Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Hi Everyone,

I'm a NYC Teacher and a colleague of mine was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 35. She's a wonderful wife/mother to two young children. It doesn't look so good. My school is thinking of different fundraisers we can do monthly to help her as she is the Breadwinner of the family. We need some not so ordinary suggestions since we work in a pretty low income school. I wish so badly I knew of people willing to help who have businesses and could offer their services, but I don't. My heart is absolutely breaking for her and I want to do all I can to make this difficult time a tiny bit better for her and her children. So far we've thought of:

1). Auctioning off with a raffle a parking spot in our small lot for the year.
2) Bake Sale
3) Garage Sale where the teachers bring in nice things and charge like $1.00-2.00 for them and invite the families.

Any and all suggestions would be soooo helpful to me!

Thank you!

Message edited 9/26/2015 9:34:57 PM.

Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Not sure if its possible but maybe a spaghetti dinner? We were able to do this for a family member at the local fire house. Try reaching out to several local restaurants to see if they are willing to donate food.

Also you could set up a Gofundme.com page

Message edited 9/26/2015 10:19:51 PM.

Re: Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

I held a fund raiser for a friend who was diagnosed with ms

I contacted any vendor I knew. Photography. Make up Girls with etsy shops

Many do yes gift certificates for tier services and I raffled them off

Also had any friends who sold scentsy,pampered chef etc have a party and they donated half their commission

Also made a few baskets and raffled them

Many prayers for your friend

Re: Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

I'm so sorry to hear about your colleague.

Would colleagues volunteer to donate a themed basket? You can sell raffles and do a Chinese auction. We did that in a school for a colleague, and we raised a lot of money between the baskets and a few people who were season ticket holders donated a game to the rangers and jets.

You could do a "wear jeans" day once monthly where faculty donates $5 for the right to wear jeans to work.

If you have talented art students, they can make greeting cards and sell them to the faculty.

Pretzel sale at the end of the school day (we do this often in our school - there are a few pretzel companies who give us soft pretzels for a really low price and we sell them as the kids are leaving for $1 each)

Even if you don't know business owners, local businesses around the school may be willing to help or donate something, especially if you display their business card. You may be able to get a pizzeria to give you really inexpensive pies, then sell slices at $2 each for a profit.

Re: Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Applebee do pancake breakfasts for fundraisers and other restaurants will donate a percentage of sales if people have fliers. I know California Pizza Kitchen does that.

Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Amazon smile- you may be able to set something up
In college my sorority did the following fundraisers: designer Jean sale, prom dress sale (in the spring), we did a potato bar sale rather than a potluck dinner, general consignment sales with donated items, we did a cook off, concert, so many things. We would advertise for donations and then advertise our fundraiser in the community. We were located just outside a very low income (Bridgeport ct) area and always had tons of interest. We also would do something for the kids that parents loved- we did princess for a day and all the little girls from the surrounding community would come and get pampered by us girls.
I now work in non profit our budgets fundraisers are a Chinese auction, luncheon, and a charity dinner where so many people from politicians to wealthy volunteers attend. It's very expensive per plate for people to attend but makes a ton of money. While these may all not be feasible you can definitely use for ideas!!! Prayers for your friend.

Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Thank you everyone! Loving the ideas so far!

Re: Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

You have FM

Re: Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

Sent you an FM.

Need Suggestions for Fundraisers for a Colleague in Need

How awful for her and her family, but because of friends like you, there is some hope and some brightness behind those dark clouds. You're amazing!
You can do a themed fundraiser like wine and cheese night or something and just have the vendors like someone else said, donations for raffles, and something like a 70/30 (just like a 50/50) There are so many compassionate people... Best of luck!