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View Full Version : Fundraiser Help, Please!
2bpink
10-10-2005, 07:16 PM
Hello everyone! I have been trying to find out some information! I am a Mary Kay consultant who has had some very bad health challenges. My medical expenses are expected to finish out this year at around $10,000.00 and will probably be that next year as well. I would like to do a huge fundraiser, with family's help, to help raise money. Does anyone have any suggestions on what type of event I can have? Has anyone else done anything like this to raise money for themselves or someone they know??
CBTammy
10-10-2005, 07:27 PM
Sorry to hear about your expenses.smileys/smiley19.gif Healthcare is outrageous these days! But thats another post...LOL
NO I have never done something like that for myself.
However, here are a few ideas:
Country Bunny Bath and Body has a fundraiser where you earn 50% upfront
of the sales. Doesn't cost at all to enroll in it. So you
would need to sell $20k total to pay for your hospital bills.
You could do a silent auction...get local businesses to donate gift
cards, gift baskets, free year of oil changes, etc. Then invite
EVERYONE you can possibly think of and let them bid on the items.
That might go well.
Along other lines...do you have any expenses in your budget that you
could cut out? Cable tv, DSL, a nice car that you could downgrade
to something slightly used, cell phone?? If you could cut out
$100/month that way it would really go a long way to your medical
expenses.
Or how about selling some stuff on ebay? Do you have crafting
items you rarely use? Longaberger Baskets? Pieces of nice
clothing? You could really dig out some stuff and make a couple
hundred dollars quickly I'm sure. Thats a fraction of your 10k
bill, but every bit helps!
Take Care!!!smileys/smiley2.gif
oh, and since you are with Mary Kay, contact them and ask if they will
make a special product for you and donate $1-2 of the proceeds to your
helathcare...kind of like places do for cancer awareness, etc.
NO I have never done something like that for myself.
However, here are a few ideas:
Country Bunny Bath and Body has a fundraiser where you earn 50% upfront
of the sales. Doesn't cost at all to enroll in it. So you
would need to sell $20k total to pay for your hospital bills.
You could do a silent auction...get local businesses to donate gift
cards, gift baskets, free year of oil changes, etc. Then invite
EVERYONE you can possibly think of and let them bid on the items.
That might go well.
Along other lines...do you have any expenses in your budget that you
could cut out? Cable tv, DSL, a nice car that you could downgrade
to something slightly used, cell phone?? If you could cut out
$100/month that way it would really go a long way to your medical
expenses.
Or how about selling some stuff on ebay? Do you have crafting
items you rarely use? Longaberger Baskets? Pieces of nice
clothing? You could really dig out some stuff and make a couple
hundred dollars quickly I'm sure. Thats a fraction of your 10k
bill, but every bit helps!
Take Care!!!smileys/smiley2.gif
oh, and since you are with Mary Kay, contact them and ask if they will
make a special product for you and donate $1-2 of the proceeds to your
helathcare...kind of like places do for cancer awareness, etc.
Mellonie
10-10-2005, 07:46 PM
Fabulous advice, Tammy!
I have never done a fundraiser for myself. In fact, I don't think it qualifies as a fundraiser unless funds are being raised for an actual charity organization or a place that can accept charity contributions (such as a hospital or a church).
Have you considered doing something such as a telecommute job? I am with a party plan company, and doing really well, but when my family and I suddenly found ourselves in a position where my husband could not work and I became the sole income provider, doing some typing/transcription in the mornings is what worked for me.
Above all, keep your chin up and your hope alive. You will overcome this obstacle. We will all keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
I have never done a fundraiser for myself. In fact, I don't think it qualifies as a fundraiser unless funds are being raised for an actual charity organization or a place that can accept charity contributions (such as a hospital or a church).
Have you considered doing something such as a telecommute job? I am with a party plan company, and doing really well, but when my family and I suddenly found ourselves in a position where my husband could not work and I became the sole income provider, doing some typing/transcription in the mornings is what worked for me.
