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When the envelope announcing my nomination to JrNYLC arrived, first my mom congratulated me and then she saw the tuition amount. She said there was no way we could afford it. I begged her to check the web site for the fundraising guide just to see what we might be able to do. She agreed to do that and after browsing through all the pages, she realized everything I needed to campaign for the funds was laid out for me. I remember her saying, “Well, you have absolutely nothing to lose in trying!”
She also agreed to assist me with the tools I needed to follow the guide (which she also printed from the CYLC web site). She did say, however, that the ability to attend the trip depended totally on me and whether or not I put in the effort to make it all happen. She would not help type, fold letters, create or affix address labels or make any follow-up phone calls. I agreed to those terms.
Soon she had me set up on the computer and I retyped the sample fundraising letter personalizing a few spots. Then she handed me three different telephone directories and gave me the list regarding possible sponsors that were suggested in the fundraising guide. After identifying all potential area sponsors based on the guide, I typed each name, address and contact name into a database on Excel. Then mom showed me how to make the labels and I printed two sets so I would have one for the initial mailing and the other for a thank you note should the business etc. send a donation.
My very first donation was from our family’s hairdresser who sent me $100. Her note read that she was very proud of my nomination and wished so much she could send more! Her gift gave me the hope this could be possible after all! I waited exactly one week before I made any follow up calls.
With assistance, I wrote a script I could follow. See, I am very shy and definitely do not like talking on the phone. Mom knew that and gave me the tools I needed to make me more comfortable. After the first few calls, it got easier and by the end of the approximately 150 calls I made, it didn’t seem as hard as I thought. In the meantime, mom helped with an article for the newspaper announcing my nomination and that I was seeking sponsors. The article also said a bit about my school, extra-curricular activities and my family.
Soon, I was receiving mail almost daily. The neat thing about it all was that I started to realize how much people in my area believed in me. I was so excited and encouraged by every check—no matter how small. One note enclosed in an envelope was from a gentleman who said he remembered when his sons used to go on trips like this—now it was his turn to give back to others. I hope someday I can do the same. In the end, I acquired approximately 40 sponsors and earned every dime of the tuition AND travel expenses!
What helped me most in my fundraising was the first newspaper article that was published in all the local papers simultaneously with my letters and follow up phone calls. Also important was my documentation as I made the calls. Knowing to whom I had spoken and calling back exactly as requested went a long way. Believe me, when I finally made my goal I could have shouted from the rooftops! I earned absolutely every dime (including travel expenses!)
I learned that with just a little guidance, a lot of determination, consistency and a true “can do” attitude anything is possible. If you have the privilege of being nominated for this event by your teacher, go to the CYLC website and follow the fundraising guide almost exactly. It lays every possible option out for you and gives you great ideas to make your dream a reality.
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