Summer Fundraiser Ideas: 5 Ways To Make A Difference For Kids With Cancer
School is out, pools are open, and grills are fired up. Whether you want to make the most of the warm weather or you’re just looking for a way to get the kids involved, make this summer count by raising money to fund research that helps kids with cancer. Here are five ideas to get you started.
1. Sports Challenge: Take advantage of the summer weather and organize a competition with a suggested donation for entering. Take it to the sand for a game of beach volleyball or the park for some summertime favorites like soccer, football, even frisbee golf. You can also beat the heat and host an indoor 3v3 basketball tournament like long time participant, Bodie with Buckets for St. Baldrick’s.
2. Car Wash: A car wash is an easy way to bring your community together for a good cause. Be sure to choose a visible location, whether it’s at a park, neighborhood common area, or school. Get supplies donated, post flyers, and ask for a minimum donation with each wash. While people are waiting, be sure to have refreshments nearby along with St. Baldrick’s information to learn more about how they can make a difference.
3. Party for a Purpose: Celebrate the end of the school year, or a summer birthday, with a poolside fundraiser. Hold a diving or best cannonball contest and ask a local Honored Kid to be the judge. Display a goal line to see how far you can get or collect donations in lieu of gifts. Don’t forget the sunblock and make sure to have a lifeguard on duty!
4. Summer Field Day: Recreate a classic outing that both adults and kids will love. Include a three-legged race, water balloon toss, corn hole competition, and tug-of-war. Register your fundraiser to keep track of participants and support kids with cancer. Everyone will be a winner!
5. Game Night: Host a trivia tournament, or a good old-fashioned game night fundraiser with your Scrabble boards, poker chips, or Bunco. Ask players for a minimum donation to partake in the fun! See what this mom does in honor of her son, Alan.
You don’t have to be a lifeguard to save kids’ lives. This summer, start a fundraiser for childhood cancer research.
Get more fundraiser ideas on the St. Baldrick’s blog:
Buckets for St. Baldrick’s
By Sir Bodie Centore, Knight of the Bald Table, now age 17
My Buckets for St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, a 3v3 basketball tournament held in Syracuse, NY, raised over $10,000 for childhood cancer research on March 20th. While this event surpassed my fundraising goal, it also had an impact even more significant than anything I had experienced in 10 years of fundraising for St. Baldrick’s.
I became involved with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation 10 years ago after hearing about the local Syracuse, NY event at Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant from family and friends. I was intrigued, but as a 7-year-old, very nervous about having my head shaved. Earlier that year, I spent several days in the hospital with pneumonia. I didn’t understand cancer much then, I couldn’t even spell it, but I knew I hadn’t enjoyed my time at the hospital and I didn’t think kids should have to go through anything like that.
Bodie at his first shave with Emcee Chow Downey
With this in mind, I decided to shave. I called my family members and wrote a letter that I took door-to-door asking for donations. I surpassed my goal and raised over $3,000.
That first year I began using two fundraising tactics that helped me greatly over the next eight years of shaving: a hand-written letter to ask for donations, and a similarly hand-written, personalized thank you note after receiving them.
The day of my first shave in 2012, I was filled with nervous excitement. When it was over, I said it “tickled so much it hurt,” but also that I felt “spectacular.” I had two main takeaways: I wanted to do it again, and I wanted to go bigger.
The next year, I raised my goal, but more importantly, started my own team. We raised $10,000, and shaving with a team of my friends made St. Baldrick’s even more fun.
In 2014, the Baldacious Baldies grew bigger and we raised $16,000. Some students from Syracuse University did a short movie about us and we were featured in the local newspaper. It all felt very cool to 9 year-old-me. I loved checking the Top of the Charts board every day to see where I ranked, and for the first time I was near the top of the list.
When I turned 10, I started to gain a better understanding of cancer when I met a child, 4-year old Ocasio, who had a brain tumor and was given only a few months to live. Ocasio was one of my honored kids that year, and meeting him inspired me to fight harder for kids with cancer as I was shocked by the devastation the disease caused. I began to raise more money and to build my team by recruiting more friends.
By my 6th year, I gained even more determination to raise the most money possible when our family friend’s baby, Archer, was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor at 7 months old, and a girl in my class, McKenna, was diagnosed with leukemia.
