Tag Archives: 3 Day Fundraising

Fundraising Friday: 3-Day Winter Fundraising Crafts

Happy first day of winter! Though it may have felt like that snowy season for a while, now winter is officially here. It is the perfect time to cozy up and stay home, spending time with your family or taking a relaxing night for yourself. While you’re staying in, get a kick start on your 3-Day fundraising for 2019 with some fun winter crafting! These ideas can be used to thank your donors, celebrate your accomplishment from 2018, and get more donors lined up for the next year.

Make 3-Day-themed holiday cards

If you haven’t sent out your holiday cards yet, don’t worry! There’s still time to print them at home or at your local pharmacy and get them out before the end of the year. But, instead of doing the usual family photo or posed picture, mix it up with a 3-Day photo! It is a huge accomplishment that you can use to highlight your year, and let people know that you’re committing to 60 miles again next year. This is the perfect way to round out your 3-Day year with a celebration you can share with everyone. Whether you make your own cards or go with store-bought, print a 3-Day holiday card insert at The3Day.org/Holiday so you can include a fundraising request along with your holiday greetings.

Pink Winter Window Decor

This is a perfect craft to get the whole family involved in! Create your own 3-Day themed window décor that will cast a festive hue on your holiday season. Follow these simple steps to make your own version of a stained-glass craft.

Start by peeling a sheet of clear contact paper for each person and place the paper sticky-side up on the table. Cut a black frame to the size you want each creation to be and lay it on the contact paper so that it sticks. Then, cut away excess contact paper so that it’s just the frame.

Once the setup is complete, start by placing a paper snowflake, star or other holiday symbol on the frame. You can even do a breast cancer pink ribbon!

Cut out one-inch strips of tissue paper in your favorite shades of pink, white, silver and gold. Then, place the tissue paper on the contact paper one at a time to fill the inside of the frame. It’s okay to cover up the snowflake and the frame edge! The work side is actually the back of the project. Fill it in with all the colors you love then peel a second piece of contact paper and place this sticky-side down on top of the tissue paper pieces. This seals all those little papers firmly in place, so they can’t escape. Flip it over to admire your work!

You can include these with your holiday fundraising letters and/or send them out with your donor thank you letters. Hang one in your window too, so people can see that you’re committed to the 3-Day.

Host a gingerbread house night…

…but with all pink décor! Swap out the normal red and green décor and find as much pink frosting, sprinkles and fun add-ons that you can. Keep any white or more neutral colored decorations that come with the standard gingerbread house kit to round out your options.

Then, invite everyone over! Ask that people pitch in to pay for their gingerbread house kit and let them know that anything extra they want to add in will go towards your 3-Day fundraising. Or, if you’re really in the giving spirit, you can cover the cost of the gingerbread yourself, and have all the proceeds go straight to your 3-Day fundraising.

You can also make it a holiday movie night instead! Ask people for donations to attend and play a winter classic. Just make sure to include a crafts table where your guests can make holiday cards, gift tags and more!

Sparkly pine cone ornaments

These can be left up all winter long! They might start as an ornament for your Christmas tree, but you can also hang them from doorknobs or in your window to add a bit of winter sparkle to your day.

All you need are some pine cones from your yard or local craft store, craft glue like Mod Podge, a paint brush, ribbon and pink glitter! Much of these items are probably already in your house, so this is a great, low cost idea.

Use the paint brush to paint the craft glue onto the pine cone, except at the bottom. Then, place your pine cone on a plate or in a bowl and sprinkle varying shades of pink glitter all over the ornament. Shake the excess glitter off and let it dry. Then, tie a bow on and add your personalized fundraising note. Keep the note short and sweet so you can attach it to the ribbon. This is also a great thank you gift for donors.

What are your favorite crafts for those winter nights? Do you have special holiday crafts that you love? Share them with us in the comments!

Congratulations to the 2018 Twin Cities 3-Day Milestone Award Winner, Patty Miller

Please join us in congratulating our 2018 Twin Cities Milestone Award Winner; Patty Miller! The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Milestone Award is given at each event to a walker or crew member who has an outstanding history of participation in the Komen 3-Day. At the Twin Cities 3-Day camp show, we presented Patty with this special honor.

Patty has walked in the Twin Cities 3-Day for ten years, and has raised more than $120,000 total for the 3-Day!

