Congratulations to our two winners! Both Syracuse University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chapters will win $1500 toward their chapter goal. Thanks for submitting such fun and creative ideas!
Syracuse University: Sign the Orange Man for Charity
The event: For 5 hours on a Wednesday afternoon, one chapter member dressed up in a BRIGHT orange spandex suit, frolicked around campus, and collected signatures from students. Thanks to a pledge from a local shop owner, each signature on the orange suit would bring a 20 cent donation toward the chapter! While collecting as many signatures as possible, the orange man held a sign advertising LiNK @ SU, and accompanying members talked about LiNK and the North Korea crisis. Through Facebook and Twitter, thousands of students were invited to look out for the orange man, and were updated on his whereabouts throughout the event.
The effect: The orange man collected 678 signatures, and the chapter was able to raise $800 (from the 20-cent pledge, as well as several one-time donations from other local businesses)! LiNK at SU also received attention from the university's official Twitter account, as well as from local businesses, and they estimate that up to 6000 students heard about or saw this event.
Why we like it: One of the goals of the Most Creative Fundraiser was to encourage good ideas that can help LiNK chapters be more visible in their communities... and what's more visible than a bright-orange spandex-clad person running around campus?!?! The orange man fundraiser definitely captured the attention of students, but also allowed to chapter to forge connections with local businesses while asking for sponsorships.
Check out this video of the Orange Man event: http://vimeo.com/31936916
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: The 500
The event: Several chapter members committed themselves to stay all day and night on the campus quad until they had raised $500. The chapter secured a space for three days, pitched a tent, and set up a table with information about LiNK. Throughout the day, members took shifts telling students about the North Korea crisis and asking for donations. In addition to committing to sleep overnight, some members took it even further and also committed to fast until the $500 goal was reached!
The effect: UIUC LiNK reached their goal of raising $500 in less than 24 hours, and estimates that around 175 people were involved with this fundraiser. Although at first, students may have just seen UIUC LiNK as another club asking for money, when the sun went down and the LiNK folks were still around, people became very curious to learn more about LiNK and North Korea.
Why we like it: The sheer simplicity and dedication of this idea is something that we can totally get behind. This fundraiser cost nothing - except time! UIUC LiNK brought us an idea that is easily replicated anytime and anywhere. Plus, there's something pretty heroic about being willing to camp out for days and so committed to reaching a goal!
Watch UIUC LiNK as they complete The 500: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVW1uaVo89o
Congratulations UIUC LiNK and LiNK at SU!