Idea of the Month - February 2008
FUNDRAISING
Jennifer Garcia, Easter Seals Chair, Illinois State University
Illinois State University Holds Dress Sale
Letting my imagination flow brought about a unique approach to fundraising: a Dress Sale. With the assistance of our Publicity Chair, we created flyers briefly explaining the event and requesting donations of dresses. We made hundreds of flyers and asked college friends to help put them all over our school. Also, to hand them out suggesting to bring their old homecoming and prom dresses back with them after Thanksgiving break.
We sent e-mails to all of the sororities on campus. I made announcements of our fundraiser for Easter Seals in several of my classes.
The week after Thanksgiving break we obtained a room to receive the donations. With the assistance of several volunteers we kept everything organized and flowing smoothly. We have received more than 300 dresses, the number grows daily!
We offered an incentive to increase dress donations; providing the option of giving a percentage of the dress proceeds to Easter Seals. Most donations were given without restrictions or contingencies. Donors were pleased to support a worthy cause.
Dresses not sold or returned to donor will be donated to one of three organizations:
- The Cinderella Project for girls who can't afford prom dresses;
- The Marine Wives for wives of marines that can't afford dresses to attend the annual Marine Ball; or,
- Salvation Army.
The sale is taking place Friday, February 8, through Sunday, February 10.
Fundraising results will be posted after the event.