The Fourth of July holiday brings out patriotism and community spirit, presenting a unique opportunity for creative fundraising efforts. As you gather to celebrate with fireworks, barbecues, and parades, harness this festive atmosphere to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. Engaging with themed activities not only enhances the celebratory experience but also fosters a sense of togetherness and shared purpose. Here are four imaginative fundraising ideas for you to consider while you make the most of this patriotic holiday!
Fourth of July Fundraising Ideas
Patriotic Bake Sale — Host a bake sale featuring patriotic-themed treats such as flag-decorated cupcakes, red, white, and blue cookies, and star-shaped pies. Ask your local friends and family to bake and donate their best patriotic creations for a booth you can set up at popular locations before the holiday or during the day’s festivities. Everyone needs sweet treats for their backyard party!
Outdoor Movie Night —Host an outdoor movie screening of a classic American film or a family-friendly movie. Charge admission and sell concessions like popcorn, candy, and drinks. If you don’t have the equipment, reach out to a local vendor to see if they’d be willing to donate it. While you’re at it, contact your local grocery store to get food and beverages donated. See if your movie theater will donate some popcorn and candy!
Red, White and Blue Pool Party — Host a themed pool party fundraiser with patriotic decorations, music, and games. Charge an entry fee and offer activities such as a water balloon toss, patriotic swimsuit contest, and relay races. Provide refreshments like red, white, and blue popsicles and beverages.
Barbecue Cook-Off — Arrange a barbecue cook-off where your friends and family who fancy themselves as chefs or grill enthusiasts can compete for the top spot. Ask them to share the event with their network to draw a bigger crowd. Sell tickets for tasting and voting rights and offer awards for the best dishes. This can be a great way to involve local businesses while creating a sense of community.
Regardless of which fundraising idea you run with, remember to make it easy for people to donate by having signs with your QR code on display and printed out copies of your donation form available. Set aside a few minutes to address your crowd by telling them why you’re doing the 3-Day, how you’ve been impacted by the cause, and what they can do to support you. Be bold and direct!
We hope by incorporating these fun and festive fundraising ideas into your Fourth of July celebrations, you can engage your community, celebrate the holiday, and make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Each event offers a unique way to bring people together and make a positive impact. Embrace the spirit of independence and patriotism this Independence Day by organizing a memorable event that not only entertains but also boosts your Komen 3-Day fundraising and contributes to the fight to end breast cancer.
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day®?Crew is an integral part of what makes the Pink Bubble possible! Whether you’re in a cozy massage chair at camp or miles into the route, these participants are at the core of your Komen 3-Day experience. They are the backbone of the 3-Day® and serve up delicious food, ensure your safety, provide medical attention, and much more throughout the weekend. Whether you’re walking or are thinking of being a crew member, you may be wondering what the different positions entail and how it all comes together. We’re going to cover all sixteen positions which fall under the categories of camp teams, road teams, medical teams, and others.
CAMP TEAMS
SUPPORT SERVICES— Works closely with the Command Center Support Services team to transport non-emergency injured participants to/from Quick Care, the hospital or back to camp, as well as executing various support services responsibilities.
HOTEL OPERATIONS?(Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver and New England 3-Days only) — Supports all facets of hotel operations such as driving hotel shuttle vans, staffing the information table, serving in the 3-Day Lounge, luggage collection, transport and/or retrieval, scanning walkers in/out each day, managing hydration tables and managing participant traffic.
“I love working with the amazing Hotel Operations crew because it is so much fun getting to create an amazing experience for all the walkers and crew members on event. Whether it is staffing a table on Main Street or cheering people on at walk-in/walk-out, my crew and I bring the party and hope that everyone enjoys the comforts of their 3-Day home.” —Kevin Y.
CAMP SERVICES?(San Diego 3-Day only) — Set up, manage and break down the service areas in camp including the 3-Day Lounge, check-in, Pink Information tent, shower area, and traffic stations.
CAMP OPERATIONS?(San Diego 3-Day only) —Work behind the scenes to create a great experience for others and is central to building and maintaining camp and producing a warm, cozy and clean atmosphere during the event.
FOOD SERVICE?(San Diego 3-Day only) — Serves a hot breakfast and dinner to all participants.
GEAR & TENT?(San Diego 3-Day only) — Transports gear and tents to camp and provides protection of the participants’ gear, campsite and vehicles.
ROAD TEAMS
EVENT SUPPORT— This team consists of experienced 3-Day Crew who are ready to step in wherever needed. They may assist with pit stop support, ceremonies, managing shuttle transport, relocation, and serve as extra route safety.
PIT STOP, GRAB & GO, LUNCH— Sets up and runs one of the many pit stops along the route, which provides water, sports drinks and snacks or a Grab & Go which only includes a hydration tent.
