One Month to Go! Keep up the Good Work.

One Month to Go!!

The countdown is on and we’re so excited about the progress all our dancers have made on fundraising. We know how hard it can be to keep that momentum going so here are 30 more fundraising ideas to help you along the way!

Super Bowl Ideas:

Super Bowl Party with a 50/50 Raffle

Raffle a chance to win cash with your employees/customers. For every dollar raised, half of the pot goes to the winner and the other half goes to CDM

Super Bowl Squares – You won’t be rooting for the Bears this year, but at least you can root for CDM! Sell squares and use half the money collected for quarterly payouts. You better hurry. Only one day left to sell those squares!

Chili Cookoff – What goes better together than chili and football? Charge an entry fee per chili submission and recruit volunteer judges.

CDM Football Challenges – We have two promotions running for Super Bowl weekend and you can use them to your advantage.  Let your friends and family know that if you raise the most money by kickoff Sunday, you could win a Mike Ditka autographed ball. Then promise that when you win, the ball will be given to the individual who made the largest donation during that time.

Spread the word – You know everyone is going to be on Facebook Sunday to cheer on their favorite team and complain about the bad calls. Let’s take advantage of that visibility and sprinkle in some CDM love. If you haven’t already, like us on Facebook, post status updates about DM, tweets, and share our Dance Marathon messages!

 

Ideas for the Office:

Chain of Hearts

During the month of February sell paper chain links and hearts to coworkers. Attach the links together to make a paper chain and use the hearts to decorate the chain. Hang it in your office to show everyone’s support for CDM.

Change a Child’s Life

Decorate glass jars with pictures of the kids or photos from DM and place them around the office.  Send your coworkers an email asking them to drop their change from lunch in the jar every day. 

Jeans Day

Professional office environment?  Ask your boss or HR department if they’d let employees wear jeans for a day in exchange for a $10 donation to CDM.

Employee Newsletter

Does your company already distribute one?  If so, ask your boss or the communications department if they would run a piece on your CDM participation with a link to your donation site.

Employee Payroll Giving

Have an open-minded HR department? Conduct an employee giving campaign through automatic paycheck deductions. And don’t forget about matching donations.  They’re a great way to double your efforts.

Brown Bag Lunch Day

Ask everyone in your company to bring lunch from home, and donate money that would have been spent for lunch.

Jail or Bail

Find a manager or exec willing to lock him or herself in a makeshift jail until a set amount of funds is released for “bail”.

VIP Parking

Would your CEO or other execs be willing to donate their reserved parking space for a week?  This can be a great motivator during a Chicago winter. You can auction it off to the highest bidder or sell raffle tickets for $5 and the winner gets the spot.

Backwards Bake Sale

Bake a couple batches of sugar cookies or other tasty treats and place 1-2 cookies in individual plastic bags.  Tie a note to each bag that says “I hope you enjoy the cookies.  I’ll be shaking my cookies for the kids at Lurie Children’s Hospital on Saturday March 2.  Donations would be appreciated!”  Include your online fundraising page link on each note and leave the cookies in the lunch room for all to enjoy.

Vendor Letters

Don’t confine the fundraising efforts to your colleagues, there are plenty of vendors and other partners you work with on a day to day basis.  Write them a short letter telling them about CDM and asking for a donation. 

Team Fundraiser Ideas

Silent Auction

Gather donations of gift certificates, spa or golf packages and other prizes and host a silent auction during another fundraising event or online.  Not sure where to get prizes?  Start with your hair salon, gym, favorite bar, etc.  You get the idea.

Poker Tournament

Work with a local venue or host it right in your basement.  Set a buy-in fee per player and either split the pot with the winner or get prizes donated from local businesses and keep all the proceeds for DM.

Service Auction

Do you and your teammates have any unique skills or talents?  Consider setting up an auction of your services....Almost any talent can be turned into a service prize…Tax Preparation, Resume Editing, Personal Training Session, Handyman Services, Handmade Scarf Knitted to the Winner’s Specifications,  Dinner for 2 Delivered to the Winner’s Door.  What other ideas can you come up with?

Flock of Flamingos

Pick up 25 plastic flamingos (or other cheesy lawn ornament) from a home and garden retailer and place them in yard of a friend, neighbor or family member, along with a ransom note:  For a $25 donation to your online fundraising account, the flamingos will be immediately removed.  For a $50 donation, they can designate where the flamingos fly to next.  If no donation is made after three days, we recommend moving the flock. (This works best for prospective donors with a sense of humor)

Wine Tasting

Work with a local wine bar or host your own home wine tasting with a variety of selections from your neighborhood wine merchant. Charge guests a standard fee for X number of tastings and be sure to have a donation jar handy.  People often feel generous after a few pours of wine.