Above all, keep your chin up and your hope alive. You will overcome this obstacle. We will all keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
MiaBellaFreedom
10-11-2005, 04:13 AM
I just wanted to clarify the "fundraiser" issue.
Absolutely anyone can have a fundraiser for any cause. Whether it be for a charity donation OR to pay for personal medical expenses.
We just had alocal fund raiserforthe family of a shark attack victim because their medical bills have exceeded their maximum insurance payout and they were struggling to pay their bills.All the money went directly to the family.
There are also College kids who go door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions to raise money for trips and even tuition.
Again, you do NOT have to be acharitable organization to raise funds and/or receive charity. Just make sure people know what the funds are being raised for.
Absolutely anyone can have a fundraiser for any cause. Whether it be for a charity donation OR to pay for personal medical expenses.
We just had alocal fund raiserforthe family of a shark attack victim because their medical bills have exceeded their maximum insurance payout and they were struggling to pay their bills.All the money went directly to the family.
There are also College kids who go door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions to raise money for trips and even tuition.
Again, you do NOT have to be acharitable organization to raise funds and/or receive charity. Just make sure people know what the funds are being raised for.
Mellonie
10-11-2005, 07:23 AM
I didn't know that, thank you. How embarassing for me! I honestly thought, as my Accountant described to be for tax purposes, that technically a fundraiser is for an organization who is set up to accept charitable funds. Perhaps this would apply only if the people want to write it off at the end of the year?
MiaBellaFreedom
10-11-2005, 07:28 AM
Exactly!smileys/smiley1.gif
2bpink
10-11-2005, 02:39 PM
I would like to do a fundraiser, of course, with Mary Kay products since that is what I sell. I just don't know what kind of event to do. My upline directors are helping me work on this. I think I will call Mary Kay headquarters tomorrow and see what they can recommend and I can find out what kind of events the company legally allows. For example, I don't believe an auction is something that is allowed, but probably something like a Bingo would be, or a fundraiser dinner with a raffle, etc. Thanks all for your help!!
CBTammy - I have sold off a lot of personal collectibles, held multiple yard sales this year despite my poor health, sold things on Ebay, we have pretty much done everything we can. But it has not even touched the expenses. Last year when I couldn't work really put us behind as well, so we had to refinance and do some other things. I had to giveup my director position with Mary Kay and everything. Some expenses are hard to cut out, such as internet, cell, phone since I need these to run my business and with my health, I need to have a cell phone at all times. We also have a 4-year-old toddler running around and, well, I'm sure you all know how much energy that takes! So, it has been very hard.
CBTammy - I have sold off a lot of personal collectibles, held multiple yard sales this year despite my poor health, sold things on Ebay, we have pretty much done everything we can. But it has not even touched the expenses. Last year when I couldn't work really put us behind as well, so we had to refinance and do some other things. I had to giveup my director position with Mary Kay and everything. Some expenses are hard to cut out, such as internet, cell, phone since I need these to run my business and with my health, I need to have a cell phone at all times. We also have a 4-year-old toddler running around and, well, I'm sure you all know how much energy that takes! So, it has been very hard.
JackieUlmer
10-11-2005, 07:07 PM
Well, there are things for the donator to keep in mind, Mellonie, which may be whatyou are thinking of. There are only certain types of fundraisers that can be claimed on income taxes as a deduction, but ANYTHING can do a fundraiser.
I have some people in my organization who have done these for personal medical expenses.
Thekey has been to find about 10 COMMITED people to help spread the word and carry details to "fundraise" and collect money.
Most have created a website for awareness and press releases and have also found local businesses to get involved and put out information.
You can do it! They have! Good luck!
I have some people in my organization who have done these for personal medical expenses.
Thekey has been to find about 10 COMMITED people to help spread the word and carry details to "fundraise" and collect money.
Most have created a website for awareness and press releases and have also found local businesses to get involved and put out information.
You can do it! They have! Good luck!
