Thursday night fundraisers
Written by Christine Senack | | christine@senackandassociates.comThursday night is the new Friday night when it comes to special events for nonprofit organizations. Charities hosting special events on Thursday often hope to catch the after-work crowd. The events are most often, simple and brief, allowing people to swing by and support a good cause before heading home for the evening. Last Thursday, Sept. 17, two local charities held events for the post-five o’clock crowd, the YWCA and Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio.
The YWCA wooed ladies to the Secor building with the promise of fashionable purses, great food and drinks. “Bagnificent” is the organization’s annual purse action featuring new and gently used designer handbags and totes. Taking the form of a ladies’ night out, women were told to wear anything that makes them feel divine, and the attire ranged from jeans to little black dresses.
Maara Fink, Nicole Escalante and Molly Luetke at the “Art of Prevention.”
“It was an evening filled with fun, food and great shopping. Our goal was to get people out and have a good time,” said Lisa McDuffie, executive director.
Business sponsorship of the event was in the form of in-kind donations of products and services. Several local businesses donated purses for the silent auction, but designers around the world also donated handbags. Toledo area restaurants and bakeries donated snacks and treats. Loft and Home Essentials served as an advance ticket sale location for the event. Soto Salon donated a “girl’s night out” package, which included spa services.
McDuffie estimates that the event raised $4,000. Proceeds will be used for YWCA programs which include programs for victims of rape and domestic violence, health care, child care and residential assistance.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio hosted a new fundraising event, “The Art of Prevention.” The art competition challenged local artists to use 300 condoms to create a sculpture. Ten artists competed for awards. The judges of the competition were Marc Folk, executive director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Amy Gilman, associate curator with the Toledo Museum of Art and Mary Wolf, a life-long supporter and advocate for the arts.
In addition to the art competition, the post-workday event featured a silent auction and gave stakeholders an update on the future of Planned Parenthood in Northwest Ohio. The local affiliate was absorbed by the Columbus regional office in 2008 to increase efficiency in operations costs and greater financial stability.
Sponsors were predominately long-time individual supporters of reproductive health care. The art competition was sponsored by OraSure Technologies which is the maker of the HIV tests used by Planned Parenthood.
Development director, Melissa Mills-Dick estimates that the gross proceeds of the event are $10,000. Profits will be used to provide education and low-cost reproductive health care services throughout northwest Ohio.
Christine Senack is a Toledo-based consultant connecting people, places and things for the greater good of our community. For more event photos and video highlights, connect with her on Facebook.com.
