The Relay For Life team Super Freak’n Fantastic should serve as an example for other East Peoria Relay teams doing fundraising for this year’s event in East Peoria June 12 and 13.
The team, formerly known as the EP Bus Transits, hosts an annual fundraiser each year at Meadow Avenue Tap. This year, they sold purple and white balloons with small slips of paper inside them that listed a prize. People who purchased the balloons for $1 or $5 received those prizes donated by area businesses.
Team members also baked cookies, brownies and cake, and made candy to sell and conducted a 50/50 drawing.
People love fun and games, and it was obvious at this team’s fundraiser April 24.
Rather than just asking people to donate money for a cause, the team members put forth some effort to make the fundraiser more appealing to the masses.
The 133 balloons, hung with streamers like clusters of grapes dangling from the ceiling, sold quickly the night of the fundraiser. After about two hours, they were gone, but people still wanted more of them.
The fundraiser also included the team’s mascot, a super hero, complete with a caped costume, posing for photographs with customers for $1.
Team captain Teri Smith also said they have another fundraiser planned with Eysal’s Coffee Roasters.
Fred Kraus, who owns Eysal’s with his wife, Judy, said they will offer whole or ground bean coffee, and 25 percent of the proceeds will go back to Relay For Life.
“It works out quite well so everyone benefits,” Fred Kraus said.
Smith’s, daughter, Brittany, is making the order form for the coffee bean sales.
“That’s what we’re going to start this year, and if this is what we want to do, we may expand to include gift cards or things from the gift line or something like that,” Kraus said.
The Super Freak’n Fantastic team is just one of many who do creative fundraising for the Relay For Life. Others have car washes or garage sales. There are all kinds of things to do to raise funds for the Relay. By putting a little extra effort into it, the fundraising is surely more successful.
And these philosophies do not stop with Relay For Life; they apply to any fundraiser.
Like Eysal’s owners, other business owners can also get involved to help this year’s Relay For Life teams have a successful campaign.
Because there are many fundraisers throughout the year, we understand that business owners cannot help all who may ask. So, they must use their judgment and choose those they feel are important.
Another we view as important is Project Graduation. It is the all-night graduation party at the high school.
A unique fundraiser is now underway for this event. It is a recycling fundraiser of used cell phones, ink jets, laptops, iPods, digital cameras and digital video cameras. These items will be refurbished and sold. People can drop off items at Maloof Relator, 111 W. Washington St., Suite 101, in East Peoria, or at the high school, or they can call Tammy Harm at 698-0099 for pick up.
Fundraising events do not have to be extravagant. If they cost a lot of money, that would defeat the purpose. A simple idea can be profitable.
East Peoria, Ill. —
