July is Cleft Awareness Month, and we are incredibly excited to invite you to join us in utilizing this opportunity to raise awareness and funds to forever improve the lives of children and communities impacted by cleft!
You have shown us that the AfS community is incredibly creative, innovative, passionate, and generous in the ways you share about cleft with your networks and raise funds to support these crucial, life-changing medical missions. Given the current state of the world, most of these efforts may need to be online, but not to worry – there are easy ways you can take action for Cleft Awareness Month:
Host an online fundraiser:
One of the easiest ways to participate is to host an online fundraising campaign.
- Choose your platform: Facebook Fundraisers and GoFundMe Campaigns, are two most popular, but there are many more you can choose from.
- Set a goal: How much do you want to raise? Some people aim low to feel confident they will meet the goal, while others aim higher to have something to strive toward.
- Share your motivation or story: Sharing how you feel connected to the cause, organization, or a specific child’s story can help others relate to why this is important, life-changing work. Here’s a guide from GoFundMe on writing a captivating campaign story. Also, here’s an image you can use and two recent videos: The Greatest Gift & Transforming Lives, One Smile at a Time.
- Share, share, share: Share your campaign, whether via social media, email, local media, or numerous other means.
- Thank & celebrate: Personalized thank you posts on social media or thank you letters let donors know how grateful you are and keep up the campaign’s momentum and give you opportunities to celebrate each milestone you hit!
Host an event:
How you host an event will depend on what rules are in place in your area and the comfort level/safety of attendees. We recommend hosting online events, but we’ll include in-person tips as well. Whatever you choose to do, we have tools for you, including a slideshow and videos on our website. Reach out to us at info@allianceforsmiles.org if you would like an AfS speaker to join!
Online Event:
- Choose your platform. Zoom works well, as does Google Hangouts, Skype, Facetime, even Facebook Messenger. Some platforms allow you to share a background image everyone can use to give the illusion that you’re in the same place.
- Choose how people can contribute. Will you charge a flat fee for entry to the event that you will donate or will you make a pitch and encourage people to give what feels good to them?
- Select the theme/plan for your event. Here are a few examples:
- A “Virtual Dinner Party” (or other meal) can be as fancy or casual as you like. Guests can make their own meal, order the same type of food, or you can organize for the same meal to be delivered to all guests.
- An easier version of this would be a Virtual Happy Hour or coordinated virtual wine tasting.
- An online game night, could have guests all logging into an online version of“Settlers of Catan” (called Colonist; it’s free), or you can hire companies to guide you through something like a “Zoom Escape Room” or online “Murder Mystery” .
- Consider including additional fundraising elements from having raffle prizes, auction items, a bake sale, a trivia night, or a tournament.
In-person Event:
- The suggestions for online events above can be modified to accommodate in-person events, including dinner parties, happy hours, game nights, raffles, and bake sales. AfS supporters have hosted inspiring events, like Tina Fischlin’s Dining for Smiles BBQ.
- You will need to choose a venue. Choose where it is easiest and safest to host your event, whether at your home, an event space, a restaurant, or an outdoor space.
After your Event:
Don’t forget to announce the total raised and say a huge thank you to all your donors!
Engage your clubs, class, or workplace for Cleft Awareness Month:
Whether you’re part of a Rotary or Kiwanis club, a school group, or a supportive workplace team, share about Cleft Awareness Month and Alliance for Smiles to see if your entire group might set a fundraising goal that you can pursue together!
If you are a member of a Rotary club, you’re in good company and in luck, as AfS was founded by Rotarians and we just launched a video where many of our Rotarian volunteers share about how important Rotary is vital to supporting this work. If you would like a speaker from Alliance for Smiles, who is also a Rotarian, to speak with your club, just contact us at info@allianceforsmiles.org.