Bodie with Archie and his family
Each year I added more fundraising methods. I put jars out at local businesses and emptied them every week, and I collected bottles and cans under the slogan “All the pennies count!” I wrote a rap and made a beat on Garageband and posted it to my page. That year I was the No. 1 fundraiser at Kitty Hoynes, raising over $16,000. The Baldacious Baldies had grown to 25 members and raised $37,000.
Going into my 8th year of shaving, I met a boy named Charlie, who was two years older than me who had a DIPG brain tumor, which has no viable treatments. I was moved by the way he talked about his cancer, and his ability to be so composed about it at such a young age. That year, I started speaking at local Rotary clubs and my church, and worked with a local gym on a charity workout. By now, I was immensely motivated to fundraise by all of the kids I had met, especially Charlie, as I saw someone my age battling cancer, and understood how difficult of a thing that would be. I raised $27,000 that year, my team raised $54,000, and I was named a Knight of the Bald table for shaving for 8 years.
Charlie died in August 2019. I was stunned and upset when I found out, but at that moment, I knew I would try my hardest to raise as much as possible in his honor for my final shave when I was in eighth grade. In my letter that year, I wrote that my goal was to “inspire others as I had been inspired.” I made another video, increased all of my usual fundraising activities, and pushed my team members to raise as much as they could. Ultimately, I was able to raise over $31,000, and my team raised nearly $55,000. I was the No. 1 fundraiser at Kitty Hoynes, and my team was the No. 1 team at Kitty Hoynes. It was an incredible last shave.
I shaved for 8 years and in 7 years the Baladacious Baldies raised over $250,000.
The Baldacious Baldies post-shave
More Importantly, Ocasio, Archer and McKenna are all now cancer free.
After my last shave I wanted to continue supporting St. Baldrick’s, but I wanted to keep my hair. I didn’t know how I could help without shaving. I filmed a video with legendary event emcee Chow Downey at Kitty Hoynes to promote the next shave, but COVID hit and everything was canceled for two years. It was frustrating that I couldn’t help. I knew, when I could, I wanted to do something bigger, I just didn’t know what.
Inspiration came after volunteering at a soccer shootout fundraiser. I thought I could do something similar with basketball. Basketball is the most popular sport in my school district from elementary school through high school, and I have great memories of going to basketball camps there and playing in 3v3 round-robin tournaments. Kids love participating in these types of tournaments.
I wanted to host a basketball tournament for kids and hold it in late March during the NCAA tournament to benefit from the basketball craze that descends upon my school district during the NCAA tournament time.
I discovered St. Baldrick’s “Do What You Want” fundraiser option, where you can create any fundraiser you want with their support, and I knew this was a perfect fit.
However, I was nervous of what others would think about my idea, and didn’t tell anyone outside of my family for a few months.
The first person I told was my former JV basketball coach and gym teacher, who loves basketball and runs multiple basketball camps and leagues. I was incredibly nervous, but he was extremely supportive right away and offered to help. I reached out to more school officials to get their approval, with similar levels of anxiety, and everyone strongly supported the idea. But it was already December, and if I wanted the event to happen in March, things would have to get done fast.
At this time, I was busy balancing running track and performing in the school musical, and I felt like I had no time to plan the event, yet the weeks kept slipping by. I considered pushing it back a few months but I knew this wasn’t what I wanted.
I wanted to get back to raising money for childhood cancer research, and fighting for the kids battling the disease. On the last possible day, I submitted paperwork for school board approval of the event. With that, Buckets for St. Baldrick’s was official for March 20, only two months away.
There was no turning back now.
I created my fundraising page on the St. Baldrick’s site, wrote my letter and worked with my old coach to develop the registration form. We started promoting the event with flyers, school announcements and social media posts. I designed a T-shirt with the help of our high school art teacher, and with the help of an old shaving teammate, reached out to local grocery stores for food donations. On top of that, I sent emails to business owners asking for sponsorships to cover my event costs. I wanted every penny possible to go to St. Baldrick’s.
By February, I had sponsors and donors, a T-shirt design and many old Baldacious Baldies lined up to referee. We received bracelets, T-shirts, pins, and buckets from St. Baldrick’s, and designed promotional posters and posters thanking our sponsors. I set a goal to get 40 teams and $5,000 raised.
