyone!
Garage sales have also been our biggest (and hardest) fundraisers. Not only do we raise dimes, but also awareness gving out MOD info to everyone who visits.
We also seek out business sponsors- nothing huge, just our local stops. It all adds up.
The annual yard sale has been our biggest fund raiser so far. Facebook is an excellent tool for getting donations. You have to remind people frequently why you are doing what you do. You may feel like you're bothering them, but remember that the effects we've suffered from prematurity bother us more!
Our biggest fundraisers have been t-shirt sales and a zumbathon! My friend who ran those moved away though so no zumbathon this year. Also another big one was making my video and posting on facebook, that got the donations rolling in! Here's mine from last year.
http://youtu.be/q7QVA7CV2Pk
The Key Club at the local high school (and where my husband teaches) put on their own MOD walk around the track:)
This year is our second year and i ham putting together a zumbathon to help raise money for our team. Last year it was our first and we got a ton of money from family, friends and work colleagues.
Last year for team skylar we organized a car show/bake sale/auction with another team in our area it was a big hit