24 msfocusmagazine.org MS Focus Activities Giving Back Your Time and Generosity Can Help Others My name is Debra Forman and for 13 years, I have been the educational programs coordinator for MS Focus. For the past-five-and-a-half years, I’ve been the contact person for individuals who either consider or decide to host a fundraiser for our organization. I’ve been inspired by, and in awe of, the individuals (many of whom are living with MS) and their dedication to raising funds for MS Focus. As a person who has made volunteerism an important part of my life, I’ve always had a special place in my heart for those who understand the magnitude of giving back. I often find myself explaining to others why it’s so vital to help those who are less fortunate. I’m convinced that regardless of what life has dealt us, there are always people who could use our help. Hosting a fundraiser I love when I receive a call from someone who tells me either they, a friend, a family member, a coworker, or a parent are living with MS and, although they’ve never planned a fundraiser, would like some advice on how to get started. A smile comes to my face when they admit the reason they chose MS Focus as the recipient of their future efforts. It is because they’ve learned that we help with the critical daily needs of those living with MS who are struggling to provide for themselves. There are so many unique ways to host a fundraiser. Our organization can help you in many different ways including creating a flyer for the event, suppling you with proof of our 501(c)(3) status, recommending various places and methods that have been previously proven to be successful, and, of course, send you MS Focus educational materials and giveaway items for the day of the event. We even have MS Focus banners to hang in the fundraising area. In the past, people have hosted yard sales, bake sales, golf tournaments, pickleball tournaments, basket raffles, walk/run/wheel-a-thon (even virtual ones), church collections, concerts, company “giving back” days, restaurant and bar fundraisers, jewelry sales, antique car shows, bowling get-togethers, and silent auctions. We’ve even had high school clubs think of creative ways to fundraise for us. Choose a program Whether your fundraiser raises $100 or $100,000, the money you raise goes directly into the various free programs and services we offer to the MS community. When you organize a fundraiser for us, we let you choose to which of our free services and programs you would like your fundraising ef forts to be applied towards. Some people say, “Debra, please divide the money evenly There are many creative ways to host a fundraiser.
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