Raise 2000$ for breast cancer by 10/26

by scoyle

Volunteering & Community Service Journey Overview

Follow this step-by-step volunteering & community service journey to see real progress updates, challenges overcome, and practical experience.

Progress Updates (4 total)

Update #1: Raise 2000$ for breast cancer by 10/26

Raising funds for breast cancer research, education, awareness, and patient support 💗 http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Sinead-Pinktoberfest I formed a team for the 7th year in a row and we are doing a walk with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer under the American Heart Association. Our team goal is higher, but my personal goal is to get to 2000$ by the day of the walk!
Challenges Overcome: Almost halfway there! Currently at ~900$ Have shared on social media, reached out to friends and family directly, and encouraged my team to do the same
Obstacles Faced: People getting annoyed with me being so persistent
Next Steps: Next steps will be sending an email to colleagues at work and reaching out to additional family members
Looking Back: Not everyone likes to support charity even with direct prompting

Update #2: Up to $1151 with only 5 days to go

55% complete
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Sinead-Pinktoberfest Reshared at the 1 week mark on FB, messaged my extended family to donate, and texted some friends
Challenges Overcome: Was able to get a couple repeat donations from past years, just needed to remind people
Obstacles Faced: Continue to be surprised my how hard it is to get people to throw in $10. Convinced if I could get $10 from each person I interacted with then I'd already be past my goal.
Next Steps: Time to send my email to colleagues! It worked last year so fingers crossed it's fruitful again
Looking Back: Having people back you up is helpful- had my cousin encourage my family to donate as well which led to some responses

Update #3: Homemade raspberry cookies which I am very publicly passing out at work to anyone who donated

80% complete
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Sinead-Pinktoberfest Last year I emailed any of my colleagues who donated to thank them but this year I decided some homemade cookies would be a nice treat in the middle of a workday and passing them out publicly may drum up some additional donations
Challenges Overcome: I'm over 80% to my 2000$ goal
Obstacles Faced: Some people truly won't cough up 10 bucks for a good cause EVEN if they get cookies
Next Steps: Ready to make a second batch of cookies if I can snag some last minute donations! 3 days to go
Looking Back: I think these raspberry cookies help make people feel like they're getting something in return for their charity and allows me the opportunity to bring up my fundraiser without being obnoxious about it

Update #4: We did it! Made it to $2000 last night with a final push and completed the walk today

100% complete
My social media push was largely unsuccessful but with 1 day to go, I reached out to a few past colleagues to see if anyone was feeling charitable- luckily I have very generous folks in my life who helped me meet my goal when I was beginning to give up hope Thank you to everyone who supported me and most importantly, who supported the fight against breast cancer which claims over 40,000 lives each year in the US alone
Challenges Overcome: Knowing this goal makes a difference for those fighting cancer is what matters most & keeps me motivated
Obstacles Faced: Frankly having to spend 2 months putting myself out there, being annoying, overstepping, & begging people really takes it's toll. If it wasn't for such a worthy cause, I wouldn't be able to keep at it
Next Steps: Ready for next year and hoping we can aim even higher!
Looking Back: Having supportive people in your life makes all the difference! I couldn't do this each year without them