Non-Traditional Summertime Fundraising

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter

Summertime is the perfect time for creative fundraising that encourages community building and fostering a love of the outdoors. This summer our families are participating in a variety of programs that we believe will inspire us, raise funds and awareness for causes we care about, and give us a reason to surround ourselves with people we love. Take a look at what’s happening this summer for Team Armbruster:

1. Great American Backyard Campout benefiting National Wildlife Federation – ( http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside.aspx/) – Families in the Steiner Ranch neighborhood in Austin spent the night in our backyard. We played games, searched for bugs, took a hike in the greenbelt, and made s’mores. The kids enjoyed their time outside and the parents were glad to be only a few steps away from the A/C and running water.

Great American Backyard Campout

2. Annual 4th of July Family Olympics – My husband’s birthday is on the 4th of July so I always struggled to find a way to celebrate that would be fun for the whole family. The answer came after reading about a 4th of July picnic with a field day. The competitor in me couldn’t wait! I sent out the first official call for teams a few years ago. We usually have about 20-30 people participate and games range from the three-legged race to a pool kid-toss. The crowd favorite is always the eating contest – last year was ice cream! After trophies and medals are awarded we relax by the pool, talk about highlights from the day, and laugh. This year, in addition to being awarded a trophy, we made a donation to Armbruster Consulting client, No Marine Alone in their honor. Check out Buck and his amazing journey at www.nomarinealone.org

Annual 4th of July Family Olympics

3. Children’s Birthday Party with a Twist – This summer, Angie’s daughter was invited to a jungle-themed scavenger hunt birthday party. The 8-year-old birthday girl asked guests to bring donations for Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary, in lieu of gifts. It was a fantastic way to teach young children the importance of giving back while also having lots of fun. The money raised supported the nonprofit’s adopt-a-cat program, as well as provided enrichment items for the cats.

4. Mobile Loaves and Fishes Kids Camp – Mixed in with the football, swimming, and soccer camps, my boys attended Camp Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The camp is focused on serving others and teaching empathy. The kids collected food for the food pantry, learned about poverty here in our community, and most importantly discovered ways that they can help those in need. It was a great week and I look forward to nurturing their sense of mission and community involvement as they grow. Learn more about Mobile Loaves and Fishes at www.mlfnow.org

5. Party with a Purpose – Just before school starts, Angie and her 8-year-old daughter are hosting a fund-raising children’s clothing swap. They are inviting friends to bring gently used clothing items and accessories to trade with guests, along with a $25 cash donation. The cash donations and leftover clothing and accessories will be donated to Children’s Home Society of Missouri. Learn more about the Children’s Home Society by visiting http://www.chsmo.org/.

While these activities are not your traditional event fundraisers, they do have the potential to produce much needed revenue and awareness for a variety of organizations. You still have a few weeks left before school starts and the weather starts to change. Schedule something TODAY that will make an impact on your life, your community, and the causes you care about. Encourage your volunteers, donors, and community to support your organization in their own unique ways. Good luck and stay cool!

In the News
Armbruster Consulting, Inc. has been blessed with the opportunity to partner with two new clients; The Toby Keith Foundation and EMDR Research Foundation. We are excited to help both organizations make a difference.

The Toby Keith Foundation recently announced their newest project, The OK Kids Korral – a home away from home for pediatric cancer patients and their families to stay while they are undergoing treatments for cancer.” https://www.tobykeithfoundation.org/

The EMDR Research Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to the promotion of quality, unbiased research in EMDR. Their mission is to promote the health and growth of human beings through the support of quality research, evidence-based practice and compassionate, well-informed clinicians. http://www.emdrresearchfoundation.org/