I was really excited to learn about a new initiative that focuses on the first three letters of fundraising – FUN.
Make Fun Matter is a movement and digital platform for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada that lets you turn whatever you like to do for fun into ‘FUNdraiser.’ Whether it’s cake baking or craft making, you can make fun your count and rally around one singular purpose: to keep Canadian families of sick children together so they can heal better.
The Make Fun Matter website is ready to make it super easy (and fun) for you to set up your FUNdraiser in 3 easy steps – (1) Choose your FUN, (2) Create your FUNdraiser and (3) Go have FUN. There are also tons of ideas to inspire you.
Here’s something that I’ve learned about making a difference → everything counts. Instead of setting a goal for a certain amount of money, you can set out to do something specific. Sometimes it helps to focus in on how you can help. Let me explain. When I got involved my very first fundraising campaign it was for clean water in developing countries. I knew that for every $25 raised, clean water would be provided to one person for life. So I focused on that – $25 was going to change someone’s life. I got my whole school involved. I got on stage and I asked “what can you buy with $25?” A board game, a DVD, a new sweatshirt, a pizza. So, we all understood that by giving up one of these things, we could be changing someone’s life – even save someone’s life – by giving them clean, safe, water.
So, how can you make a difference for families at RMHC?
- $10 can provides a new book for the House library
- $25 can provide a family with a warm breakfast before heading to the hospital for the day.
- $50 can provide 10 families with laundry detergent for a week.
- $155 can cover the cost to operate a room at a Ronald McDonald House for one night.
- $250 can fully stock a playroom with games and toys for the kids (grownups can play too)
- $500 can supply sheets and towels for families at a House to use.
There are lots of ways to make a difference for the families that need RMHC. Think about what you can do and set a goal that you feel good about and one that you can reach by calling on your family, friends and community for support.
About Ronald McDonald House:
A child getting ill and needing hospitalization is devastating, particularly to the 70% of Canadians living outside a city with a children’s hospital. This often means sick children are separated from parents, caregivers and siblings when they need them most. Parents and caregivers must also worry about costs associated with travel and accommodations, while trying to balance jobs and the needs of other children, among other responsibilities.
Since the first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1981, Ronald McDonald Houses have helped over 321,000 families to date. Today, there are 15 Ronald McDonald Houses coast-to-coast, which allow families of sick children to stay for $11.50 (on average) per night and are a home-away-from-home just minutes from hospitals. Completing the circle of support are 13 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms that provide a place for families to rest and recharge right in the hospitals, and 2 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles that help bring medical care to vulnerable communities in Alberta.
Unfortunately, last year, due to high demand Ronald McDonald Houses had to waitlist 3,297 families and 2,282 had to find alternative arrangements. That’s where Make Fun Matter comes in. The goal is for Ronald McDonald Houses to never to turn away a family in need again.
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