Fundraising Tips

We’ve all known people and families suddenly stricken with misfortune: a terminal diagnosis, a debilitating accident or a natural catastrophe. Because it’s human nature to want to help, there may come a time when you find yourself trying to organize a private benefit or fundraiser. And, if you’re like most of us, you’re doing it with very limited fundraising experience. However, there are some tried and true ways to generate interest, raise money and hopefully have some fun along the way. 

Throw a Party!

Everybody enjoys a good party, although they do take planning, so look to outsource. Venues like University Park Golf Club make it easy, with planning staff and on-site catering. Don’t just invite friends – open it up to the rest of the community. You’ll be surprised how many people want to have some fun and support a good cause.

When pricing your event, consider whether you want to simply cover costs with the entry fee, keeping the price low to increase attendance. Then, you’d try to raise the bulk of the money during the event. The other way to do it is to charge more for admission, with a portion going to the cause.

There are benefits to each approach, although keep in mind that a larger crowd can really lift the spirits of the guest of honor, demonstrating the volume of support through the sheer size of the turnout.

Include a Silent Auction

One sure way to increase your fundraising is to include a silent auction. People and businesses are often willing to lend a hand to help within the community, and a silent auction can actually add to the atmosphere of your event. Well-displayed items help fill the entry area, and give people something extra to do at the beginning of the benefit.

If less expensive items are donated, consider combining them into themed baskets.

Games and Tournaments

Get your guests to pay to participate in games with a chance to win prizes.

One common idea is a board game tournament. Enlist teams of four people, each charged an entry fee for donations, to play a common game that most would be familiar with — like cards or Monopoly. 

“A-thon” events

Another way to raise money is an “a-thon.” You know the type: any event that ends in “a-thon.” There’s walk, bike, swim, flip, etc. All great options to raise some money for great causes. For example, bike-a-thons and walk-a-thons are pretty similar; participants are either walking or biking. They’ll walk/bike a planned course and prior to the event, commit to raising money for the cause. They can collect pledges per mile, or ask for a set donation. 

Golf fundraisers

Golf events are very popular, because they are a great to have some fun while also raising funds. Ask for local sponsors to help out with donations or perhaps sponsoring certain golf holes or greens. Scrambles are the most popular form of charity golf event, here are a few other ideas: golf tournament contests, like longest drive, closest to the pin, etc.; a charity auction at the golf course; selling golf merchandise; a golf tournament combined with a dinner banquet afterward.

 Happy Planning,

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Celebration of Life Checklist

The death of a loved one comes with a lot of emotion, sadness, and remembering the good times. Along with it, though, is the responsibility of details and arrangements for things like a celebration of life. It can be a tough time to have decisions like this on your plate, so here’s a memorial service checklist to be your guide to planning a celebration of life.

Time and a place

Be sure to think of the guests, specifically close relatives and friends, when figuring out a date and place for the celebration. These logistical details could depend on when out-of-town guests will be able to make it. Also consider location and type of venue.  

Event details

If you’re planning a program, someone will need to lead the event. A pastor or church minister is a good option if the deceased was a religious person. Otherwise, there are plenty of non-denominational leaders to choose for the event.

Another consideration is who will speak. That can be a delicate subject. Sometimes family or friends will come forward and want to speak. If no one is exactly raising their hand for this task, however, organizers might need to sensitively ask people if they wouldn’t mind sharing a few thoughts. Or, you may want to plan out who will speak ahead of time.

Then there’s deciding on music or readings, decorations, and food and drinks, too. Some families choose the favorite foods of their loved one, catered meals, or even a potluck where guests provide the food. Let the personality of your loved one – or your family – be the guide. University Park Golf Club has plenty of space and can accommodate small or large numbers.

Spread the word

This celebration will be special, so the more guests the better. That means putting effort into letting people know when and where the celebration of life will happen. Once you have a guest list, have some friends call or text another group of people with all the details. Emails or e-invites might be a good time saving option, too, but they should only be sent to people who know about the death. Take care with how the information is shared; be sensitive. Keep in mind that using social media to share the news of a death with close family and friends might not be the best idea.