Her son Austin says, “My mom is truly amazing. While most sons, when asked to describe their mother, would state that she is “amazing”, I am not alone in this assessment of my mom. As a young child, I remember people calling our house and telling me, “You’re Patty Miller’s son? She is an angel. Do you know that your mom is an angel?” I do know that. In fact, for my entire life she has been completely dedicated to serving others and to making all around her better.”

He went on to describe her dedication to the 3-Day, and was the consummate proud son.

“My Mom did not start doing the 3-Day until she was nearly 60 years old. I will never forget her first year doing the walk. I believe she was the number two fundraiser and the fifth or six walker to cross the end line. We stayed around the finish for hours cheering in the other walkers and ultimately partaking in the closing ceremony. It was clear to me on that day that Komen would become an important part of my mom’s life.”

And so it has! We heard just how much the 3-Day means to Patty when we spoke directly to her…

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

My dear mom stopped walking when she was only 35 years old. Cancer killed my vibrant, young mother and left motherless, me at age 4, my brother at age 7 and my sister at age 1. We’ve forever had that hole in our hearts of missing her. So I walk for and other her because I can.

What brings you back year after year?

I return year after year to walk because cancer has devastated our world and families as much as poverty or oppression. Komen helps others throughout the world while working on advanced treatments. Komen reminds us to care for our bodies as health means everything. And so I walk.

What is your secret to fundraising success?

I talk about Susan G. Komen and our 60 mile journey as often as I can. I ask on Facebook if anyone wants to contribute as well as add a name on my shirt of a loved one who has fought against cancer or is fighting now. I tell my mom’s story. I offer to speak at community events. And I THANK and THANK! Anyone who helps me with training walks or donates money, I send email thanks and Facebook thanks and snail mail thanks and kudos throughout the year.

Best advice to anyone walking 3-Day?

Make it a celebration! Celebrate YOU for taking this commitment of time and energy! Mostly, celebrate the lives you’re touching by making a positive difference in the fight against cancer.

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I support every kind of event that benefits cancer – it’s my retirement volunteer job.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on 3-Day?

People who are passionate about ending cancer are among the greatest people anywhere.  Every walker, every helper, every person who comes to cheer or work the course, every staff and every person in a car that passes and honks on the 3-Day journey seems to be bonded in a positive caring goal to find a cure and meaningful treatments. Differences disappear to work together on this most urgent goal and purpose. I’m humbled to be a part of Susan G. Komen 3-Day!

A to Z of Fundraising for the 3-Day

We know fundraising for the 3-Day can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! You have support from your coaches, our social media community, and other participants…not to mention all the amazing people in your own life. You can do it; we promise!

To get you started, we have some simple ideas that will give your fundraising a jump start. It’s as simple as A, B, C.

  • Ask, ask, ask!
    • This seems simple, but it really does do the trick. Ask everyone and anyone you can think of. Ask them early and ask them often. Ask them and then remind them. Keep asking until you get a “yes” or a “no.” A non-response is not a “no.” Ask them in different ways and with different modes of communication. Just ask!
  • Birthday time
    • Birthday presents are great, but you know what’s even better? Getting 3-Day donations as a birthday present! Instead of presents, ask for donations from your family and loved ones.

  • Corporate Matching
    • Take advantage of corporate matching gift programs. Many of your donors work for companies that have a match program, so their donation could double simply by filling out a form from their HR department. Check out org/Matching for more info!
  • Donate for Days
    • Ask people to donate a certain amount per day or month of your Komen 3-Day commitment. Instead of a $25 donation, encourage them to make three $20 donations over time! Reminding your donors of the option to donate over time is a great way to increase the size of donations. It’s like layaway for a good cause!
  • Everyone is a potential donor
    • Dog walker. Accountant. Dry cleaners. Teacher. Trainer. School nurse. Anyone can be a potential donor! If you’re not sure if you should ask someone, just ask them. It never hurts to ask!
  • Follow the 3-Day blog

  • Gift for any occasion
    • If your birthday isn’t coming up before the 3-Day, don’t stop there! Graduations, promotions, engagements, hitting a fundraising goal, even just surviving the week – any of these are worth celebrating! If you hit a milestone, shoot out an email to your donor list with the good news…and a reminder to donate ?
  • Host a party – any party!
    • Plan a summer barbecue, a movie night, or Sunday brunch. Just make sure you can throw the party with as much at-home materials as possible, so you can keep your spending to a minimum. Then, invite pals over for the event, and encourage them to donate to your 3-Day cause instead of contributing food or drink to the party. This is also a great way to recruit new team members!
  • Invite donors over
    • Going along with this, you can just cut right to the chase and hold a 3-Day informational event at home. This is great for a team to do together, because it allows you to really tell your 3-Day story and share your motivation with donors in-person.
  • Join us on social media
    • Following the 3-Day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram will also give you access to fundraising tips! We love tracking the hashtag #FundraisingFriday for tips from across the net.

