Hi,

Not new, but when I was putting out those first white P for P cans here
in the
SF Bay Area, I accumulated some input from store managers:

My experience was they are not always crazy about cans at the register,
and it
is highly competitive as to who gets to be there, and for how long.
Many really
big ones have long-standing commitments to established charities, or
some, big
and small, are worried about theft.  I managed to get cans at chain
stores with
many registers per store, but it was a lot of  work for the amount I got
for
April PD awareness month.

In the course of this effort, I talked to some district managers who
said if
there were more lead time, that we could put in a request to become one
of their
charities to which they give a small percentage of the receipts.  If
they balk
you might try to persuade them by asking for a limited time period  or
special
shopping day or weekend.  Maybe they'll do it for a longer period
later.  Ask
for a trial period on anything they balk at.

Also, the Peninsula Parkinson's Support Groups of which I'm a board
member,  did
a Macy's shopping day event for a large group of charities, where your
group
sells tickets with a minimum quantity to qualify for a certain amount
and, in
addition, you get a percentage of the day's take (or something very
similar--can't remember the exact details)  there was also a drawing
involved.
Macy's San Jose and perhaps others has done this for years.

It's good PR and advertising for them to have a special shopping day for
a
charity.  Now that PD has really made a splash in the media, with MJFox
etc., PD
has more notoriety.

Merge it with another local,  regional/cultural/historical, or seasonal
event or
time--you mentioned hearts--Valentines day is coming up, and then
Easter:
hearts, eggs, flowers.

Any chance you could sell advertising on those hot-air balloons?  Offer
miniature balloons for  merchants to display saying they  sponsored you
at the
festival?  I don't have all the machinations  worked out exactly,
because I
don't know anything about the event.  But the raw idea is to jump on
some
bandwagon going your way.  Leverage.  Also, I just sent an html page
about a
list server that has an event service--it's called seeUthere or
something.  I've
never used them; just saw them on my list server, OneList, that one of
my little
PD e-mail groups is part of.

This isn't much help, but if I think of anything more I'll let you
know.  I
would do one myself if I weren't already trying to do a local
fundraiser.  I'll
do what I can in spreading the word to my groups and contacts for the
Alliance's
latest effort that is emerging, I guess after I hear from our local
contact
person.

Thanks to all in the Alliance for the hard work, and past and promising
rewards.  Good luck!

Charlotte Mancuso

Dale Severance wrote:

>  I have an opportunity to discuss a fund raiser  with  a representative of a
> 60 store supermarket in my area.  I would like to present to him at the
> meeting a fund raiser idea that is new or novel. I have seen the stand in
> front of the door with a table and collection can and the selling of an item
> in exchange for a donation. i.e. a heart of cordboard for the Heart
> association.
>
> IM am looking for any new ideas or experiences that you may have.
>
> I also have the same problem with a hot air  balloon festival to be held in
> the latter part of the summer.   Any ideas?
>
> e-mail me thru the list or privately at
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Thanks
> Dale Severance (59/13)

--
Charlotte A. Mancuso
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