Here’s a short note on a news article that caught my attention over the weekend.
Later this year 46 mothers will converge on Union Station in Washington, DC. During rush hour they’ll have their heads shaved while spreading the word about children’s cancer.
Why 46? Because everyday 46 children die of cancer.
Why shave their heads? This is a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
From St. Baldrick's Foundation website (Anne Jones Photography)
After visiting their website I discovered that this is how the Foundation raises money for children’s cancer research: Men and women – usually parents of children with cancer – volunteer to have their heads shaved.
It certainly increases awareness!
Needless to say this is a worthy cause. However I don’t share the information for the primary purpose of helping St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
I’m sharing this information because this charity has a created a dramatic way to raise funds that directly ties to the beneficiaries of their mission. Cancer patients – depending on the treatment they receive – lose their hair. Donors and volunteers get pledges to give up their hair and to raise money for cancer research. It’s a smart connection.
Also, their website it set up nicely for people from around the country to organize their own fundraising event. Or if there’s an event planned in their area they can EASILY join in.
It’s a good example of grassroots fundraising. It’s a good example of a passionate and effective way for people to volunteer and know that they’re making a difference. Oh, and barbers can also volunteer to shave heads!
The one question I didn’t see answered was this: What happens to all the hair? There may be legal limits on what they can do with it. But the question came to mind because I know of at least one charity that uses human hair to make wigs for children with cancer. It seems like a logical connection to me.
Anyway … look at their website. It may give your charity some solid ideas on grassroots fundraising; how to use your website to help volunteers organize events; FAQs; tools to provide; and so on.
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Note about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation from their website:
What began as a challenge between three friends on March 17, 2000, has grown into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising opportunity benefiting childhood cancer research.
The first St. Baldrick’s event took place at Jim Brady’s Bar and Restaurant in New York City. Over the past 10 years, more than $95 million has been raised to fund the most promising research to fund cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The Foundation raised over $22 million in 2010 alone.
