FUND RAISING

FUNDRAISING

There are so many ways to help Starfish and they can be in the form of short-term or long-term efforts...

Here is a recent example of how one six year old made a difference this past Christmas:

A church group in Virginia wanted to sponsor a baby at Starfish. So, they focused their fundraising effort for one of our babies whose name is Joy. One of the church members wrote to Amanda and told her that her six year-old granddaughter, Savannah, decided she wanted to help with the fundraising. Grandma and granddaughter together hand sewed "J" Christmas ornaments. Savannah has raised over $200!

And, another proud Grandma writes this letter from Springville, Utah:

"This money ($300) was collected by our little grandchildren -- some of them not much older than Amanda's little babies."  

This is so touching and we are appreciative of the children's efforts!

Here is an example of how three high school students made a huge difference:

Emma Lindsay, Lauren White, and Rachel Parker are students at Peters Township High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every year, Peters Township has a class requirement known as the Mahatma Project whereby the students select a charity to work on throughout the year. Emma, Lauren, and Rachel chose Starfish. Their assignment required them to come up with a fundraising plan and see it to fruition.

These students worked with the local middle school social studies teachers and put together a comprehensive presentation about what Starfish Children’s Services is and does. The teachers used this as a learning tool and in the process the girls raised money through the classrooms. The girls created a “competition” among the social studies teachers to see whose class could raise the most money for Starfish! These young adults presented to our board president, Pat McLaughlin, checks totaling $2,000!

During the course of their fundraising, Emma Lindsay relayed some heartwarming stories. One of the 8th graders from the Peters Township Middle School donated $100 of her own money. Her name is Emma Jean Held and she too was adopted from China when she was four month old. She is from Jaihgxi in South China and the foster home that she was adopted from was called Gan Zhou Social Welfare. Thank you Emma Jean!

While the social studies class fundraising competition was in process, two of the 7th graders from one of the classes went door to door in 15-degree (Fahrenheit) weather to collect money for their class team. We are very grateful and impressed with the kindness, ingenuity, and tenacity of these students who wanted to do something to help our babies.

Thank you Emma, Lauren, and Rachel!

We have many Starfish Friends who have hosted fundraising drives for us at their schools and churches.

Stefanie Bishop, a long-time friend of Starfish from Tennessee, has raised thousands of dollars through a coalition of church congregations.  Karma McLaskey, another friend of Starfish from Virginia has started a similar fundraising effort with a coalition of churches in her area.

We have even had individuals hold fundraisers in their home that have been very successful. 

One family had a wine tasting and silent auction in their home one Sunday late afternoon and managed to raise a little over $10,000.

If you are interested in learning more about Starfish fundraising opportunities, please e-mail Board Chair Patrick McLaughlin paddymac0130@gmail.com .