Fun fundraisers raise donations and CMC profile
By Dave Schafer
Jillian McKenzie, Human Resources, serves up poppin’ fresh popcorn and frosty snocones during HR’s snack attack fundraiser. |
When it looked like the Finance & Administration Department might not meet its monetary goal in the 2007 Combined Municipal Campaign, department CMC coordinator Janie Canino turned to turkey legs and banana pudding.
“Fundraisers are a great way to get a little extra money to help those in need,” Canino said. “Plus, we get to eat some great food.”
When the Public Works & Engineering Department’s planning and development services division wanted to raise a little extra money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, employees served up taco salad, hot dogs and chili dogs for two days and baked goods one morning.
About 13 percent of this year’s CMC contributions came from fundraisers compared to 9 percent last year. Fundraisers supplemented employees’ donations with goodies for sale for good causes.
And fundraisers have another benefit, said Jackie Strickland, who volunteered to hold F&A’s food sale.
“It’s a way to bring our team together on one collective project,” Strickland said. “Plus, it helps those people who need help.”
While a new online system made making donations easier, successful fundraisers require the same hard work and dedication as ever.
Strickland and her crew turned the lobby of 611 Walker into a “311 Restaurant,” complete with music and tables so people could sit and socialize rather than search the building, heaping plate in hand, for somewhere to eat.
“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of effort, but it’s worth it because it’s going to a good cause,” Strickland said.
How we did
The $75,000 raised through fundraisers helped the city exceed its monetary goal by $10,000. Overall, the CMC raised $560,000.
“2005 showed the generosity of employees in the face of hard times,” said Candy Clarke Aldridge, Human Resources acting director. “It astonishes me that we surpassed that amount of donations in 2006. Employee generosity is boundless, and it comes through in other aspects of their lives, at work and outside work. Thanks to all who participated.”
Seventeen departments beat their monetary goal, led by PWE, which raised more than $120,000. Aviation, helped by the $39,000 it raised with its annual Runway Race for Life, donated nearly $100,000. Police raised $55,000, and Library raised $44,000.
“As they do over and over, city employees put their wallets where their hearts are,” said Julie Keeton, citywide CMC coordinator. “They showed that they care about their community.”
The elimination of Scantrons made donors happy, Keeton said.
“It just made it so much easier,” she said. “It’s right there in front of you on your PC. You can make your donation and it’s done. No paper form to keep track of, or to lose beneath stacks of papers.”
For employees in the field, a paper form was available. Just 2 percent used that option.
CMC coordinators Margaret Peabody, Rose Moore, Paul Box, Sue St. Michael and Soneary Sy increased Fire’s CMC total with homemade eggrolls and bake sales. With Sy’s recipes, the breakfast and lunch eggrolls sold out ahead of schedule. |
Fun raising
Fire had its first fundraiser, which raised more than $800. PWE’s food sales raised $600. Municipal Courts Administration used two food sales to help raise $1,000.
More ambitious fundraisers netted more: The silent auction raised $8,000; Parks’ ninth annual golf tournament raised nearly $6,000, and Solid Waste Management’s Trash Can Classic golf tournament raised more than $3,500.
Others aren’t so easy to quantify: the Controller’s Office rewarded employees who donated at least $25 with the opportunity to wear blue jeans on Fridays through Nov. 17. A majority of department employees met that bar.
“In our office, jeans are sort of a no-no,” said Sandra Zeno. “So that was a real treat.”
“The silent auction and other fundraisers are like guilt-free shopping,” Keeton said. “The donor gets something tangible for their donation, but, because of the hard work of volunteers, that money still goes to those in need.”
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