Everything was coming together and there was seemingly an incredible amount of community support, but two weeks away from the registration deadline, we had just a handful of teams registered and just over $1,000 in donations.
Thankfully, as the weeks progressed, the teams rolled in and the brackets started filling up. The day before the event, we went to the school to hang the St. Baldrick’s banners, get the TV working to stream the March Madness games, and set everything else up. When we were done, I was confident we were going to have a great event.
The morning of Buckets for St. Baldrick’s, the gym buzzed with excitement as the first division of second and third graders arrived. Parents filled the bleachers to watch, something I hadn’t expected, and the gym was electric. I kicked off the event with a quick speech and we were finally underway.
Bodie recruited many of his Baldacious Baldies team members to volunteer at the tournament
Bodie checking the brackets
A decade of fundraising for St. Baldrick’s and a year of planning had led to this incredible event, and it felt great to see my idea that once seemed far-fetched become a reality. The energy throughout the school was immense, with kids, parents, coaches, and volunteers all coming together over basketball to fight for the cause. We had families in the stands touched by recent cancer diagnoses and two teams supporting Luke’s Army, another St. Baldrick’s fundraising powerhouse. Many people were so moved by the kindness of the fundraiser that they donated at the door, and we raised $500 more that way.
The tournament truly portrayed the basketball frenzy that is March Madness, somewhat flying by the seat of its pants the whole day. I also never expected the strong sense of community that was created by the tournament, and in some ways, I felt like I was having an even bigger impact than when I shaved my head. To have my idea finally come to fruition, and have it create such a community effort for children’s cancer research was truly amazing, and a completely new feeling I had not yet experienced in my journey with St. Baldrick’s.
The tournament has now raised over $10,000, but more importantly, hopefully, sent a ripple effect of good deeds and hope throughout our community.
Support Bodie’s Buckets for St. Baldrick’s by donating here
Read more on the St. Baldrick’s blog:
Teaming Up to Help Creators Conquer Kids’ Cancer
It’s no secret that content creators on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook and TikTok are introducing their communities to causes they care about and engaging them in a very unique way.
Calling All Content Creators!
Want to tap into your creativity to help fight childhood cancer in a whole new way? Whether you’re an experienced streamer or not, we want you!
Employee Giving: How You and Your Employer Can Help Kids with Cancer
Did you know that fall is the time of year when many companies and their employees focus on charitable donations?
That’s right – It’s a great time to generate more revenue for your favorite charity – like the St. Baldrick’s Foundation!
This October, ask your human resources representative for more information about some of the following popular fundraising options – and you’ll all be helping fund lifesaving childhood cancer research.
YOU Helped Raise $1.3 Million for Childhood Cancer Research This September
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is coming to a close, but as a member of the St. Baldrick’s community, you know that lifesaving research must continue EVERY month.
Thank you for always being there for kids with cancer!
With 32 events in September, the St. Baldrick’s community raised more than $1.3 million for childhood cancer research.
Those funds will go toward the most promising research so that kids not just survive, but thrive after cancer, living longer and healthier lives.
Here are just a few of the highlights from the month – and a few ways you can help before the month is over!
Volunteer Spotlight: Richard Kligler
St. Baldrick’s volunteers tend to be remarkable folks. But even among tens of thousands of outstanding people who are quite literally saving lives by supporting childhood cancer research, Richard Kligler and his family stand out.
Fathers & Sons, Teaming up to Give Kids a Lifetime
Fathers and sons have played a big role in the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, many creating their own legacy by shaving and fundraising together. Others have just begun a tradition that may last for decades.
From left to right: James and Dave, Samuel and Clifton, Dylan and Jim
5 Ways to Support Childhood Cancer Research, While Keeping Your Hair!
March may be the biggest month for head-shaving, but spring is the perfect time to get creative with other ways to raise money without losing your hair. Check out these 5 successful fundraisers, far from the barber chair.
To Honor Her Husband’s Legacy, Jeni is Shaving Her Head
Jeni Donahue made an extraordinary decision to honor her late husband – to shave her head in his place. Keith Smith was a St. Baldrick’s shavee for eight years, personally raising more than $12,700 for childhood cancer research as a member of the Superheroes in Kilts team. In 2020, he even shaved while battling cancer, himself.
Older Posts »
SBF
Tweets »
