To keep things to a short story rather than a novel. I am trying to organize a benefit to raise money and awareness about lyme and how it affected my son as well as us all. I was instructed to visit this site by my son who loves it, and maybe get some help and ideas from the lyme community on many things.
We are tentatively planning for the benefit to take place at an Event Center in the lower downtown Denver area. Those familiar with the area, it will be held at Club Tracks, gratiously donated all space, tables and chairs in return for having an open bar to offset electricity etc; for the non-lymies. Its at 35th and Walnut and anyone around is welcome.
Now, this is my first such event, so im very nervous. about setting it up just right. This is where I hope I can find some more help or ideas. Initial Plans call for a silent auction, containing beautiful artwork donated by family and friends as well as other items of value;
(This is where I need anyone's good connections or relationships to increase the number of items donated to be auctioned. They do not have to be Art. Anything from services ie. massage, legal counsel, medical help/supplies, games, electronics airline tix/trips, sporting goods autographed or not or anything else you guys think of of course all fully tax deductable as a donation.)
My cousin has a very close relationship with several major league baseball players and is hoping to bring autographed items etc. as well and a possible player or two. The Colorado Rockies are in town that weekend and might just stop by for the fun.
We need to fill more space, and over the last few days we have had some other ideas that some would also need donated items such as a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament, live bands and of course some dancing for those who feel well enough. Maybe I could find some arcade machines donated rental time to entertain everyone. Of course great food and drinks for everyone would be needed. Etc. Etc.
Ideas?, Ideas?, Ideas,?
Also being very new to this although we have a lawyer setup already to handle legal issues. Has anyone done any of this, anything to look out for or apply for before getting into this mess? Legalaties?
I am hoping this helps offset the medical expenses of not only my son but a few other close friends suffering from lyme and other disease and may this be the first and never the last.
I AM HOPING THIS LEADS TO ONE EVERY YEAR TO RAISE MONEY FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND THIER RIDICULOUS EXPENSES!
My son WILL get better and there WILL be more that need our help.(I see Golf tourny in the future) God bless you all who read this, and anyone willing to help can email me at [email protected].
Ps, I want to write something short and sweet but something that gets lyme accross to everyone who comes without overwhelming them, any other thoughts and ideas appriciated. <3
-------------------- -Helping My Lymie Son. Right now: -Using I.V Rocephrin? & Love Haha Posts: 12 | From Colorado...All over though. | Registered: Mar 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome Rob! you've got alot of details going and excellent ideas too.
never been involved in this before; a major fundraiser.
go to ACTIVISM, and read down thru the posts; 1-2 people have posted about having fundraisers but NOT LARGE $$$ events such as yours.
also on your post, please show the date of this and time!
i've got several ideas for you.
email LDA HQ in New Jersey; go to left hand side finding LDA banner, and click on it ok.
you can order ABCs of LYME, TICK CARDS, are the best.
do you have my newbie package of info? if not, send me a private message; it's 2 people standing together icon, and ask me to send it.
1 thing in is my retyped 2 LDA brochures combined where it's about CO-INFECTIONS, treatments, symptoms, and many more areas including for kids, HUNTERS, books, etc. The link is there, and presently it's 10 pages I believe where it could be printed BACK TO BACK for 5 sheets and stabled together.
You might be able to get a "printer of copies" to donate all or part of the cost; worth a try!
again, go to LDA SITE, see about their fundraisers shown to get ideas, and possibly email LDA PRES. PAT SMITH, asking for her guidance or whoever arranges their BIG shindigs!
food and drink; try your LARGEST GROCERY CHAINS IN DENVER; KMART, WALMART, TARGET, things like that.
Many of them give out so much money yearly as CHARITY FUNDING.
drinks: McDonalds has orange drink, etc.
those are my thoughts at this time of the morning, but it's a place for you to start.
best wishes! keep us informed, and glad your son like the LYMENET SITE! hint; we do too!
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
If you are asking people to make tax-deductible gifts then you need to start an organization that that can file for tax-deductible status under the IRS.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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The big problem with Lyme, as I have seen it, is not in the awareness among your average Joe and Jane - at least, not around here.
In my experience, average people have always considered Lyme Disease to be a serious, chronic illness.
The problem has been with the training of physicians and recognition of Lyme and other Tick Borne Diseases by physicians, as well as the approach to treatment.
Whe a person recognizes signs & symptoms of Lyme, the next step is to be evaluated by a physician.
This is where the ball is being dropped time and time again.
A diagnosis adds validity to a persons suffering. No diagnosis causes others to think that person may be ___________. (fill in the blank)
The awareness needs to be injected into the right population.
That being said, God Bless You for undertaking this task on your son's behalf!
carly
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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The non-profit status application with the IRS is called a 501(c)3, and it is a bit of a process (a bit like writing a grant for a brand new program). It has been many years since I have done one, but I'm pretty sure that you have to set up a board of directors and have some record of acheiving your goals/effectiveness before you can become a non-profit.
I think that it is vitally important to educate the public at large about lyme disease, many people do not have a clue about it, even in areas that have been considered endemic for years (such as in NJ, where I am from).
I look forward to the day that I start seeing billboards about the prevention of lyme disease, just like I see HIV ones around here.
Perhaps if I had known more about this illness, my own child wouldn't be sick today.
I wish you the best of luck with your fundraiser, I hope that it is a big success. If you cannot do the 501(c)3 prior to this event (and I doubt that you can) than DOCUMENT it heavily so that you can eventually use it to obtain non-profit status (and not lose a chunk of the money that you raise to the IRS). You will have to do this if you want to make this an annual affair.
I would also suggest contacting you local LDA, which would have a non-profit status, and see if they can/would co-sponsor your event. Consult with an attorney, but having a non-profit co-sponsor with a tax exempt status may do the trick in regards paying taxes on the money that you raise/donors being able to claim their donations as a tax deduction.
(the lyme disease association could also help with educational materials and networking within your local lyme community).
pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
you can't set up a 501(c)(3) to benefit one person. It has to benefit the public. If you want to give money to particular people, I don't think there is any way the IRS will sanction that. You could give to a class of people, like the LDA gives money to children with the LymeAid4Kids fund. But you have to have a fair process.
If you raise money to give to a nonprofit, your donors can get a tax deduction for their contribution, but not for giving money to individuals.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
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