Miniature Golf Marathon

Work with an indoor Putt Putt facility to put together a fun twist on the traditional golf outing.  Golfers pay an outing fee for a chance to win prices (get these donated by local businesses).

Funny Bowling Tournament

Set silly rules for each frame (bowl between your legs, bowl with your eyes closed, kick the ball with two feet) and set a prize for the best score of the night.  Bowlers pay an entry fee.  Be sure to ask the bowling alley for a special discount.

Bag Toss Tournament
This doesn’t have to be a summer sport.  Gain access to a local school or community center gymnasium and set up bag boards.  Charge an entry fee per team with the winner keeping half the pot and the other half going to DM.

Craft Show
Ask a local craft show organizer to donate a free space, then work with your teammates to create handmade gifts to sell at the show.  No Sew fleece blankets are a great easy craft anyone can make, but use the talents of your team to come up with other ideas.

Art Show
Are you a dancing mom? Teacher? Nanny?  Have the kids draw or paint one of a kind masterpieces. Then mat and frame them (using inexpensive frames) and host an auction online or in conjunction with another event.

Easy Ideas You Can Do Yourself:

Guest Bartend:
Ask your favorite local hangout if they’d let you man the bar for a night and keep all tips for CDM.

Stake Out

Ask the local big box, convenience store or bar to let you set up a table at the entrance for a day and ask shoppers for a small donation on their way in or out of the store.  Those small donations can really add up in a big way!
 

Hit the Streets

Take an opportunity to get out and meet your neighbors.  Just like your old cookie selling days, go door to door to let everyone know you’re dancing and ask for a donation.  Don’t want to knock?  Then write up a short flyer about why CDM is important to you, include your online donation link, and leave the flyer on everyone’s door.

Catalog Party
From custom handbags to gourmet food items to storage containers.  Many of the most popular catalog party companies will actually allow you to host a charity catalog party and keep the profits for CDM.

Tips for Kids
Are you a server, stylist or other service worker.  Designate a day or two between now and March 2 when your tips will go to CDM.  Then create a button that says “All Tips Today go to Chicago Dance Marathon” so customers know to be extra generous.  Not only is this a great fundraising idea, but it’s also a great way to tell the world about CDM.

Reach that goal by the New Year!

So you've signed up to participate in the Chicago Dance Marathon on March 2, 2013.  You've committed to raising that $500 for the kids and families at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.  Now your starting to stress out on how in the world your going to raise that money, right??

Well, look no further!  We've got some help for you and those fundraising needs:-)

I can first tell you that one of the teams raised $4700 in 2 months and then last year, that team raised $6000 in 2 months...so it is possible to get to that $500 by Jan. 1.  Hopefully you've recruited some friends to participate with you so you all can raise money as a team...as they say, more is better than one!!  

1.  Have you and your team updated your personal web page via the Chicago Dance Marathon website?  If not, you need to do this.  If your going to ask people for money, you need to tell them why this is so important to you and why you would like them to donate their money.  If you can't take the time to tell your reasons why your dancing, why should they take their time to give you their money?  So...go on...get your page updated!!

2.  Social Media - that's right...Facebook, twitter, you name it...get the message out there!!  

3.  Have you sent emails to friends and family?  If not, send those emails!  You can do it from your participant center or you can send from your personal email.  Either way, make sure your friends and family know why your asking for this.  If you need some help, I'm sure Hannah can help you get your message across:

Hannah


4.  Have you gotten your company involved?  Even if your company can't be a sponsor, will they let you fundraise and support your fundraising needs?  If so, here are several things you can do:

• 50/50 Raffle - soooooo easy to do!!  You decide how much you want to sell tickets for and at the end of your raffle, the winning ticket gets 1/2 the pot and you get the other 1/2 to donate to the dance marathon!!  The winner might even be nice enough to donate their winnings;-)
• Pictures with Santa!  Do you work with a lot of parents that dread taking their kids to the mall for pictures with Santa?  Do you have someone at work that is willing to dress up like Santa and maybe someone who likes photography?  If so, your in luck!  Dress up an office space with Christmas decorations and set up a day for coworkers to bring their family for pictures with Santa!  You set the price and the proceeds go to your team for the dance marathon.  You can even get the email addresses to send the pictures to, so you can keep your costs down!
• Chili Cookoff - You know everyone loves some good chili!  Get your coworkers to make some chili and sell it to the employees.  You would be amazed at how many people want to test out that chili!!
• Mystery Box - You, or you and your team, can all chip in some money to purchase some goodies for a "mystery box".  You then sell raffle tickets and raffle off the "mystery box".  The winner will be extremely happy...especially if they can regift some of the items;-)
• Gift Basket Raffles - Do companies give your company gift baskets during the holidays?  If so, see if your company will let you raffle off that gift basket rather then opening it for everyone at work.
• Vendors - Vendors - Vendors - Have you emailed and solicited any of your vendors?  They are usually happy to donate something - Bulls tickets, gift baskets, dvd players or other electronics.  Start raffling off what they give you!

