Fundraising Blog

Fundraising walk will rally support for teen with cancer

For nearly three years, Michael Downing has fought the cancer inside him, inspiring friends and family with his spirit and determination.

On Saturday, Fountain residents will honor the young man’s iron will by taking to the streets during Miles for Michael, a fundraising walk.

Bret Johnson, a curlyhaired 16-year-old who is the driving force behind Miles for Michael, is seeking to tap into what he calls Fountain’s hometown heart. “We are large enough to be a city,” he says, “yet still small enough to care for each other.”

The roughly 2.5-mile walk will begin at Fountain City Hall and end at Fountain-Fort Carson High School, where Michael graduated last spring. Bret, a junior at the school, has been a classmate of Micha- el’s younger sister, Ashley, since third grade and got to know Michael when they served together on student council.

Money raised by the walk will go toward Michael’s medical bills.

“We’ve ordered 500 T-shirts, so I’m hoping we get at least 500 people,” Bret says.

But he’s not worried about numbers.

“The biggest thing is that Michael just know that people are supporting him.”

That support is already evident, says Michael’s father, Tom Downing — with prayers, with meals prepared for the family, with visits from classmates.

“The community has been fantastic,” he says.

Michael was diagnosed in December 2003 with Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that’s most common in the early teenage years, after suffering pain in his right leg. Doctors found a large tumor in his pelvis.

“I thought it was growing pains,” says Michael, who grew 13 inches in one year. “The doctors kept saying it was growing pains.”

Michael, 18, has completed multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and has undergone six surgeries to remove the tumor in his pelvis and tumors in his lungs. Last summer tumors were discovered in his chest cavity outside the lungs, a setback that derailed plans for him to attend Pikes Peak Community College this fall on a full-ride scholarship.

The Downings haven’t abandoned mainstream medicine — Michael is undergoing more chemotherapy, for example. But they’re increasingly turning to alternative therapies not covered by insurance, such as herbal supplements and treatments from a machine designed to energize the body’s cells.

“We’ve been really impressed with how he’s responded,” Tom Downing says.

Faith has been instrumental in sustaining the family during Michael’s battle, Downing says.

“People ask us all the time, are we mad at God that he hasn’t answered our prayers. God answers our prayers every day that we have with Michael.”

Michael says one of the toughest things for him has been giving up sports. Before he was diagnosed, he was active in football, wrestling and track and field. He got his football letterman jacket on the day he began chemotherapy.

Even after he was too weak to play football, he was there leading the team on the field, driving a golf cart that coach Mitch Johnson, Bret’s father, got fixed up with decals and flashing lights. Though he graduated, Michael still attends every home game, driving the cart around after touchdowns and doing his best to rally school spirit.

“Walk through Fountain in honor of a great kid that has touched lives,” posters for Miles for Michael say. Coach Johnson counts himself as one of those lives.

“Every day that we’re around Michael, he just teaches us volumes about courage. He’s an amazing young man.”

The route for Miles for Michael will take participants past Michael’s house, but don’t look for him to be sitting on the couch looking out. As always, he’ll be a part of things.

“I plan on going to City Hall and driving the pimpedout golf cart,” he says.

MILES FOR MICHAEL

WHAT:

Walk through Fountain

WHEN:

8:30 a.m. registration, walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday

WHERE:

Walk starts at Fountain City Hall, 116 S. Main St., and ends at Fountain-Fort Carson High School

HOW IT RAISES MONEY:

Entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for students or $25 for a family

WHERE THE MONEY GOES:

To help with Michael’s medical bills

TO REGISTER:

Preregistration packets are available at Fountain City Hall, Fountain-Fort Carson High School and Cowbells Gift and Gourmet, 117 S. Main St., Fountain or by e-mailing milesformichael@gmail.com.

Clay Aiken Fans Celebrate Third Year Anniversary
Clay Aiken fans everywhere celebrate the music, the teachings, the charity, the concern for children, the spiritual drive, and the compassion of this Raleigh, North Carolina man who first stepped into the public eye three years ago.

(PRWEB) February 2, 2006 — Three years ago on January 28, 2003, Clay Aiken stepped into our lives saying the words, “I’m the next American Idol.” He didn’t win the competition, but instead, he became something so much more important to thousands of fans and followers of all ages around the globe.

