Charity holds “stay-at-home gala”
Aw. Victory Living Programs in Fort Lauderdale, which gives training and guidance to people with disabilities is in the middle of a "stay-at-home gala." Instead of holding a big function to raise money for its programs, people can stay at home and bid on auction items on the Internet. The fundraiser ends at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
From the group's website about the "Non-Event Event":
Please do not dress up, do not hire a sitter, and do not leave your cozy surroundings. We are not inviting you to put on uncomfortable shoes, eat another rubber chicken dinner, or to pay for a new outfit.
Instead, we invite you to support Victory Living Programs by purchasing tickets to our Non-Event and visiting our website at www.victoryliving.org to bid on our exciting silent auction
items
In an effort to cut expenses in these hard economic times, we are not renting a room, purchasing food and beverages or paying for entertainment. Instead, 98% of the proceeds will be able to go directly back into our programs, to assist men and women with developmental disabilities to live, work and socialize in the community.
Oh my! Holding an Internet auction is one way to save money. I found this article from U.S.A. Today about how charities are hit hard by this poor economy. Some charities are worried about having to cut services to their clients, which is sad.
However, on the good side of things, more people who are jobless are volunteering to work with charities. Indeed, there are always those who are less fortunate than you!
Do you think it's a good idea to hold a charity fundraiser on the web and not hold an event? Do you find yourself volunteering more in a bad economy? Do you donate to any charities? Have your donation habits changed since the recession?
2 Responses to Charity holds “stay-at-home gala”
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I like the idea of a charity not spending money on a frill (albeit a fun one), when that money could actualy go to the charity’s mission.
I’ve tried to spend more on the charities that I support,and I’m also trying to look harder at potential new charities.
Also, I’m donating more goods to charities. Instead of just throwing things out, I’m trying to get things to local groups that could use them. Sometimes it’s a pain to pick up a phone and call a charity, but if they don’t need what I have and someone else does, it’s worth the effort.
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The online auction is a great idea. It seems like more of the proceeds can go to the cause instead of the canapes.
I started volunteering again this year, something I hadn’t done since the economy slumped in 2001.
GLM