  • Kids can help too
    • If you have children (or your friends have kids you can recruit), make them a 3-Day task force! They can help with canning, putting fundraising flyers in mailboxes, or planning your next fundraising event. Now that school is out for the summer, it will give them a fun way to pass the time and give back!
  • Local businesses are your friends
    • Ask local businesses to sponsor you! You might be able to hit your fundraising goal with just one donation. Just be sure to give them a thank you and shout out on social media.
  • Make the most of mail (email too)
    • We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Ask more than once! Email is free and direct mail is very cost efficient, so these are the best ways to reach your donors without breaking the bank.

  • National Holidays make a good reminder
    • Don’t forget about Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend, Columbus Day and all those funny, random holidays. If you can think of a funny way to use one of these holidays to get your donors attention, then use it! We love finding funny holidays here.
  • Organize your plan and stick to it
    • Some of our 2018 3-Days are still months away, so it can seem like a far-off deadline. Make yourself a plan and stick to it. Continuous fundraising efforts will have you accumulating donations for months on end.
  • Pancake Breakfasts make fundraising delicious
    • Encourage your place of worship, work, or school to host a pancake breakfast to benefit your 3-Day fundraising. Have all your friends help with the cooking, then ask for a suggested donation amount to join in the fun. Make sure to have plenty of donation forms or 3-Day business cards on hand for the donors who want to give more.

  • Queen (or King) of the 3-Day
    • Not a lot of words start with the letter “Q,” but this one is a fun one! Make a crown, sash, even a fun scepter, and ask for donations to help you become “Queen 3-Day” on event. Then, for every person that donates to your goal, add some more flair to your outfit. Think sparkles, pins, feathers and fun décor! That way, you can also send status emails to your donor list with photos of how your costume is coming along, and reminders to donate.
  • Remind, remind, remind
    • We’re going to keep reminding you to remind your donors ? That way you won’t forget to ask, and they won’t forget to donate!
  • Social media is your friend
    • Change your Facebook status to remind people to donate. Send out some tweets. Post photos on Instagram of amazing 3-Day memories. Social media is the perfect, instantaneous way to remind donors just how much the 3-Day means to you. Also, we post fundraising challenges and tips and tricks often on OUR social media, so be sure to follow us!
  • Tribute Donations
    • Encourage your donors to make their donations in “honor of,” “support of,” or “memory of” someone they know who has been affected by breast cancer. This is a great way to let them feel part of your experience.

  • Use your talents
    • Offer any talent or skill you have for a minimum donation; graphic design, massage, hair stylist, photography, sewing, cake decorating, etc. People always need help with random tasks, so you’ll have no shortage of potential donors this way.
  • Voicemail…it’s still a thing
    • Voicemail isn’t used as much as it used to be thanks to texts, but it’s important to leave no stone unturned. Change your voicemail and answering machine messages to announce the fact that you are walking in the 3-Day. This will be news to some and a reminder for all!
  • Walk it out, 3-Day style!
    • Make sure to wear your 3-Day gear whenever you go out on training walks! You never know who will see you and want to donate, so bring those 3-Day business cards with you too if you can.
  • X marks the spot
    • Host a fundraising scavenger hunt! There are tons of ideas online and most of them can be put on for free. Try to incorporate the 3-Day into clues or goals and use it as a fun reminder to your donors.

  • Your workplace can also be your fundraising hotspot
    • Put up a display in the lunch room, break room, or front desk at work (a sign with your picture and a note about what you are doing); be sure to include a jar for donations and a stack of your donation forms.
  • Zone in
    • And stay focused! Fundraising is a long-term game but don’t get discouraged! Here are even more ideas to help you reach your goal. You got this!

What else can we add to this list? Comment below – you just may be the person who inspires someone else to hit their fundraising goal! ?