FUNdraising at the Rocking-Chair Rampage!
by Di Garrison of the Mixed Nuts Company

Fundraising events have become obligations that aren't much fun anymore. While fundraising events often benefit children, few involve parents and kids in a shared activity. If giving, sharing, and helping are the goals of fundraising, they can be the means as well! There is a way to bring the FUN and FUNction back into FUNdraising and promote these positive ideals.

When my sister, Linda, and I began our company, Mixed Nuts, our first goal was to create products that promote a positive sense of self through creative activities. In testing our ready-to-decorate rocking chairs, our goal was immediately realized. Parents and children, working side-by-side, created original pieces of FUNctional art. Kids, happily rocking away in their newly-designed rocking chairs, clearly reflected their pride of accomplishment.

Our next goal was to develop an event that would enhance self-esteem by inviting participants to think about GIVING, SHARING, and HELPING - beyond their pocketbooks. Our vision began to stretch from simply building a positive sense of self for the individual, to encouraging others to achieve that same level of confidence. What better environment to encourage this than through a fundraising event?

To this end, we asked local artists and personalities to design chairs that would be auctioned off. What a response we received! They were thrilled to give of their time and talent. At one event, 18 decorated chairs were auctioned, raising funds far beyond the projected goal. We realized auctioning chairs was an opportunity to show by example how to GIVE, SHARE, and HELP not just by giving money, but by giving of oneself.

Here are our three main goals of successful fundraising:
1. Raise money for the chosen cause
2. Give a functional item to attendees for their participation.
3. Promote GIVING, SHARING, and HELPING as fun, creative, and proactive activities.

At our fundraising events called "Rocking Chair Rampage", each participant pays a nominal fee for their own ready-to-decorate, child- sized, cardboard rocking chair. Each chair weighs under 4 pounds, yet is durable enough to hold a child weighing up to 100 pounds! Kids can assemble, decorate, and then USE their very own rocking chair!

We set up group work areas of 6 rocking chairs and sufficient art materials. Stickers, die-cut shapes, glitter glues, paints, sponges, rubber stamps, and magazine, and comic book cutouts are all great decorating items. As participants fill in each work area, a brief announcement describes the art materials available and the importance of SHARING with neighbors. Then the fun begins! Each child has the freedom to create their own FUNctional furniture in their very own style! The kids are amazed that when they are done decorating, they can actually use their finished chair.

We auction off the local artist's chairs through a silent auction. Each chair has a sign-up sheet with a minimum bid requirement. The chairs are available for viewing and bidding prior to the event. This really helps to bring home the GIVING concept of the event. Explaining to the kids that the artists gladly donated their time and talent to help raise money for people that they don't even know, helps kids understand the goodness of actions that benefit others, not just oneself. If the artists can attend the event, it's an even better opportunity for the kids to see just how great the artists feel about their ability to donate something that comes from within themselves. To stretch the fundraising potential even further, we suggest posting a very simple sign inviting purchasers of the donated chairs to re-donate them to a local shelter or school.

Fundraising events can revolve around any number of parent/child activities. By keeping the three goals of a successful event in mind, you will start to think of all kinds of projects that will inspire your participants to attend!

Shared-project workshops can become annual events that are anticipated all year.

We hope you will share our idea that holding a fundraising event promoting a positive sense of self through creative activities is beneficial far beyond the cause itself. PASS IT ON!