Game Night

Video Game Night might be PERFECT for your kids, but what about you? Let's go back to our childhood when BOARD games were our games of choice. Invite your friends over to riase money for your DU2C team AND have fun challenging each other at some of your favorites: Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, Twister?!?!

Charge each person a $10 entry fee and then let the games begin! Most of your friends will probably join you for this night of fun without the incentive of a prize BUT you could always ask around town - some businesses are willign to donate prizes for events like this!

We have an amazing supporter, Ashley Love (who is Sarah Harding's Aunt) and she has been doing a boardgame fundraiser EVERY month for the past two year! You can check out her page by clicking HERE and be inspired!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Video Game Tournament

Let’s face it; many kids don’t play board games these days. However, a video game tournament speaks their language!
Setting up a video game competition:
Collect the Games. Chances are most of the families in your neighborhood have more electronic games in the house now then they do board games. This should make it easy to collect a few systems and games for the evening. Set a registration fee per - say $10 per person.

Should I Choose 1 or More Game? Many organizers might prefer to stick to one game to keep things simple, but there are no rules that limit the night to just one game! You could have a Nintendo Wii tournament with a whole host of games—that way there is something for everyone.

Tournament Style: You can play round-robin, double elimination, or allow winners of one game to challenge anyone from a list of other game winners.

Gamer Stations: If you do choose to do a larger video game tourney with multiple gaming systems, you will be able to keep more players involved in the tournament. Remember to establish a time per game to keep the competition on schedule and fair for all players.

Snacks:Your players will appreciate drinks and snacks if the tournament is an evening or day-long event. Try to get a local pizza, burger or wings restaurant to sponsor the event for free and then charge for snacks and refreshments—with funds raised going to GP2C and your team!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Cookie Walk

How does a Cookie Walk work? You will need to get friends and family involved in the baking. (Something like this is very successful at a church or school!) Volunteers bake cookies, bars, candies or confections. The goodies will be spread out on tables in your venue of choice. A price "per pound' is set and listed so that your guests know what to expect. ($5.00 is a good suggested price) Be sure to advertise - use facebook, email, the local paper, posters - you name it! The public then 'walks' along the many tables selecting treats*. At the end of the walk, treat containers are weighed to determine how much you pay. Homemade treats are a perfect gift for neighbors, clients, colleagues, and family! *Be sure to have a box of latex gloves for people to wear when choosing their cookies (or a volunteer at each table wearing gloves to put the cookies on the plate for them.) To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit www.dressup2cure.org

Online Auction

Last year for Team Brooklyn we did an online auction of three items that were donated to us to help us raise funds for Girl Power 2 Cure I did a blog post to tell my readers about our auction and also linked it to our facebook page.

An excerpt from the blog post: Team Brooklyn wants to wrap up our Dress Up 2 Cure fundraiser with a BANG! I have had three amazing individuals donate some items for us to raffle off online to raise money for Team Brooklyn. Below there are three items up for auction: NASCAR tickets, a Lisa Leonard Necklace, and Engraved tiles. They will all be up for auction throughout the next week ~ with the Auction ending on May 4th! Here is how it will work: To bid on an item simply leave a comment underneath the item you would like to bid on that includes your name, email address, and your bid amount!! The person having the highest bid at 3:00PM on Tuesday May 4th wins the item! I will notify the winner via email and payment can be made via the TEAM BROOKLYN page within 24 hours. BUT..... remember to check back because you might get outbid!! GOOD LUCK!

To view the entire blog post and photos of the items click HERE. If you have any questions about hosting an online auction send me an email: kelly@girlpower2cure.org

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2010 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Car Bash!!

When someone you know is struggling with Rett Syndrome, it is good to be able to get your aggressions out! What better way than with a Car Bash. Contact a local junk yard, automobile dealer, or auto insurance company to see if they have a car in relatively good condition that they would be willing to donate.
All fluids should be removed from the car as well as other hazardous materials. Allow people to take a swing at the car with a hammer for a donation. Proper safety precautions must be taken such as safety glasses, protective outerwear, and a safe distance maintained by the crowd.
It is always a good idea to have volunteer paramedics on hand in case of emergency and check with your local authorities for permission and other safety tips.

