Fall isn’t just football season in the Golden Isles, it’s also fundraising season! From golf tournaments to glamorous galas, our non-profit agencies and charitable organizations are looking for support through donations and volunteerism. This is when we see members of our community championing important causes, showing their generous character, and often being superheroes for those in need.
Mark Durant Photography
As the creators of a local lifestyle publication, it’s our job to have a thumb on the pulse of the community, to support charitable causes, and to promote their fundraisers. EIL has sponsored, hosted, planned, and attended countless events over the years and have gathered some suggestions on how to maximize involvement and donations for your organizations.
If you’re beginning a new fundraising event, there are some basic guidelines to help ensure success. Have a plan and start working on it early. Treat fundraising as a year-round activity. Use the early months to identify potential event sponsors and attendees and foster relationships with them. Target companies that your board members work for or own and any organizations they might be involved with. Approach current donors and present event sponsorship as a new way for them to show support. Encourage volunteers and staff to purchase tickets and invite their family and friends. Consider offering them special discounts or ticket packages as incentive. Pick up the phone or set up appointments to meet with potential sponsors and donors personally. Making sure they understand that they are an important part of the process makes them feel invested in the event’s success. Remember to request referrals. Ask sponsors to invite their employees to attend.
If your event is already an established fundraiser, let prior year sponsors know they were a part of the previous year’s success and offer them the opportunity to upgrade their gift by sponsoring at a higher level. Do this early in the planning stages, not at the last minute! Reach out to prior year attendees by phone call or letter before sending out invitations and encourage them to attend again and bring a friend. Suggest they might like to fill a table. Obtaining new guests each year is important to growing your event.
A good way to boost your fundraiser’s bottom line without incurring significant additional
expense is by incorporating new revenue streams like raffles or live and silent auctions. Only add one new revenue stream at a time and don’t be afraid to drop it the following year if you discover that the return is not worth the time or stress. Obtaining auction items, cataloging, and processing payments may require more volunteers and extensive additional duties, so be prepared!
In our small community, there are so many non-profit organizations and charitable causes that appeal to the same pool of participants that it can be difficult to get people excited about events. It’s important to make your fundraising efforts stand out from the crowd to get noticed. Look for types of events that are not being done here or new themes. Encourage giving in a fun ways that will shake things up and get your organization seen. One clever idea is the “un-gala” where guests send in a donation and receive a pre-prepared special dinner delivered by a catering company (or non-profit volunteer) in return. No event venue costs and overhead for the organization and no need for guests to spend money on fancy attire, salon appointments, etc., so they donate more. Look to other communities and organization for ideas. Be bold! Be different!
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The recently formed Junior Women’s Association of the Golden Isles took a page from Disney when it came to planning their newest fundraiser. At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, they are hosting a Character Breakfast in Hamilton Hall at Frederica Academy. Think princesses, Minnie Mouse, Bob the Builder, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and maybe even a superhero or two. These very special guests will be on hand to dine with kids and their parents and there will be a “selfie station” and plenty of photo opportunities too. The children attending (and their parents) are encouraged to dress up in their favorite character costumes to come enjoy a buffet breakfast prepared by JWAGI members. What a clever way for a new organization to introduce itself in the community with such an appealing and unique event! Who wouldn’t want to have pancakes with a princess or blueberry muffins with Bob the Builder?! This type of experience is exactly what kids love about Disney World and aside from a few breakfast with Santa opportunities during the holiday season, the idea has not been widely incorporated into non-profit events. Kudos, ladies! Tickets for the Character Breakfast are available at jwagi.org/events. Single ticket are $15 or a family 4-pack is available for $50. Tickets are tax deductible. There are sponsorship opportunities available as well, and begin at only $50. Seating will be limited, so we encourage everyone to get their tickets online now!
Junior Womens Association of the Golden Isles
The Junior Women’s Association of the Golden Isles is a not-for-profit association of women leaders that was formed last year. Their mission is to cultivate women leaders through networking and leadership training and to provide those women with a platform to support the Golden Isles community. Their mission is to empower women and children in the community through educational programming and community projects with other like-minded local organizations. They work with the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia to provide a financial literacy program for teens at the Elizabeth Correll Teen Center. This program helps teens learn the basics of banking, budgeting, credit management, and financing. JWAGI supports the Back Pack Buddies program at Glynn Middle School by sponsoring the food and weekly bag packing to provide weekend meals for students. JWAGI also engages with a variety of different organizations to expand their reach in the community by participating in Done in a Day Projects. These are one-time only specific volunteer projects that can be completed in a day, like a bag-packing session or food drive, assisting with a host organization’s event, etc. Past programs have included partnerships with Safe Harbor, America’s Second Harvest, as well as specific projects with the Boys & Girls Club programs in the Golden Isles.
JWAGI is open to members of all ages and they are actively seeking women who are committed to promoting volunteerism and are willing to be hands-on in their work to improve the community. Membership application forms can be downloaded from jwagi.org. Get involved!
The idea of cartoon characters and superheroes that the JWAGI is using for its fundraising breakfast theme inspired us to reach out to other not-for-profit organizations in the area and other “champions for the community” to see what characters and superheroes have inspired them.
Of course, we began with Brooke Eldridge Parmelee from JWAGI, asking “If you could choose
to be any character or superhero, who would it be?” She responded, “For a cartoon character, I would choose Minnie Mouse. She is a cheerful, upbeat, and optimistic female who has a good heart and is always ready to help others.” Brooke may not sport those ears or have the squeaky voice, but we think she fits that bill perfectly!
Leslie Hartman, the Executive Director of Safe Harbor Center, says she’d be the Road Runner, “because I’m always on the go, from program to program or child to child.” Another character she would choose to be is Mary Poppins. “She brought joy to the children she worked with and restored the family.”