“I’ve been part of the lunch crew in three cities and the one thing that doesn’t change from city to city is the joy we receive from walkers as they eat lunch and enjoy whatever decorations or fun we have come up with. I’ve met people and built relationships that have changed my perspective and brightened my days well beyond the 3-Day. At lunch, we work hard and play harder!” —Deena D.
ROUTE MARKING— Marks the route with directional signage, picks up signage after the route has closed each day, and repairs signage as needed.
“There is so much I enjoy about crewing at the 3-Day; the camaraderie and talking with everyone because we all have different stories as to why we crew, so I enjoy learning about them. I enjoy being a part of the backbone of the walk itself, because the crews together make up the foundation of each 3-Day. It is knowing I’m one person amongst many who provides services and support to assist the walkers in being able to do their part; to walk, to fundraise, to help Komen be a leader in cancer research and medical advancements.” —Vivian O.
ROUTE SAFETY— Patrols the route on bicycle or motorcycle to ensure safety while stationed at intersections or where traffic may be an issue.
ROUTE SUPPORT—?Drives from pit stop to pit stop loading and delivering snacks, hydration, and ice, packs up route supplies and removes all waste materials from each route site.
SWEEP & SHUTTLE?— Drives passenger vans and picks up walkers between pit stops with fatigue or medical issues and transports them to the nearest pit stop.
“Being a member of the Susan G Komen 3-Day Sweep and Shuttle crew team is an honor and privilege. Though we have long days, this crew job is still one of the most popular because of the interaction we have with walkers. Each van is staffed with two crew members, usually trading off as driver and navigator. Our goal is to pick up walkers wanting a ride and lift their spirits while moving them forward along the route. We create a theme to decorate our van and wear costumes and often have some sort of giveaway for the walkers who ride with us. Being part of the 3-Day Sweep and Shuttle team is a highlight of my year!” —Janet K.
PARKING SIGNAGE?(San Diego 3-Day only) — Removes “no parking” signage from each day’s route and sets up/removes event equipment as needed and corrects any no parking signage issues that may arise.
MEDICAL TEAMS
MEDICAL— Doctors, PAs, NPs, RNs, LVNs/LPNs and EMTs (basic and paramedic) provide medical assistance and evaluation for minor injuries.
SPORTS MEDICINE— Athletic trainers, physical therapists and chiropractors that provide services related to the prevention, evaluation, and management of minor injuries.
OTHER TEAMS
YOUTH CORPS LEADER?— Works closely with the Youth Corps Captain to ensure the team’s guidance in the months leading up to the event and directly oversees this youth team during the event weekend.
“The cool thing about being a Youth Corps captain is that the kids help you grow too. Where else do you get to be silly, goofy, and let your inner child run free without judgement? No one faults you for messing up the Wobble ten times in a row. Instead, they giggle with you until you all have a side ache! When you cry at the Closing Ceremony, you end up in the middle of a giant, yellow-shirted group hug. Being a Youth Corps captain allows you to see the 3-Day from a different perspective—that of the next generation.” —Missy G.
If you’re not on your ideal crew team because the team was full when you selected your assignment, fill out a Crew Wish List Form (2024 Crew Wish List Form) to let us know which crew teams you are interested in being a part of this year.
Though the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® bleeds pink, we celebrate all colors of the rainbow! Inclusivity is at the core of the Pink Bubble because breast cancer doesn’t discriminate against race, ethnicity, sexuality, or status. This Pride Month, we strive to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community as well as highlight the discrepancies in health outcomes that individuals may face regarding breast cancer.
While breast cancer isn’t a female-only disease, cisgendered lesbians and bisexual women tend to have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to cisgendered heterosexual women. This is not due to their sexual orientation, rather, studies show the increased risk of breast cancer is linked to risk factors that tend to be more common in lesbians such as never having children or having them later in life, obesity and alcohol use. Additionally, some lesbian and bisexual women may not get regular mammograms due to lack of health insurance, perceived low risk of breast cancer, past discrimination or insensitivity from health care providers, and having trouble finding a health care provider. If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, one step you can take is to find a health care provider who is sensitive to your needs. You can get a referral from a trusted friend or turn to the National LGBT Cancer Network, which has a directory of LGBT-welcoming cancer screening centers that may be helpful.
Unfortunately, data on screening mammography in transgender people and nonbinary people is limited. One small study compared breast cancer rates among transgender people who had hormone treatments, with or without surgery as part of their transition, to breast cancer rates in the general population. These early findings suggested that transmasculine people (female to male) had a much lower risk of breast cancer than cis-gendered women, but a higher risk than cis-gendered men. On the other hand, transfeminine people (male to female) had a much lower risk of breast cancer than cis-gendered women, but a higher risk than cis-gendered men. With little research having been conducted, there’s still much to learn about the risk of breast cancer in transgender people and we’re eager to discover more data. If you’re transgender, please talk with your health care provider about your risk of breast cancer.