This week marks not only the 3rd year celebration of the public awareness and music career of this amazing man, known to his fans, the ClayMates, as “OMC” (Our Man Clay), but also as a celebration of a long line of friendships and acquaintances made by thousands who attend Clay Aiken concerts and concert pre-parties, or connect through his Official Fan Club (OFC), popular online message boards, and through the numerous charities and fundraisers that have been born from his own charitable efforts.

Celebrate The Man
Clay, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, intended to pursue a career in special education and was in the process of completing his degree at UNC-Charlotte when he was encouraged to try out for American Idol.

Although his current entertainment career keeps him busy, the “teacher” in Clay Aiken continues to shine during his frequent visits to schools; while tutoring Gregory, a young member of the 2005 Joyful Noise Tour cast; and when he speaks up for children around the globe as a UNICEF Ambassador:

States Aiken, “Education is essential to a child’s development. I hope that as an Ambassador I can encourage people to join UNICEF’s mission to make education a reality for children throughout the world.” {4}

And then there’s this other side of Clay Aiken as reflected in this quote from “Elle” Magazine:

“Clay Aiken smells like fresh laundry- it’s the first thing you notice about him- that he’s well-scrubbed, radiant in his cleanliness, a walking, freckled dryer sheet. The second thing you notice are his lips, which are plump and ripe and shell pink. Much has been made about his hair, the whole flat-ironed, geek-hipster, red nest of it all, but little, too little has been made of his lips, perhaps because most of the world has only ever seen them contorted and trembling in song. How did a jug-eared, baby faced special ed teacher become the fantasy fodder of sophisticated women everywhere?” {2}

Celebrate The Music
(1) Clay’s debut single, “This Is the Night,” made history by going number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It sold more than 392,000 copies during its first week, beating Elton John’s record for “Candle in the Wind 1997.”

(2) In October 2003, Clay issued his studio full-length, “The Measure of a Man,” which sold 613,000 copies and went to number one on Billboard’s Top 200 during its first week of release.

(3) His first holiday effort “Merry Christmas With Love” followed in November 2004. The album debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart, giving “Merry Christmas With Love” the biggest debut week sales figures for a Christmas album in SoundScan history. {3}

Celebrate The Charity In Us All
For many, it all started with the inception of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF). TBAF grew out of the relationship between Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel and Diane’s, then 13-year-old son, Mike, who had been diagnosed with autism. Both Clay and Diane had witnessed children with disabilities repeatedly turned away from activities opened to typical children. They knew with the right support system doors could be opened to these individuals that had thus far remained closed. An organized effort could encourage and facilitate community inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities.

This shared goal grew into reality on July 28, 2003 when Clay officially announced the creation of TBAF. “My ultimate goal,” says Clay, “is for this foundation to really make an impact. I hope this foundation has a much longer shelf life than I do.” {1}

In 2004, Clay Aiken was appointed U.S. Fund for UNICEF Ambassador. He is particularly committed to supporting UNICEF’s education programs, and has traveled to conflict-affected Northern Uganda and Tsunami-ravaged Indonesia. {4}

There is no telling just how many fundraising and charitable activities have spawned from Clay Aiken fans and followers to either raise money for TBAF, raise money for UNICEF, or raise support for their own charitable programs that took hold when they became motivated by the spiritually-driven Clay Aiken. Many individual personal giving agendas got an injection of adrenalin when first taking a close look at the mission, structure and success of TBAF. “I was so impressed by what The Bubel/Aiken Foundation represented”, stated one charity founder, “that I started mingling with others at Clay Aiken concerts last summer, sharing experiences of giving and receiving.”

And for this we celebrate The Man.

article written by {5}
Steffanie Lynch, Founder,
CheckOnMe.org, TractorForCharity.org & Pansies For Pakistan

Credits & References:

{1} The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (http://www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org)
{2} Allison Glock in “Elle” Magazine
{3} MacKenzie Wilson, “All Music Guide”
{4} U.S. Fund for UNICEF (http://www.unicefusa.org/clayaiken)
{5} with input from ClayMates online: http://clayonline.com, http://clayaikentheidealidol.com, http://clayreport.com, theclayboard

###

Contact Information
Steffanie Lynch
CHECKONME.ORG
http://CheckOnMe.org
252-926-7000

If you’re involved with a nonprofit organization, be sure to sign up for a Google Grant.

