FUNDRAISING

So as you know, there are lots of problems in the world. But if you like to look at the world as having the glass half full, then for every problem there is a solution. In many people's minds the solution is fundraising. You got a problem? That means you need something, or you need something to fix the problem with. But that raises another problem: You don't have enough money to get this thing. So what do you need to do? You need to figure out how to get some money. And how do you do that? Simple, you have a fundraiser. Fundraisers have been around in many forms for many years.

Remember the old movies? How about when Mickey Rooney (from the lost O'Levy tribe) used to excitedly say "Hey I have a great idea . . . let's put on a show!!!" How many times did he say this? And why did he want to do a show? As a fundraiser, of course!! They were always putting on a show as a fundraiser to help stave off some local disaster.

While performances are a prime fundraising activity, there are several other vehicles for fundraising that must also be mentioned.

Fundraising Dinners: Now what could be a more appropriate source of fundraising for Jews than food? Nothing that I can think of. I recently went to a high school reunion, which was held at a hotel ballroom. Needless to say, there was a lavish buffet served for dinner. Later on in the evening, several of the movers and shakers in our class were circulating among us and telling us that we were reconvening across the street at a diner.

This, a scant few hours after having had dinner!! When I looked quizzically at one of the people organizing this move across the street, he said to me: "If there is one thing we have learned how to do together in all these years, it's eating!!"

Auctions: This truly raises one of the great existential nuances of the Jewish experience. Okay, so maybe it's not an existential nuance, maybe it's just a contradiction, so sue me!!

(Of course, that's another fundraiser, but we're not going to go there). You're at an auction. The object of the auction is to raise funds for a worthy cause. But the idea of an auction is to raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause. This means that those bidding for the auction, must overpay for the items they are bidding for!!! We do have a contradiction don't we?? We are always looking for a deal, but we are also looking to raise money for a worthy cause. What's the answer here?? I don't know, I'm just writing this thing!!!

This leads us back to performances, or recording of performances, or both!! As far as we are concerned we have a fantastic idea for fundraising that involves the use of our CD's, Say Oy Vey and Goys and Dolls. Here's our fundraising package:

For $350 we will send you a karoake version of either CD that your own cast of characters can sing along to. We will send you a script of the lyrics, as well as a narration script that ties the songs together into about an hour-long show. We'll even include 10 CDs for you to sell at the perfomance. All you need is six or seven performers, a sound system and someone to start and stop the CD at the right time. You can sell tickets, CDs (you will need more than 10 for the night of the show) and what else? Use your imagination!! Food, T-shirts and on and on. We will help you with ideas as to how to make your performance a success, both artistically and financially.

How can you lose?

Contact us about fundraising.