Hopefully your feeling a bit more confident about raising that money now.  Did I mention that there is a drawing for a prize for anyone that hits their fundraising goal of $500 by Jan. 1?  So, there is another incentive!

Go on...it's time to log in to your participant center and post something on Facebook and Twitter and send an email or two.  You can do it!!  Believe me, if this is the hardest thing you have to do, just remember it's nothing compared to what the kids at Lurie Children's Hospital are going through.  

10 Reasons to Dance

For the Kids!


It's almost 2013 and you're trying to figure out what your going to do next year to show that commitment to your community.  You want to do more, right?  You want to be part of something that has an affect on others?  But, you want to have fun at the same time?  I've got the perfect thing for you...DANCING.  That's right, on March 2, 2013, you can take the opportunity to do more, to be a part of something that is going to affect others, and most of all, you'll have fun doing it.  You'll get to dance to support the kids.

March 2, 2013 marks the 4th annual Chicago Dance Marathon benefitting Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and we're going to give you 10 reasons why you should be dancing!

1.  Obviously, it's FOR THE KIDS!!!

2.  Because dancing has GREAT health benefits.

3.  You can get your friends to join in;-)

4.  You get to dress up in some funky outfits if you want!

5.  There are LOTS of GREAT prizes.

6.  Again...it's FOR THE KIDS!!!

7.  It's a fantastic networking event...you will meet new people that remain lifetime friends.

8.  Studies have shown that dancing, which is a social event, contributes to high self-esteem and a positive outlook on life.

9.  It is truly the most inspiring event you will ever attend.

10.  Because you will make another child live...and another child smile...and another parent happy.

So, what are you waiting for...click on the link and register today for the CDM2013 event!!

Chicago Dance Marathon

Ready to get Serious about Fundraising?

Take the Challenge and Win a Kindle Fire!

It’s time to get serious about your CDM Fundraising. To help you get motivated, we’re challenging all dancers to meet their fundraising goal one month ahead of schedule. Take the Early Bird Fundraising Challenge, and when you raise your full $500 minimum by Friday, February 3 you will be entered in a raffle to win a new Kindle Fire!


So write those letters, call your friends and get that money! Don't know where to start? Check out Chicago DM's fundraising tips to get you started!




The challenge is on... And remember, it's For The Kids!

Ellen DeGeneres - You've Been Invited to Chicago Dance Marathon

The invite has been extended! Will Ellen DeGeneres two-step her way into the hearts of all Chicagoans and help a lot of kids in the process??

Come on, Ellen! Do it For The Kids!

Share this video with your friends and family, 

and sign up today for Chicago Dance Marathon 2012!

Sign Up Today to Volunteer with Chicago DM at TBOX2011!!

TBOX Volunteers Needed!

When: Saturday, December 10
Time: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

We are pleased to announce that Festa Parties and TBOX are a Silver Sponsor for the 2012 Chicago Dance Marathon! In return for this generous donation and publicity, CDM has agreed to provide 2 volunteers per bar during TBOX and we need your help.

Sign up today to be a "bar host" at one of the 34 bars participating in TBOX. As a volunteer, you will have a reserved table and will be asked to perform the following duties:

• Taking pictures with official TBOX Picture Frames
• Distributing the infamous cereal shots
• Giving out bar stickers
• Rubber-stamping people’s passports (New)

UNLIKE last year, you will not be asked or required to do ANYTHING
security related, so volunteering will be 110% FUN.

As a Chicago Dance Marathon Volunteer bar host you would receive:
• A TBOX gym bag containing all the goods paid participates receive
• A TBOX t-shirt
• Two free meals
• Free soft drinks throughout the day

Please join us on December 10, 2011 to support CDM, while at the same time having fun, being social, and participating in TBOX!!! Feel free to ask your friends, roommate, significant other, etc. to help
you host a bar.

If you are interested to once again participate in TBOX as a Chicago Dance Marathon Volunteer, contact, Annie McNulty, at amcnulty@chicagodancemarathon.org.

For the Kids!

Four days left to fundraise!

You only have 4 more days to fundraise!

How can you raise $200 in 4 days?

1) Send 8 emails asking for $25 or think of 4 people that can give you $50!

2) Host a Bulls/Blackhawks Tailgate party- ask your guests to make a donation in a collection bucket when they arrive. 

3) Does your company match for donations or volunteer hours?  Ask today- Dance Marathon counts!

4) Stay in!  Instead of going out this weekend, use the money you would have spent to give to the kids!

5) Use social media! Facebook, Tweet, tell your friends how much more you need for the kids!

6) Seeing family this weekend for holidays? Perfect, show them the pictures and share your memories with them! 

For the Kids!