Skydiving Fundraisers...ideas/thoughts?

[Spudmuffin 0]

I work with Ronald McDonald House Charities and was thinking about ways to have a skydiving fundraiser. We could call it something like "Freefall for Families."

I could have each jumper raise at least $500 which would cover their jump fee and, at my DZ, leave another $320 left over for families. (I'd also have an award for the jumper who raises the most money, screams the loudest, etc...)

Due to the liability and (gulp) horrendous press if someone should get hurt, I'll probably work with a friend outside of the organization to put it together as an "external fundraiser."

Anyhow, I was just wondering if anyone has ever heard of doing anything like this or would like to share any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks a bunch!

[craichead 0]

Hey Spud!

My dropzone has an annual "boogie" fundraiser in June--Skydiving for MS. There's a registration fee of $20, which includes a t-shirt and dinner on Saturday night. They've raised tons of money by getting local businesses to donate prizes for a raffle. Prizes include gift certificates to restaurants, stores, jump packages, deals on gear (containers, canopies, etc.). One year we auctioned off our DZO--he had to jump a ParaCommander. That was priceless.

Here is the event on Chicagoland Skydiving's calendar:

http://skydivecsc.com/csc/calendar_detail.asp?n_calid=114

And here is a write up on the Multiple Sclerosis Society web site:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ILD/event/event_detail.asp?e=456

I'd recommend contacting Dave Perez (the guy who organizes the event every year) to get some ideas. His email is listed in the above article.

_Pm

__
"Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

[airtwardo 7]

The Lincoln Sport Parachute Club does a benefit boogie
every year for the American Cancer Society,
you might want to contact someone from there for ideas.

I was involved in a benefit thing years ago...
Several of us got corporate sponsors to commit.

How it worked was~

Press releases about the event inviting the general public
to the DZ to be apart of this 'amazing' function were issued.

No entrance fee, but donations were accepted at the 'door'
to get in, there were food & beverage vendors...
A percentage went to the charity.

A local band donated it's services so there was more than
one form of live entertainment.
The DZ also ran a 'special' on tandems donating a
portion of each jump...


The sponsored jumpers were to land as close to the center
of this huge ringed bullseye as possible, each rings 'value' was more, the closer to the center of the bullseye
the jumper landed.

The outer most ring was worth 25 bucks...
and actual dead center (on a 10 inch Frisbee) was 500....
each sponsored jumper made 5 jumps
for their 'corporate money' and members of the
general public could 'bet' on a particular jumper on
each load...the winner got 1/2 the 'bet'
pot back, the other 1/2 went into the kitty.

Worked out really well...
When presenting the concept and an outline of the target area to sponsors... (wuffo's)
They for the most part couldn't imagine anyone
being able to ever even get CLOSE to a dead center,
so it was fairly easy to get a commitment.

(Several of them were amazed at all the 500.00 per
jump donations they were making)

The charity made over 10 grand if memory serves...
the DZ made money and got a lot of positive free exposure...

And a bunch of us got a day of free jumps!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[councilman24 37]

We do fund raiser demos for high schools. Same as turning cow loose in field and winner is where they take a dump.

Sponsor sells squares on football field. Where four jumpers land determines the winners. State of MI requires people to buy undefined squares and by drawing they are asigned to specific squares on field. This is to randomize the squares so the jumpers cann't cheat.

Our only involvement is a standard demo, but the jumpers spread out on the field. Less pressure.

These are subject to state raffle laws.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[Spudmuffin 0]

Thanks so much, as always, PM!

Ironically, I just did a quick search for skydiving fundraisers and I quickly wound up at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center's site.
I will get in touch with Dave, but am wondering...is this something that CSC has a major hand in? It sounds like it from my first read through. My DZ is over two hours away and I know when I contacted them last year to donate for our "Adventure Package" live auction item, they declined and explained that they already had a couple charities that they support. I totally understood...you can't support everyone.

The event at CSC sounds tremendously fun. I will contact Dave and see if he can give me some good advice.
Thanks, again!

~Spud

[Spudmuffin 0]

Thanks for these great ideas. I'll call my DZ and see what they think!

[BIGUN 1,424]

FYI...

If it is a charity "sponsored" fundraiser, most will require event insurance. However, Skydiving "X" can have a fundraiser, whereby the monies can be donated to the charity.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[slotperfect 7]

The only thing I have ever tried like this is to offer a free tandem skydive as a raffle for my Daughter's elementary school class. The teachers were all in favor, but the principal shot it down being afraid of liability.

The litigative society we live in can be so hobbling at times.

Arrive Safely

John

[flyangel2 2]

My favorite event Jump For The Cause

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey