Fund Raising Tip.......If you are having an event and sending out invitations, do not overlook sending an invitation via the mail!  They do not have to be fancy, but it can be a standout to get an invitation in the mail, instead of online via Evite or email.  This gives people an actual piece of paper to "put on the fridge" and may be a good reminder.  Follow up via email or Evite if you want to.....just a tip you may want to try!

It is time to tell your story.....and you all have one.  Every single person who participates in Relay for Life has a story.  They have a reason why they Relay.  You need to share your story.  Even if your story is a simple one....you want to help find a cure.  I am dedicating my Relay to three very important loved ones.  You can read all about it on my page.  There is something very important about letting people know....you are asking them to donate money to you.  If you are asking them to take the time to do this....you need to take the time to make your Relay page personal.  It only takes a few minutes and makes a world of difference.  Follow the directions when you sign in and tell your story.  Please put on a special picture.  It can be of anything important to you.  A lot of people put a picture of their children on - they want Cancer cured in their kids lifetime....put a picture of yourself up....just make it personal.  There are special sizes that a picture must be to put it on your site.  Shrink Pictures will help you - follow the directions on the page, download your picture, and choose 350 pixels and better quality.  Make it YOUR page!!!  Click here to go to Shrink Pictures.  

With this post I want everyone to stop and take a minute to remember why we all Relay....we may have different reasons, but they are all good reasons.  My husband and I lost a dear friend to cancer today - my husband dedicated his Relay to this friend last year.  So, while we are all busy forming teams, going to meetings, raising money.....and sometimes it all seems a little hectic....take a minute and remember why we all do this and why it is one of the most important things you can ever do.

What a great and fun fund raising idea!!!  The Oscars are going to be televised on February 27th.  Invite a few or a lot of friends over and host a fun Oscar party.  There are many ways you can do this to raise money for Relay.  You can charge each person "admission"....you provide as much or as little food as you like.  Popcorn and sodas will do, or you can have more!  Ask your team members to each make one appetizer to spread out the cost and the time involved.  Click here for a link to a party planning page from the Academy of Arts and Sciences.  This will give you so many great ideas and also a form you can download and print that is an Oscar Ballot.  You can have people pay to participate and the winner takes home half the money and half goes to Relay (or who knows, they might be generous and donate their half, too).  There are forms for Oscar Bingo too - they are really fun.  Again, you could charge money to play Bingo....a lot of good party ideas on this link.  Just a thought....since the Oscars are on a Sunday night and go quite late, you could record the show and have the party on another night!  That way you can set the time and fast forward through the commercials. You might not be able to do the Oscar ballots, but you could sure still play Bingo.  If you did the party later, send out a ballot as an invitation and ask people, before the awards are televised to pick their winners!  Announce who won the contest at your party!  And the Oscar goes to..........!!!

The kick off meeting for Relay is just around the corner!  Now is a perfect time to start forming your team.  You need a minimum of eight people to form a team.  I have had a team with as many as 21 people....too many!  Find a number that works for you and a group that you can get together to decide what you are going to do for Relay.  Do not be afraid to ask people to join your team.....the worst that can happen?  They say no and you look elsewhere.  Ask your friends...co-workers....neighbors.....friends at church.....people you are in class with...  Are you in a club?  See if your club would like to have a team.  Then...formulate your plan on how you are going to raise your money for Relay.  The first time I ever went to a Relay meeting it was in March.  The meetings started in January and I wandered into a March meeting seven years ago and fell in love with Relay.  You can do as much or as little as you want.....it is all about working together to find a cure!  Good luck, happy fund raising and Let's Get Ready to RELAY!!!!

I know that Newtown is pretty "over" the snow....but it is January and there may be more to come!  How about shoveling for donations?  You never know if you don't ask.  Make up some fliers and put them in your neighbor's mailboxes...or send out emails.....just be sure that you are letting them know what you are doing.  Also, remember one of my favorite "good ideas"....the use of the words minimum donation.  You can say you will shovel a sidewalk for a minimum donation of $15, but they can certainly donate more!  Remember, too that a person does not have to give you cash or even write you a check, they can go directly online to your personal web page and put on a tax deductible donation on their credit card.  Happy shoveling!

There are 152 days left until Relay....if you save $1.00 a day from now until then.....well, you would have $150.00 towards a CURE!!!  If you can't do a dollar a day, remember to just throw all of your change in a bank or a can and you will be surprised at how much you will have when it comes time to count it and put it on your site.  Challenge your family members or co-workers and see who can come up with the most change...this change could make a BIG change in someone's life!  Happy New Year!!!

Here is a good idea.....I know it is a very, very busy time of year....but sometimes people have a little free time the week between Christmas and New Years.  It may seem early, but maybe try and get your team together.  Form a plan for your fund raising in the new year!  Have a computer or lap top available, get everyone signed up online.....get a picture on your site!  Having all of this done before the Relay "season" and meetings start, cause a lot less confusion and last minute decisions! 

