DGH Reporter - Creative Fundraising

These folks have broken out of the traditional mind-set that donating means writing a check. They have found fun and creative ways to support DGH. Perhaps they’ll inspire you. In turn, perhaps you can send us other inspiring ideas that will allow us to help build more latrines, train more health promoters, educate more young, hungry minds, and find more volunteers to accompany those who have difficulty making their voices heard.

A new feature of the DGH web page now provides a no-cost means for members and supporters to raise money for DGH. The addition is a set of links to businesses that pay referral fees for routing customers to their web pages. Commissions range from five to seven percent of purchases made by any web user who goes through the DGH page on their way to one of these sites. There is no added cost to the user. Currently, links are provided to CDNOW and CD Universe (online music stores), and Amazon.com (an online book store). Direct bookmarks and links on other web pages do not qualify. To earn a commission for DGH by buying things you plan to buy anyway, follow these simple steps:
1. Go to the DGH web site.
2. Click on the link to the store from which you want to purchase something
3. Make purchases on the store’s web site following their normal directions (their computer automatically keeps track of the fact that you came through DGH and credits our account)
You can also help by asking your friends and family to use the DGH links for their purchases. Send suggestions for other links that pay referral commissions to the same address.

It's a special occasion for that special someone and you don't know what to give. How about a donation to DGH on their behalf? Last Christmas, I didn't know what to get for my in-laws. When I received a request from DGH for a holiday time donation, I decided to combine the two and donate to DGH on my in-laws' behalf. I sent a nice card to my in-laws, describing DGH and providing the DGH website address. My in-laws' also received a note from DGH informing them of the donation.
I recently learned that other people have done this as well. Don Abrams, the DGH web operator, says, "I've made DGH gifts to celebrate birthdays, mark the birth of a friend's granddaughter and commemorate the life of a good friend who passed away. And, if you're as forgetful as I am, you may have occasion to use a DGH contribution as a last-minute gift. I like the fact that I don't have to go near a mall, worry about size and color, or rummage for wrapping paper."

Ten years ago my wife Cherry and I walked regularly on the streets in our neighborhood. We took along plastic bags and picked up aluminum cans. Our plan was to recycle the cans and donate the proceeds to one of our church's missions. As Chairman of the church's Commission on Missions, I proposed that members of the church be extended the privilege of bringing in aluminum cans for recycling. Our church members responded in a great way and the program continues today. In fact, as of September 1, 1998, a total of $5,330 has been raised.
Two years ago we decided to donate all funds raised from the can project to Doctors for Global Health. Lanny Smith grew up in North Decatur Methodist Church and we wanted to support him and his work in El Salvador. Aluminum cans brought to the church are collected and brought to our home. Every week I crush them–crushed cans bring one cent more per pound–bag them and take them to a nearby recycling center. I sell them on Wednesday so I can get another cent per pound for being a senior citizen. Also, an additional cent is given if the total weight is over 100 pounds. The last five weekly sales have averaged $61.00. Recycling is good for the environment and good for Doctors for Global Health. Give it a try!

Seventh grade is certainly not too early to begin teaching global awareness. Some seventh grade students in a school in Georgia already know about helping those less fortunate. After hearing about the work of DGH and how this organization is trying to improve health and human conditions in El Salvador, they wanted to do what they could to help. When they learned about the desperate need for a bridge and how children had lost their lives simply trying to get to school, the Georgia students decided that they would contribute funds to help build this bridge. But where does a twelve-year-old get money for something like this? These kids simply put their creativity to work. Hundreds of brownies and cookies were prepared and sold to classmates and teachers for $.25 each. With the addition of a few small donations from parents and teachers, they contributed over $250 toward the construction of the bridge. But, they gained much more than the satisfaction of completing a successful project and contributing money toward a worthy cause. They also experienced an attitude adjustment, from "Me first" to "What can I do to help?" They are now aware of health and human rights conditions beyond their doorstep and want to help change those conditions.

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