A Google Grant allows a non-profit group to advertise on the Google search engine for free.

You can use your free advertising to promote your fundraising activities and charitable work to people searching for related terms.

It’s also a great way to raise funds online by directing visitors to a donation page.

There’s a good post about it in the Fundraiser Help forum:

http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=355

Mike

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Pop star Bryan Adams is rocking for relief in Pakistan, taking the stage Sunday night to raise money for victims of the South Asian earthquake that killed 87,000 and left millions homeless.

The concert was billed as the first by a major western pop musician in Pakistan since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.

Adams, best known for hits like Summer of ‘69 and Cuts Like a Knife, arrived in Pakistan’s biggest city just days after the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for the country, citing concerns about terrorism.

But that didn’t faze the Canadian-born singer.

“The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels,” Adams told an afternoon news conference. “It’s exciting because I know we are the first western artists to come and play a big concert here.”

Proceeds from the concert will go toward rebuilding schools damaged by the quake.

Sponsors said they have sold 22,000 tickets at prices ranging between $58 and $83 US. “We’re going to raise a lot of money to hopefully help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated,” Adams said.

Sharing the stage with Adams will be popular Pakistani pop star Shehzad Roy.

The 7.6-magnitude quake struck northern Pakistan’s Kashmir region and surrounding areas on Oct. 8, destroying roads and schools and leaving 3.5 million people homeless. UN-led relief efforts are ongoing as survivors struggle through the harsh Himalayan winter.

Security was tight for Adams’ visit. In recent years, Karachi has been the scene of several bombings and terrorist activities, including the 2002 slaying of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

This site has a great Earth Day Fundraiser for elementary and middle schools..

Earth Foundation

Anderson Animal Shelter (Elgin, IL) and U.S. Poker Series to Host Charity Poker Tournament

The Anderson Animal Shelter in Elgin, IL will be hosting a charity Texas Hold’em Tournament to benefit the shelter on March 11, 2006.

(PRWEB) January 25, 2006 — U.S. Poker Series today announced that it will be hosting a charity Travelin’ Texas Hold’em Tournament to benefit the Anderson Animal Shelter in Elgin, Illinois on Saturday, March 11, 2006. The benefit tournament will be held at the Prairie Rock Brewing Company in Elgin with participation limited to the first 200 registered players. The event kicks-off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., and the tournament starting at 7:05 p.m. Spectator tickets for non-playing attendees are also being offered.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Anderson Animal Shelter – a shelter providing temporary housing for approximately 3,400 homeless or abandoned companion animals annually. Anderson Animal Shelter is passionately committed not only to providing shelter to animals that are in need, but also to eliminating the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals, and doing everything in their power to help curb pet overpopulation through their spay/neuter efforts.

“We’re excited to be offering an upscale, entertaining event as part of our 2006 fundraising efforts. By combining the Travelin’ Texas Hold’em Tournament from U.S. Poker Series with the Prairie Rock Brewing Company venue, we are able to offer attendees an engaging event that benefits a great cause,” said Kathy Melone, the event director.

The donation for this charity tournament is $125, which includes hors d’oeuvres and a seat in the tournament. Spectator tickets are available for $30. The event will be hosted at the Prairie Rock Brewing Company, 127 South Grove Street, Elgin, IL. Prizes will be awarded to the top three (3) finishers. To register for the tournament or for more information call Kathy Melone at 847-697-2880 ext. 33.

For more information on the great services offered by Anderson Animal Shelter, visit their website at www.andersonanimalshelter.org.

###

Contact Information
Michael Kelly
U.S. POKER SERIES
http://www.andersonanimalshelter.org
215-499-7017

Just thought I’d let everyone know that the new Fundraising Products website is up and operational.

Lot of hours spent with the templates and the article creation. And I thought creating a major website would be a piece of cake…

I might need an index finger transplant after all that mouse clicking.