It’s no secret: The economy is hurting everyone. Yet, we’re happy to report that our loyal members continue to support Best Friends in any way they can in our continuing efforts to work toward a time when there are No More Homeless Pets.
We’ve received a few letters from members who have contributed to Best Friends without dipping too deeply into their own bank accounts — sometimes without shelling out a penny! And they’ve all told us the same thing: If we can do it, maybe others can, too. (We like that idea!)
Their ideas range from creative advertising to playing video games, and incorporating philanthropy in the workplace to organizing a community event. Check them out:
Become a human billboard
Since 1998, Pa. native Leslie Randall has run 25 marathons and several triathlons. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.
In fact, she competes in so many racing events, she has long since given up the idea of recruiting sponsorships.
As a loyal member of Best Friends, Randall wanted to be able to do something to give back to the sanctuary.
And that’s when she came up with the idea of becoming a “human billboard” when she competes: Randall has a Best Friends tank top she wears in every race that doesn’t require an official uniform.
“I wouldn’t have any friends or family left if I asked them to sponsor me every time I raced,” explains Randall. “So I tried to think of something that I could do to at least draw attention to Best Friends. And then I thought, I’d be honored to ‘wear’ Best Friends to spread the word. So I wear that tank top at every opportunity.”
Randall has been seen wearing her Best Friends tee in several racing winner’s circles. This week, millions of people will see her in that shirt during training sessions before competing in the Triathlon World Championship in Australia. Now that’s advertising!
It’s all a game
Janet Uyeki of Torrance, Calif. discovered the online game site, www.IWON.com a few years back. The site offers a variety of casino, word and strategic games to play. Participants turn their scores into online coins which they then use to buy entries to various daily, weekly, monthly and annual sweepstakes to win prizes.
Janet is happy playing Text Twist (warning: HIGHLY addictive!) and Alpha Bugs. And she doesn’t just play for herself; she plays for the Best Friends IWON team.
“It’s really simple,” she says. “I just signed up on the Team Challenge site to play for Best Friends so every point I earn is registered on the team challenge site. All you have to donate is your time and have fun, that’s it.”
Each month, the organization receiving the highest number of points wins a cash prize of $5,000. Currently, there are nearly 9,000 Best Friends enthusiasts playing on IWON. And so far, Best Friends has received over $12,000 courtesy of winnings on IWON.
You can register to play on IWON at no charge, then click on the team challenge site, sign up for Best Friends and start playing!
Spread the word, spread the wealth
Anna Buckingham has dreamt of visiting Best Friends for years. But as the owner of Bistro 17 ,the popular Hilton Head, S.C. restaurant, Buckingham says it’s pretty hard to get away. One day, Buckingham plans to “make the pilgrimage” to Best Friends.
And in the meantime, she has instituted a variety of creative ways to support the sanctuary. Near the restaurant host stand, Buckingham displays a donation box dedicated to Best Friends. If her customers don’t know anything about Best Friends it gives Buckingham an opportunity to talk it up, hand out Best Friends magazines and finally, encourage them to give money to Best Friends.
Even if customers miss the donation box, they can’t miss the Best Friends logo on the uniforms of the servers, just another way to introduce the sanctuary to those not in the know. And finally, Anna’s restaurant offers mostly outdoor seating to accommodate her human and canine customers. She has menus for both people and their dogs. For Buckingham, this was nothing more than thinking a little outside the box to come up with, well … a box, along with her other great ideas.
“What I really hope is that other dog friendly restaurants read about this and decide to do something to benefit animals in some way through their business,” explains Buckingham. “It can be a local shelter, a national shelter — if this just gets people in general thinking about incorporating some kind of philanthropic component to what they’re doing, think of what a huge difference we could make. Really, it doesn’t take much!”
Buckingham’s donations to Best Friends have been pouring in steadily for almost three years. To date, her restaurant endeavors have brought in approximately $1,000 for Best Friends.
There’s no place like home … for $25
Cordelia Mendoza served as a member of her local children’s hospital auxiliary. For years, she has organized garden walks as fund-raising events for the hospital. They’re always well-attended and always raise a good deal of cash — in the arena of $20,000 - $35,000.
This year, Mendoza is hosting a Holiday Home Tour to benefit Best Friends. (She chose the sanctuary as her charity of choice because she’s a big believer in what the sanctuary is all about — she was introduced to Best Friends by her twin sister, Cathy Scott, veteran Best Friends staff writer!) For $25, attendees will have the chance to catch some early holiday spirit by walking through the participating festive, well-appointed homes in Mendoza’s hometown of San Diego, Calif. All proceeds from the event will benefit Best Friends.
“It’s not that difficult to orchestrate,” says Mendoza. “Home tours take place all over the country. All that’s really necessary is to find people with beautiful residences in nice neighborhoods, who are into decorating their homes and gardens — and then the people will come.”
So … does this mean that more than 1,000 people attend these events? No. Although Mendoza notes that past similar events have drawn more than 800 attendees.
“Ticket sales are only part of the fundraising,” explains Mendoza. “You can get very creative with sponsorships. And you reach out to get donations from businesses in the community for raffles. That’s the easy part. The challenge is in the organization and getting volunteers. But once all the pieces are in place, there’s little to do but enjoy the event.”
Got any ideas?
We’re guessing many of you out there have come up with your own creative ways to contribute to Best Friends — and we’d like to know about them. Send us an e-mail to let us know how you support our efforts as we work toward a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. Send your stories to aileenw@bestfriends.org.
A heart-felt thanks goes out to Randall, Uyeki, Buckingham and Mendoza — and to all of you, our dedicated members, who continue to support Best Friends. We couldn’t do what we do without you!
Written by Amy Abern
Photos courtesy of Anna Buckingham, Leslie Randall and Cordelia Mendoza
As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.
