My last post described how I felt unlucky in pursuing a career over the last few years, but the one advantage I have gained from having several different jobs is having several different networks. The mission at hand was to tap into those networks for this cause. I divided most everyone I knew into several of these: coworkers and former coworkers, family, family friends, religious affiliations, friends. I made contact with each group as best I could. Sometimes it was as simple as writing an email, other times it meant mailing or dropping off flyers.
Social media played a big part. I made a Facebook and Twitter account and synced them so I only had to post once.
I hosted a happy hour. I may have put more effort into this if I had time in hopes that a bar or restaurant would sponsor me and donate some funds, but that was the one thing I was unable to try due to lack of time. Instead, I simply made the assumption that if people came to the happy hour they would also donate.
And then of course, there was the playlist idea. Pelotonia riders are not supposed to wear headphones, but I was so happy with my idea I had to do break this rule. Besides, I routinely ride with a headphone in my right ear so I can hear people passing on the left. Many people enjoyed that I had found a way to make this campaign interactive and I think it was a big part of the reason many people donated.
Yet what may have been the most selfishly rewarding part of this endeavor was getting my camp kids involved. I mentioned in my last post that I hoped I was having a positive impact, even if I am a small fish in a big pond. Of course kids don't have much of money, but they are plenty capable of donating time. And in the process they can learn about what it means to make a commitment, to raise money for a good cause, and hopefully to make a positive impact themselves.
I was amazed at what these 9-10 year olds did for me. Here are some examples of what they did:
-Two girls designed signs that tracked my fundraising total and kept a list of songs requested for the playlist. As I received more donations we colored in the "thermometer" to track my progress and we added songs to the playlist.
-Three girls made flyers to advertise to parents.
-One boy, a quiet one who only came to camp for two weeks, went to the vending machine with a dollar during snack time and instead decided to donate the dollar to me. Another girl followed his lead later on.
-One girl decided one song on the playlist wasn't enough for her, so she burnt an entire CD. I added the whole thing to the ride.
-The first boy to get his parents to donate already had a dad who was riding. I thought it was very generous that another rider was donating to me.
-Perhaps the one that was most endearing: A girl decided she would go around her neighborhood to solicit donations. I helped her write a script of what she could say. She raised $18 from her neighbors and $10 from her parents.
-There are some repeat offenders above, including one girl who is actually the subject of three of those items. The counselors give superlatives on the last day of camp and we gave that girl "Most likely to run a non-profit organization."
I think my initiative sailed in one ear and out the other for most kids in my camp. But the ones who seemed to care, well, they were just plain passionate about it! I wish the best for those kids and I hope I had a positive impact on them.
Finally, there is the follow-up aspect to all this. I must admit the postcard idea was stolen from a couple who sent one to me as a thank you for a wedding gift I gave. Thank you cards are great, but I wanted everyone to see me at the finish line. Thanks to Kyle Lewis for Photoshopping the picture for me. And thanks to the random person who took the picture on my phone, wherever you are.
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