As Christmas approaches....there are several ways you can raise money for your team.  You can ask for donations as a gift for yourself......you can offer to wrap gifts for a donation....run errands for a friend, in exchange for a donation.  Be creative....not everything has to be a big fund raiser, or an "event" to raise money.  It all adds up and most important....it all matters!

Here is an idea you might think about as you are sending out your Christmas cards.  A team mate of mine always includes the web site to her personal Relay for Life page in her annual letter to her friends and family.  It is a great way to get the word out that she is participating in Relay and how they can learn about her efforts.  Remember....you can easily create your own personal URL!  Just sign into your page and follow the prompts!

Watch in upcoming posts for the above "Good Idea" picture.....I will be posting some good ideas for your fund raisers...things that you can do to help make your fund raising more successful.  Here is the "good idea".....be sure and always tell people to bring a friend...it is a wonderful way to expand your base of people that will come to your fund raisers and a great way to get new people involved in Relay.  Because....the more folks involved in Relay, the closer we all become to finding a cure and raising awareness!

Happy Thanksgiving is coming up!  Are you a talented pie baker?  It is a busy time of the year, but think about this.....if you make a great pie and have time to whip up extras...offer them to your friends for a Relay donation.  A lot of folks are too busy to bake, or maybe, like me...can't bake a good pie to save their life!  Make a few calls....print up a couple of fliers for the mail boxes in your neighborhood, throw it on Relay's Facebook page.... and see what happens.  If you take orders ahead of time, you won't have to buy things you do not need.  Figure up what it will cost you, and add a donation to make your total cost.  And....be sure and use my favorite hint in wording..."I am selling Pecan Pies for a minimum donation of $20".  You will get your $20 you are asking for, but in using the word minimum, you might just get $25.  Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving season!

Hi everyone....we did have a great Relay last year....it was just cut way too short by Mother Nature....But on to Relay for Life of Newtown 2011.  Take time to go back through the archives of this blog to look for fund raising ideas!  I will have some new ideas, and will also post some of the good ones and the never-fail ones again!  Speaking of never fail ones....before the weather gets TOO cold....try a Fall Bake Sale or a Fall Tag Sale!  It has been great to see so much fall fundraising going on this year!  And remember....the holiday season is around the corner.  Think about things you may want to try and sell to raise money for your Relay efforts.

See you all tomorrow....it is going to be a wonderful Relay........

6/2/2010 ~ Team Captain ~ T-shirt Pick Up Night

6:30 PM ~ Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street

Just a reminder that tonight is Bank Night.....

ONE person from each team must come and pick up your team bag with t-shirts and turn in any money/checks.  And....youth and chaperon forms are due as well!

Some pictures from the Duck Race - soooo much fun!!!  The youth teams are just amazing - the things they come up with.  They are very creative and hardworking!!!

Icing on the Cake......Fund Raising the night of Relay is just that!!!  Icing on the Cake!!!  Yes, money is online already, but the money  you raise the night of Relay will go towards finding a CURE as well!!!  You certainly do not have to do any fund raising at Relay....just come and have a wonderful night, but if you do fund raise.....thank you!!!  See you in a few days!

Relay for Life is a very moving and touching event.  There are certain times that quiet is called for.  Please help out with this.  During the opening ceremony, the luminaria ceremony, fight back and closing ceremony it is very important to have quiet.  There are hours to talk and chat, these times, however are not the time for this.  If you can, please remind your team and especially please ask that any kids not toss balls or talk during this time, out of respect to those we are all at Relay to honor.  Help spread the word.....thanks so much....

A last minute chance - Fund Raising Idea #84.......Read the email below and if you are interested, follow-up with the contact and also CC Necole Salveson with an email to:
necoles277@earthlink.net....could be a great chance to make some last minute Relay money!!!
There is a baseball tournament this weekend Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Fairfield Hills fields. They are looking for Relay teams to run the snack shack - NO COOKING or SWEATING needed!  Each team is invited to run the shack for a period of time during the following hours:  Saturday 9-4, Sunday 9-4, Monday 2-6. There are a bunch of baseball games throughout the weekend and they are playing out of town teams.  Each game has a MINIMUM of 24 families PER GAME!!  The Relay teams can sell candy, chips, popcorn, soda, water, etc. and MAKE MONEY for RELAY!!!  Anyone interested they can contact Joe Duffy at 203-364-0391 or jduffy14@charter.net and PLEASE CC Necole Salveson (see above).  NOTE....you will supply your own items to sell, and nothing hot please.  All your profits can go to your Relay team....

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Fund Raising Idea #83....Day of Idea.....Candy Store.....Kids and adults both love candy!  You could buy several bags of candy, get different jars and containers, and have your own candy store!  In the old days, they were called Penny Candy Stores....well, inflation, and maybe not a penny anymore, but the idea is you can buy one or two pieces for change!  Hit Target, Walmart, Dollar Store, Christmas Tree Store....they sell candy for a pretty good price.....and make it look nice and appealing and I bet you will have a lot of customers!!!