Help me Brainstorm!

**Blessed** · 10-23-2008, 10:01 AM

My oldest, Blake, who is 16 has been nominated and accepted to be a student ambassador to China.

http://studentambassadors.org/

It's not cheap.

I could use your help coming up with fundraising ideas and a catchy slogan to use for posters and collection jars. You are all so smart and creative! I think my brain is numb right now!

TIA for all your help!

Karen

**Momto2Boyz** · 10-23-2008, 12:25 PM

First off, hit up local "Charitable" groups. If you have a church, talk to your minister (most will help out with fundraising for this type of thing). But also talk to other charitable groups within your community...Lions, Moose or Kiwani's clubs, etc. (I know there are more, just can't think of any).

If you put out jars or have events, be sure to call the local paper. Most local papers love these types of stories, so they'll probably pick it up. Ever wonder how people get their stories in the paper? They don't wait for reporter's to find them, they call or e-mail their local newspaper!

I'll have to brainstorm some ideas and post them for you. Nothing spectacular is coming to mind right now!

**Michelle68** · 10-23-2008, 04:39 PM

What about a bake sale and a car wash? A high school here which was in a very poor area of our city was able to raise some money for a band trip that way. Also, the mothers made up barbecue plates and sold them to help raise funds. Good luck and congratulations to your son!

--Michelle

**3tomboys** · 10-23-2008, 05:53 PM

I don't kow if the fund raising is a group effort (more than your child going) but here are some ideas that my dd's schools and parents have done in the past.My 15 yr old dd is going to Colorado for a convention that is school related in February. Each kid (10 of them) that are going had to write a kind of biography explaining why they wanted to go and how this convention would help them with there future. The advisor then made packets for each student explaining the program attached to the kids biography, the kids are giving them to local businesses for donations for the trip. The packet included all tax information needed for the businesses to use for donation info on there taxes.
Last year some kids were going to Washington DC and 1 of the mothers got permission for the group of kids to stand out side the grocery store and ask for donations.
Bake sales, car washes even a community yard sale are great fund raisers.
Good luck, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for your son.

**Blessed** · 10-24-2008, 09:17 AM

Thanks!

We live in a small community. 2 kids from our town were accepted. MABA (Malvern Area Betterment Association) sponsers the Festival of Trees the 1st Saturday in December. I plan on contacting them about setting up some booths:

Raffle
Baked Goods
Meal of some sort

I'm thinking a Chinese looking Christmas Ornament we can make and sell...

We have Lyons and Kiwanis. What about the VFW? Is there a place I can look in the phone book?

I will ask local businesses for sponsorships and raffle donations.

I'm going to get some big jars from work for donation buckets at local businesses as well.

Whew! It sounds like they are leaving in June, so it doesn't give much time.

I'd like to come up with something catchy to put on the collection jars.

**fernykins** · 10-24-2008, 09:37 AM

Don't forget the Elks...........My youngest was picked to go to leadership school in HI..........The elks and the school helped...........He does use his skills now that he is a officer in th Navy......... Congrads to your son..
Fern

**Denvergirlie** · 10-24-2008, 12:36 PM

I went to Russia with this company back in 1990, the summer between my junior and senior year in highschool.
My folks paid for at least half of it and family friends also chipped in some, I earned the rest. Upon my return I wrote a newsletter and gave it to all the family friends about what I had seen and learned.

Not trying to be negative and burst the excitment bubble, but honestly knowing what I know now, I would have never paid for the trip again at such a young age. Had I waited until my college years to spend that type of money, I would have gotten so much more out of the trip. I was simply to young and too immature to appreicate it.

Best of luck in your fundraising