Friends of the Flame are people who organize independent events to help support the Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri & Kansas.
Examples of How You Can Help:
- Hold a backyard BBQ or chili dinner
- Organize a dress down day at work
- Hold a bake sale
- Organize a yard sale
- Throw a party
- Have a lemonade stand
- Stroll through your neighborhood or nearby park
- Host a home party for jewelry, kitchen goods, or soap
- Host a “Talk About It” dinner
You can make a difference just like these people. Many thanks to:
- Tina’s Christmas caroling party raised $5,000
- Kathy’s Halloween party raised $2,000
- Holly’s bowling event raised $1,700
- Lily’s lemonade stand raised $320
Steps to Igniting the Flame
- Step One: Prepare in advance. Allow 6 to 8 weeks of preparation for events at your organization. See the timetable suggestions (below).
- Step Two: Determine event date, time, and location.
- Step Three: Promote where appropriate – community newspaper, church bulletin, school, community businesses on your facebook page, Linked-In, email address book.
- Step Four: Set up website and software for collections if necessary.
- Step Five: Create Excitement and Enjoyment. Give gifts for identified goals: costume, most money raised, largest team, the furthest distance, the oldest. Do a 50/50 raffle at the event. Display posters of different epilepsy facts.
- Step Six:Tell people how the money will be used. You can use the following statements.
- $2 – purchases an educational brochure
- $25 – purchases a school nurses manual
- $100 – purchases a school presentation for students
- $500 – purchases youth council activities for the year
- $1000 – purchases a community seminar
- $5000 – purchases assistance to one individual for the year
- Step Seven: Take pictures and post on facebook. Recognize and thank everyone.
- Step Eight: Collect funds, count and send a check to the Epilepsy Foundation. You can bring your contribution to the Foundation office and get your picture taken for the web site. You can mail the check to the Foundation. We do accept cash but don’t send that through the mail. Please send us a few fun pictures of your event.
Event Timetable
Check off each as you complete them
- Six to Eight Weeks:
- Determine event, date, and location
- Reserve location
- Recruit committee members
- Apply for permits
- Create flyer with details of the event
- Four Weeks:
- Establish goals: number of teams, number of people to attend, amount of money to be collected
- Recruit volunteers for photography, decorations, food, and registration
- Post the who, what, when, where, and why flyer
- Solicit contributions and sponsorships
- Make team shirts, hats, pins, bracelets, and any other event promotions
- Three Weeks:
- Confirm registration of any teams and individuals and goal amounts
- Coordinate volunteer duties and schedule announcers, registration, team coaches, saftey/parking
- Event Day:
- Layout the event registration, refreshments, announcers
- Introduce all volunteers and families as well as top teams, with any of their earned incentives
- Offer testimonials from participants to inspire teams and donors
- Adhere to scheduled itinerary for the event, with a thank you for close
- Follow Up:
- Send thank you notes with pictures to all teams and businesses that donated
- Announce total amount raised in thank you notes and to the media
- Post pictures on the website with goals achieved