The Face of Fundraising

The defining experince that led me to a vocation in fundraising for non profit organizations was participating in the Team in Training program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2001. As a member of the team, I trained to finish a marathon and did fundraising on behalf of the Society.

I knew before I joined, just from talking with people and hearing their stories, that this was an awesome organization. It has done so much to help people with leukemia and help find a cure. But I really became a true believer in the cause at our kickoff meeting.

Imagine a huge ballroom at a hotel, filled with 600 or more people. A young woman comes to the podium. She begins to tell how her daughter, only 3 years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. Hearing this story and seeing the picture of the little girl on the screen was heart wrenching.

But then the young mother begins to tell of how the runners who sponsored her child were a comfort and inspiration to her family. Combined with knowing that they were raising money to help find a cure, this made a huge difference in their lives. With this experience, I began to believe I could make a difference too.

This is what fundraising is all about for me, imagining the faces of the people that will be helped because of the contributions.

As I raised donations for the Leukemia Society I saw the face of my honored hero, a 7 year old boy and his two brothers. They have their whole lives ahead of them. I wanted to make sure of that.

When I saw the luminarias being lit at Relay for Life, I saw the face of my grandmother who had lost her battle with cancer only a year before.

And when I buy a box candy from a child, I see my own face. Eight years old, bubbly and full of energy. I was in Camp Fire Girls, ‘Bluebirds’ we were called back then.

I loved every song, every brownie baking session, every camp fire, every laugh with my friends.

Sometimes I wish for that same innocence that I had back then. But then I realize it is still here, inside my heart.

When I raise funds or awareness to help a charitable cause, or just lend a helping hand to someone in need, the little girl inside me smiles.