Pls "like" my post on Facebook (playground fundraising)

[mikey0531]

I'm trying to win some water bottles to do a fundraiser for my daughter's school playground.

Would you please go here:

https://www.facebook.com/BulletinBottle

and read the submission by me (Debi Burke) on their page. It's about our playground. It's a contest. Please "like" my post for me to get credit. It's a little confusing -- you can't just "like" their page -- you have to "like" my post for me to get credit.

Thank you.
Debi

 

[Timeshare Von]

Happy to support your efforts. Sorry to read about your daughter. I sure hope she'll heal 100%.

 

[mikey0531]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

My daughter is great now. It took quite a while for the hole to close up but all that is remaining is a weird scar that she doesn't love. I told her that every scar tells a story.

I still need at least 50 "likes" if anyone else can help

Thanks again!

Debi

 

[skulipeg]

Happy to help out!

 

[Kay H]

I "liked".

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I liked also.
Liz

 

[pittle]

I liked it too! Good luck - I was #54.

 

[Makai Guy]

Putting on my BBS Administrator hat ...

I've been stewing over this in private for several days, since the initial post.

I am somewhat uncomfortable with this thread, as it comes dangerously close to violating our no-advertising rule, which says, in part:

Individual users please note that messages promoting anything for which you may receive some personal gain are considered to be advertising, and are thus prohibited. Promotion of any service where you would get referral compensation is considered to be advertising.

It might be argued that this is not personal gain, but it still promotes gain by an organization with which the poster has a relationship.

I don't want to see this board overrun with solicitations for fund raisers.

 

[Patri]

Haven't we had lots of these, in one fashion or another?

 

[svwoude]

We have had alot of these, but I think it depends on who you are, and how many posts you have!

 

[Makai Guy]

Haven't we had lots of these, in one fashion or another?

Yes, we have, and I haven't been comfortable with any of them. When we received a second in less than a week, it was time to say something.

 

[pjrose]

We have had alot of these, but I think it depends on who you are, and how many posts you have!

My interpretation is personal gain vs a cause such as a non-profit.

 

[ScoopKona]

I'm of the mind that if someone wants to change the world, he or she should go out there and change it.

Trying to change the world via Facebook is the lazy way out. Want a playground? Go help build one. The cathedrals of Europe were basically built by volunteers. What's a playground in comparison?

Call every big business in town, ask if they'll donate materials or money for materials. Then round up a dozen people -- one with carpentry experience and one who knows how to weld -- and go build it. The rest of the volunteers just have to be eager. They don't need to know a thing.

 

[mikey0531]

I'm of the mind that if someone wants to change the world, he or she should go out there and change it.

Trying to change the world via Facebook is the lazy way out. Want a playground? Go help build one. The cathedrals of Europe were basically built by volunteers. What's a playground in comparison?

Call every big business in town, ask if they'll donate materials or money for materials. Then round up a dozen people -- one with carpentry experience and one who knows how to weld -- and go build it. The rest of the volunteers just have to be eager. They don't need to know a thing.

We are two women trying to get started on this project. We have every intention of organizing a community built playground and I will get dirty with the rest of them. The Facebook idea is just a small part of what we want to do. We only took this project on 6 weeks ago so we're working on all kinds of ideas. We have plans to do all that you suggested.

For all those that have tried to help me so far -- thank you. It's small -- but it's a start.

Debi

 

[ScoopKona]

We are two women trying to get started on this project. We have every intention of organizing a community built playground and I will get dirty with the rest of them. The Facebook idea is just a small part of what we want to do.

And who pays?

Basically you are driving traffic to a company that ISN'T non-profit, in the hopes that maybe they send you some playground coin. That's basically like funding your project with lottery scratch-off tickets.

I'll bet the store manager at your local Home Depot or Lowe's could help you a lot more than some water bottle company that probably isn't even in your state. Even if you don't get any money out of them, they're a better source of information than a Facebook water bottle company.

 

[easyrider]

liked You change the world any way you want. It only took me 45 seconds to help.

 

[pjrose]

And who pays?

Basically you are driving traffic to a company that ISN'T non-profit, in the hopes that maybe they send you some playground coin. That's basically like funding your project with lottery scratch-off tickets.

