Excellent Events

Finding new and different ways to fundraise for your school, organization or local charity can be difficult – especially with limited resources or time. With the endless bake sales and car washes everyone else is already doing it can be tough to stand out! Plus, when those events are over, does anyone really remember who you are? Out of sight, out of mind, right? So if you’re looking for something new to try this year, why not personalize your fundraising efforts by creating calendars to sell at your next event?

This week, we’re sharing some ideas for raising awareness and raising funds – some are new and novel, others are updates to the tried-and-true. One fundraising challenge many organizations struggle with is how to spread the word and get people excited to give. Last year, I participated in a unique event – a swim-a-thon – to raise funds to keep the lights on and water warm at the local swimming pool. It was a great event and we met our goal, but there were not as many participants as we had hoped. So what could we have done better?

Leah shared an idea about using signs to help your cause, but here’s a twist on that – door hangers! These are a creative and visible way to get the word out quickly about your fundraising event.

They are easy to make on your own or using a template, which we’ve got for you here.  ...read more

 In my last post, I talked about New Year’s resolutions and how to stay on track. Mine are off to a better start than I thought they’d be and I hope the same is true for all of our Out of Office readers. Some of you may have even resolved to spend more time giving back to your community. And so, in that spirit, we’ve designed a series with innovative ideas for fundraising. 

Spring is a busy time for fundraising and many organizations are making plans now for the coming months. Nonprofits earn a large portion of their budget from the season’s events and community groups become active again – holding bake sales, car washes and yard sales to support youth sports, summer trips and the like.   ...read more

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, for sure. I love the season with its cooler weather, changing leaves, comforting rhythm of school and football season and the opportunity to see family near and far. 

In my family, we have a Thanksgiving dinner tradition – giving thanks! It may sound simple, and it is, but it’s an important way to start the busy holiday season for us. Each year before dinner starts, we go around the table and share the things we are thankful for. It’s always meaningful, but we’ve gotten some pretty funny responses from my younger family members on more than one occasion. You know what they say, “out of the mouths of babes”…

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Fall marks one of my favorite seasons with beautiful colored leaves and crisp, cool mornings. Growing up, one way we would celebrate fall was hosting our Annual Leaf Throwing Party for families in our neighborhood. We would rake all the leaves that had fallen for weeks into a large pile in our front yard, then invite eager, carefree kids to toss the leaves everywhere. What fun!

If you decide to host your own Leaf Throwing Party or Halloween Haunted House this fall, creating decorations are fun way to get your kids excited and involved in the party prep. Here are some easy, affordable and eco-friendly craft ideas by Kiwi Magazine to spruce up your fall party. ...read more

Whether old or young, everyone loves a good party. Trying to plan the perfect one, however, is no piece of cake! Luckily, as I discovered while planning a birthday celebration for my son, picking a theme is an easy way to get creative ideas flowing for favors, food and décor. While his high-flying themed birthday party was a success, I now have a lot to live up to! I decided to poke around the Internet and share some other great birthday party ideas I’ve found to keep the creative juices flowing! 

And be on the lookout for a post from me soon on my son’s latest birthday extravaganza!! ...read more

Not too long ago, I finished my first marathon. It was quite an effort but it was rewarding. Now, I am wondering what to do next – another marathon, an Olympic triathlon or something completely different? No matter what, I will keep running. And if you are thinking a marathon is too daunting, a fun way to compete is the marathon relay.

In a marathon relay, you and three to four of your friends each take part of the marathon and only run a section of it. I did one last December with my sister and three of my friends and it was great. Runningrelays.com is great website that even has Random Team Name Generator that helped us figure out our own team name – the Questionable Motley Crew. It also has lots of tips and tricks for running relays of all lengths. If I can find a team, I’ve even been considering running the “Capital 2 Coast” relay that goes from Austin to Corpus Christi, Texas.  ...read more

As the final installment in this summer’s family reunion series, I want to showcase another one of my reunion must-haves: banners.

With relatives flooding in from all parts of the country, one of the biggest challenges is to get the whole clan to the event site. By posting an oversized, “can’t miss” visual at your meeting spot, family members will know immediately that they’re in the right place. And trust me…a bunch of balloons just won’t do – especially if the event is at a crowded park. Plus, if you change locations over the course of your reunion, banners are easily moved and reused – and everyone will already know what to look for. ...read more

For part two of the family reunion series, I’m going to tackle a big challenge – how to keep everyone informed, organized and entertained leading up to and throughout your events. Let’s jump right in! ...read more

I’m sure many of you will be participating in one of the most time-honored traditions of summer – the family reunion! I myself am looking forward to catching up and spending some quality time with my extended family during our own reunion later this summer. As the party planning continues up until the big weekend, I’m going to share some of the tips I’ve come across for planning the perfect family get-together.

First up: the invitation.

Let’s say you have decided to be part of the planning committee for this year’s reunion. First, decide on a date and location and compile the guest list. Remember to check that you’ve included new additions to the family, name changes or updated addresses for anyone who might have moved. Once these major items are set, you can start thinking about how to get the word out!

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