Bagger for a day

This easy fundraising idea lets you provide a nice service to your community and raise funds at the same time. Gather up your friends and family then find a busy grocery store that is willing to help your team and pick a busy day of the week.

Print off flyers that explain Rett Syndrome and Girl Power 2 Cure and what you are doing in the store that day. Hand out the flyers to people entering the store. Give your “baggers” a quick lesson on how to properly bag, for example heavy items on the bottom and eggs and bread on the top.

Be sure to have a tip jar at each register. You may want each bagger to wear a name tag with GP2C's name on it or even a GP2C t-shirt! Bag each person’s groceries quickly and with a smile. Offer to push their cart and help to unload them into their car....all proceeds will go directly to your team!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Cup cakes for a cure!

We would like to thank Katie for this GREAT idea!
This is an easy fundraiser to run as part of a larger event, such as a holiday craft sale, or sporting event. You will want to package items individually (single cupcakes) and in larger groups (plates of cupcakes) so that you have something for everyone. Clearly label all items with a price and also mark anything with nuts so you don’t have any allergic reactions.

On the day of the sale, set everything up on a long table. Have a cash box and have at least twenty dollars in small bills and coins for making change. Sell bottled water, soda, or coffee to wash down the yummy goodness!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit www.dressup2cure.org

Lose weight and raise money!

Are you trying to lose weight to benefit your health? Well you might not have heard about such thing as a weight loss fundraiser, but many are using this type of event as the motivation they need to stay on track with their weight loss goals!

You simply set your weight loss goal and your friends, family, and co-workers support your efforts by pledging per pound lost! (ie. they will donate $5 for every pound you lose throughout the month of April)It is a win-win! You lose those unwanted pounds and your team raises money!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Reading For Rett

Another great idea that can be used in schools or with your kiddos at home is "Reading for Rett." A few of my homeschooling friends participated in this last year! The basic idea is that throughout the month of April - each child sets a goal of how many books they will read. They then get people to sponsor them (either per book read or with a flat donation.) All proceeds will go to benefit your team!

For a personalized handout, send me an email kelly@girlpower2cure.org

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure 2011 visit http://www.dressup2cure.org/

Restaurants Helping Rett

Your favorite local restaurant can be the PERFECT place to help you raise money for your team!
Be sure to work with the restaurant on how proceeds will be donated. Some will give you a certain percentage of their total sales while others will give you all of the money they earned from selling a certain item. All you have to do is distribute fliers with information including location, time, and what the event is promoting. The restaurant will often allow you to use their logo on them since it is a great advertisement for them.

*Also, Plan to have an informational table during the event that includes a donation jar for customers to make additional donations!

EXAMPLE: Applebees has a "Dining to Donate" program. They give 15% of sales to
anyone who brings in their flyers - the family just needs to talk to their local Applebees general manager. Click here to visit the Applebees Atlanta area link to the program to learn more!

Buffalo Wild Wings is another great Restaurant that works with non-profits on fundraising.

Check out this link to learn about The MacDonald family's night at Bdub's or this link to learn about the Brooks' family night at Chili's!

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure please visit: http://www.dressup2cure.org/

"Kick Me"

We are kicking off our DU2C fundraising "Idea-A-Day" blog with the good ole' "Kick Me" sign! Thank you to Justin (Nora's daddy) for this fantasic and super easy suggestion that anyone can do at work (just maybe check with the boss first.)
THIS is Justin.....

Last April he went to work for the day dressed as a "nerd" for his daughter's Dress Up 2 Cure team. He taped a sign on his back that said: "KICK ME (and pledge $5 to cure Rett Syndrome)" According to Justin, lots of people chipped in with $5 and several for more.....A few also took advantage of the kick!

Thanks to Justin, his friends and coworkers donated almost $200 for the cause.

To get involved with Dress Up 2 Cure, visit www.dressup2cure.org!