Safe Harbor Children’s Center is a home for children in need of a safe, loving environment and a local safe haven which also has local outreach programs. 912.267.6000, safeharborcenterinc.org
As Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia, Brian Dolan is a champion for the children, so he wouldn’t be out of place righting wrongs with The Avengers or as part of the Justice League, but it wasn’t any of these characters he chose. “I’d want to be Pepe LePew. Mssr. LePew was always trying to court Penelope Pussycat. Pepe was a little confused, but never stopped trying to reach his goal by pouring on his lover-boy charm.” Never underestimate the powers of determination and persistence!
The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia, Inc. helps kids and teens develop essential skills, and make lasting connections while having fun. 912.265.1455. bgcsega.com
Dedicated do-gooder, Virginia Brown, President and CEO of United Way of Coastal Georgia,
Inc. chose Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner’s relentless pursuer, “Because he never gives up!” However, if given the opportunity to be a superhero, Virginia says she’d be Wonder Woman. “She’s strong, smart, and fights for those who are unable to fight for themselves.” Virginia stresses that anyone can possess these powers, saying, “I encourage our community to volunteer, give and advocate for others every day and truly believe that there are superheroes right here in the Golden Isles.”
For 150 years, the United Way has been mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. 912.265.1850, liveunitednow.com
Lea King-Badyna, Executive Director of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, is also strong believer in the superhero qualities that we ALL possess. KGIB has a program geared toward younger children called “You Can be an Environmental Superhero.” In it, children are taught how to use the “special powers” that they already possess to make a positive difference for the environment and the good of the community, just like a superhero does.” Lea told us, “If I could be any superhero, I would be the Greatest American Hero. Not for the name, but because he has ALL of the best superhero powers. He’s a regular person who was thrust into the superhero world and still makes mistakes as a superhero. He uses a lot of humor, does a lot of good, and has the best theme song.” Believe it or not.
Keep Golden Isles Beautiful works to preserve and enhance the beauty of Glynn County through community stewardship. 912.265.1490, kgib.org.
A Sea Island employee, Dan Meyers was recognized by EIL readers in the Best of 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards as top Community Volunteer. He actively supports a number of local charitable causes through non-profit organizations and church activities, as well as his own individual efforts. Dan says, “I would be Quailman from my favorite cartoon, ‘Doug.’ He had special powers, but he utilized diligence and patience, which always stood out to me. I hope I would have the same approach if I was granted powers.”
Interestingly enough, ‘Doug’ creator Jim Jenkins happens to live right here in the Golden Isles. After receiving Dan’s response, EIL reached out to him to get his thoughts about inspiring this kind of reaction with his characters. “It’s awesome!” Jim chuckled. “Especially if you know that Quailman’s powers aren’t your typical ‘melt their face off’ kind of superhero powers, although he does have some of those too. They’re based on the traits of a quail. Patience. Diligence. Speed. If you’re familiar with quail at all, you’re aware that you won’t even know they’re there until you’re right on top of the covey – and then they’re gone! Their great power is remaining still and showing restraint.” As Jim himself is the inspiration for the character Doug and his fantasy alter-ego, he’s thrilled to know that someone here doing good deeds for the community has this connection with his characters.
Kelly Hunter is the Assistant Director of Golden Isles Arts & Humanities, an organization that
acts as the protector and defender of the arts in our community. “I have to pick Professor X from the X-men. I like the idea of being a hero who uses mental abilities rather than physical ones. He’s also a teacher who founded a school where those who are different would be welcome. I would love to be able to do something like that.” A fitting response for a representative of a group that celebrates unique talents and abilities and fosters a spirit of inclusion.
Golden Isles Arts & Humanities is the coordinating arts council for Glynn County and the City of Brunswick, 912.262.6934, goldenislesarts.org.
When approached as a representative of Hospice of the Golden Isles, Patty Crosby said more than any fictional superheroes or characters, it’s the people that she works with that inspire her. “Our hospice team is like ALL the members of the Justice League combined. They demonstrate superhuman strength every day, lifting up the hearts and spirits of our patients and families. It’s a physically and emotionally demanding career but one they have selflessly chosen because of their supersized hearts and endless compassion to serve the most vulnerable in our community.”
Hospice of the Golden Isles is a community-based, non-profit serving patients and families with end-of-life issues, 912.265.4735, hospice.me.
Marc Durant Photography
Similarly, while iconic comic book (and movie) superhero Captain America would have been an easy choice here, since Steve Rogers was a World War II hero, Dave Olender of Coastal Honor Flight, says the real heroes are our veterans. He says, “The American Veteran. That’s the true superhero. Especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve Liberty, Justice, and the American Way. They are all Superheroes!”
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created to honor America’s veterans for their sacrifices by transporting them to Washington DC to visit the war memorials free of charge. 912.434.6160, coastalgeorgiahonorflight.org.
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Cary Greenfield, Executive Director of CASA Glynn, Inc., explains her choice of The Incredible Hulk by saying, “Bruce Banner is quiet and under the radar, but when it’s time to help, he is a mighty force.” Another popular character she finds inspiring is Neville Longbottom from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. She says, “Neville is overlooked and often dismissed, but always pulls through. He’s always there for his friends, standing with them, and defending them without reservation.” You don’t need a wand or any special spells to be a champion for friends and causes in which you believe.
CASA Glynn, Inc.’s mission is to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers from the community to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. 912.264.4448, casaglynn.org.
EIL encourages everyone to use their own “powers” and unique traits by getting involved and supporting charitable causes in the Golden Isles. The groups mentioned here are just a small representation of what’s out there. You too can be a champion for our community!
