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Right now I’m in the middle of a very important project. I’m raising funds for suicide prevention. For the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to be more specific.
I’m sure you’ve heard me talking about it, but if you haven’t, a couple months ago I created some original art that I titled the “Butterfly Blogger” and then created t-shirts to sell to benefit the AFSP. 40-50% of the purchase price of these shirts will go directly to the charity (depending on style).
This art represents the many many hats we as bloggers and social media influencers wear in our daily lives. It is an awesome t-shirt if I say so myself (also available in tank top)! I just love mine. (I’ve had one made for me in each style.)
So where is the money going?
Each year the AFSP hosts a national fundraising walk called the “Out of the Darkness Overnight.” Its a 16-18 mile walk literally from dusk till dawn. I did it last year in Washington DC, and this year it is being hosted in Seattle (where I live). But have no fear the money is used for national suicide prevention programs.
Want to learn more about this incredible event, and why I walk? Check out the Overnight’s new promo video. I actually discovered today that I am featured in it along with a couple of the incredibly passionate ladies I walked with last year. This video is so very moving, it brought me to tears.
I’ve encouraged a couple of my blogger buddies, Kerri of The Maven of Social Media and Ashley of Crunchy Frugalista to do the walk with me. They have both been touched by suicide (as I have) and want to do their part. So I’m supporting Kerri and Ashley in their fundraising efforts as well. We have to raise a minimum of $1,000 to walk and Kerri and Ashley are not there yet. So I’ve invited them to also sell the Butterfly Blogger shirts to benefit their walk fundraising. If you buy a shirt and write one of their names in the “Who referred you to this fundraiser?” category on the pre-order form, they will get 50% of the shirt’s profits for their fundraising.
How to Order?
- Go HERE and place a pre-order. (You do not have to pay at this time. And don’t forget to put Kerri or Ashley as a referral if you’d like some of your donation to go to their Overnight fundraising pages.)
- When we accumulate a minimum number of orders, I will contact you with a PayPal money request, and the shirts will be ordered at that time.
- Approximately 1-2 weeks later your shirt will ship to you!
And now for the Giveaway!
Kerry, Ashley and I are giving away a Butterfly Blogger T-shirt or Tank (your choice and your size) Retail Value up to $30. US Only. Please enter in the Rafflecopter below. You may enter until 4/7/14 at 9pm PT. (See Rafflecopter form for rules.)
I am looking forward to receiving my shirt. I”ve shared this for you
Cute shirts, and for a good cause too.
What a great shirt for a great cause!
I’d like to win the tank.
I have a shirt coming, but if I won one I would pass it on to an amazing friend. She would need a ladies small.
I would like the charcoal v-neck tee.
The design is very nice. I’d like the unisex v-neck in black.
Great giveaway! I love the shirt. I’d choose the women’s vneck in black.
The shirt looks great! I’d love to do this walk with and for my brother but the $1000 fundraising minimum is really intimidating as is the organization’s policy on not being able to walk if you don’t raise that much money. This seems draconian and counter-productive because I can imagine that it prohibits many people from being able to walk (and fundraise!). Can you speak to this at all in terms of what your positive experiences have been with the organization?
Thanks!
Lynne
Absolutely! I recently joined the board of directors in WA State so I know quite a bit about the organization. Just like other fundraising walks of this magnitude, there is a minimum $1,000 (or $700 for students and military), but as AFSP is a volunteer led foundation there are countless ways to participate in The Overnight as crew or volunteer staff without the need to fundraise and it is just as rewarding. The local community walks around the country do not have fundraising minimums. But it takes a lot to put on an Overnight Walk. And AFSP strives to have a high % of funds raised going to actual suicide prevention and suicide loss support programs vs expenses. Over 82% in fact. From personal experience fundraising for my first Overnight last year, it was very daunting but ended up being much easier than I ever expected. I raised almost $4,000. I have a lot of tips and ideas and actually am working on a blog post about fundraising.
And by the way, if you’d like I would love to honor your brother by wearing his name on my walk shirt. I have many friends and readers who have given me their loved ones names to carry with me.
Hi Cristi,
Thanks so much for your reply. Unfortunately, because this minimum is so firm, it will probably keep us both from walking. This is the first positive thing he’s wanted to do in a long time, but he’s still at the moment simply focused on staying alive so fundraising of this magnitude is totally out of the question. I’m not even sure that I could raise that much money. This still seems like a counter-productive policy to me. Obviously the goal is to raise money, but it is also to raise awareness and the more people doing that, the better. As I said in my previous comment, I imagine that we are not the only ones who are unable to participate because of this policy, and it seems to me the more walkers the better.
I would, though, love a heads up (perhaps in a comment here) when you’ve completed your blog post on fundraising. I’d still like to read it.
Thanks again,
Lynne
Absolutely. I’d be happy to let you know. I completely understand that the fundraising seems daunting especially if he’s struggling. Please consider volunteering. There are so many ways to get involved. And you are absolutely right, the awareness is just as important as the money, which is one of the reasons so many participate as volunteers if they cannot raise the funds. We can’t do it without everyone’s involvement.
Hi Lynne, I posted it today http://www.motherhoodunadorned.com/2014/04/15/top10-charity-fundraising-tips/