I'll bet the store manager at your local Home Depot or Lowe's could help you a lot more than some water bottle company that probably isn't even in your state. Even if you don't get any money out of them, they're a better source of information than a Facebook water bottle company.

When I said "non-profit" up above, it was just my conjecture. I'm not a mod. However my impression is that the "vote" or "like" threads have been going through when it's some kind of "worthy cause" (school, charity.....) vs personal gain.

Scoop has a good idea. Other good sources of support are the "Box Tops for Education" and Campbell's soup labels.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Unfortunately, it is the way of the world in the 21st century age of digital media. Businesses will help non/not-for-profits but more often than not, they want something in return.

Social media is one way (like Facebook) because they can obtain contact info of people they can then directly market to. No company is totally benevolent to the cause of a N/NFP . . . there is always a "What's in it for my company?" component.

Even sponsorships of such organizations have such requirements and if they aren't met, they pull their sponsorship. US Youth Soccer had a major (multi-million dollar) deal with Adidas over a number of years (I think 5). When USYSA did not meet their required numbers, Adidas pulled out and left USYSA with a HUGE HOLE financially when the sponsorship agreement was terminated.

If a local community is attempting to raise funds, often they are going to be at the whim of the companies they are partnering with . . . which may include supporting and utilizing social media. To call the fundraisers "lazy" is just not right.

 

[ScoopKona]

If a local community is attempting to raise funds, often they are going to be at the whim of the companies they are partnering with . . . which may include supporting and utilizing social media. To call the fundraisers "lazy" is just not right.

What takes more effort, knocking on doors and setting up meetings with store managers, marketing VPs and company owners? Or posting a one-sentence message on Facebook and then asking strangers on Internet fora to "like" that message?

And don't forget, it is very unlikely this playground project will get a penny from this endeavor. (Actually, I thought it was free water bottles for fundraising activities.) I'd rather put effort into something with a higher chance of success. Hell, call a playground equipment manufacturing company and ask them how other groups have done it. I'm sure they employ someone who does nothing but facilitate grants and sponsorships.

 

[Timeshare Von]

What takes more effort, knocking on doors and setting up meetings with store managers, marketing VPs and company owners? Or posting a one-sentence message on Facebook and then asking strangers on Internet fora to "like" that message?

And don't forget, it is very unlikely this playground project will get a penny from this endeavor. (Actually, I thought it was free water bottles for fundraising activities.) I'd rather put effort into something with a higher chance of success. Hell, call a playground equipment manufacturing company and ask them how other groups have done it. I'm sure they employ someone who does nothing but facilitate grants and sponsorships.

And I'm sure that if the school's district is in support of this playground improvement their staff is involved at a greater level than our friend here Debi, who is "just one parent" doing their part as a volunteer.

But as all of us who working with non/not-for-profit organizations know, it takes small grass roots efforts too . . . like what Debi is attempting to do here. Hell, the 100 "free water bottles" (if they win) will probably only garner around $1,000 towards this cause . . . which is a small amount when you consider how much school playground equipment will cost.

 

[mikey0531]

Thank you everyone for your "likes," suggestions, and feedback.

Our playground is over 20 years old. I don't know all the reasons, but for whatever the reason(s), no one has been very aggressive in getting this playground replaced. As many of you know, PTA groups are always raising money for something. We are not PTA. We are just a committee trying to get this playground built. A portion of some of the PTA fundraisers have gone to the playground, but in my opinion, not enough. So, another mom and I began to talk and soon the ball got rolling. We are hoping to win these bottles to sell to raise probably no more than $1000 -- a small drop. We need at least $50,000. My friend and I just co-chaired a Yankee Candle fundraiser at the school where all the profits are allocated to the Playground. We also submitted a grant application yesterday.

This is all a learning process for us. We're trying to find ways to do this without hitting parents up for money all the time. Our school already does Boxtops for Education, Soup Labels, Recycling printer cartridges, .... all that stuff. But, it doesn't go to the playground. It goes to the PTA. I don't know how they divide the proceeds.

So ... lazy -- nope. Just taking advantage of an opportunity. No investment on our part, and if we win the bottles, a money maker for the playground.

Debi

 

[mikey0531]

Forgot to add .... we're winning!!

Thanks again for the help!

 

[antjmar]

"liked!"