Timing is everything

When planning, try to take into account how much time each part of the celebration will take. If you’re planning a program, 30-60 minutes could be just fine. Think of who will attend, and remember that youngsters and the elderly might have trouble staying seated for anything that would last longer than an hour.

Don’t forget the guest book

Whether it’s a spiral-bound book with an array of colorful pens, or an online guest book, it’s a detail that will be memorable for family members. Creativity can come in handy here. A guest book can be more than just names. Family and friends could each share fond memories, add their favorite photographs, or offer words of sympathy. As an added touch, considering having guests 

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Peace, My Journey, My Way, SimplySHAY ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

A Successful Team Building Event

Staff outings are a wonderful way to generate fresh ideas and motivate team members by offering an opportunity to get away from the day-to-day grind. Holding meetings away from the office can build morale, create new enthusiasm and renewed commitment to working toward company goals. Whether you’re going off-site to set up strategy, build team chemistry, or reward the staff for work well done, you’ll want the event to seem special – to generate excitement beforehand, and to leave a lasting impression afterwards. Otherwise, why go off-site in the first place? So, I've tapped into my experience with off-site meetings for tips to make your off-site meeting or team building event successful.

Clear Goals and Objectives

Be clear in setting your expectations. Is the outing a working retreat or an incentive? Identify your goals for the day and be upfront with the staff. Prepare an agenda for the day and plan to stick with it. You’ll lose momentum quickly by straying off course.

Location Matters

A drab location will produce drab results. Take time and look for creative alternatives like movie theaters, bowling alleys, museums, theme parks and other memorable venues.

Exercise Balance

Don’t create events that are too taxing or too mindless. Try to exercise balance so your events aren’t overly comical or overly difficult, as either extreme will distract from the main message of the event.

Innovative Ideas

If team building is the goal, consider a volunteer event. Few activities bring people together better than teaming-up to help others. Serve meals, help build a house, or help stock a food shelf.

Fun and Games

Depending on your budget, rewarding your team with group seats to a local professional game is an absolute great incentive. And sports-based games can be a wonderful way to teach team concepts and get everybody engaged at an off-site meeting. 

If golf is your game, there are several fun activities for golfers of all levels, and even non-golfers. Mid day golf isn't overly pricey and short-game golf clinics can make for an effective team building experience. 

Food for Thought

Whether it’s a catered meal in a meeting room, a tailgate before a game, or boxed lunch for an outdoor activity, put some thought into your food choices. Make sure there are options for various diets (like vegetarian, vegan, low-fat and gluten-free) to include your entire team. Or have them make it themselves. Cooking classes are a wonderful way to get your team involved and working together.

Pictures This

Engage a photographer and/or videographer to document your event. Give copies of the pictures to the participants, and post them on your website and in your offices. Want to make the memories last a little longer? Have a video edited with music and graphics to show at the next event.

Planning

Give yourself four to six months to plan your perfect work outing. You’ll need time to book your location, set up transportation, work on your agenda and encourage participation. Plan your budget carefully. Consider location fees, meals, transportation and collateral costs.

And when you start process, try to choose two dates (preferred and alternate). Once you decide on the perfect venue, you want to increase the odds that it will be available, since location plays such a key role in creating a memorable meeting.

Happy Planning,

SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Peace, My Journey, My Way, SIMPLY SHAY ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Congratulations Brittny and Earl: "Fall In Love"

Fall is one of the most popular times to plan a wedding -- and for good reason! On Saturday, October 8, 2016 Brittny and Earl Guyton became one. Their sunset union took place on the beautiful grounds of the University Park Golf Club. Here are a few photo's commemorating their day.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Peace, My Journey, My Way, SimplySHAY ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Newly Engaged? Tips for the bride to be!

So, he asked and you answered. The ring is on the finger. And you’ve posted your big news on Snap Chat, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Congratulations on your engagement! Brides-to-be are in for an exciting ride of wedding planning that leads to the big day, but it can also be exhausting – and even confusing. So, we’re here to help get you started with our top five wedding tips for brides.

Things to know about the date

Picking the date of your wedding is an important decision you’ll need to make early on in the process. First off, take a look to see what dates might not work, like school reunions, other family weddings, or other special occasions that could interfere with guests attending. 

Once you start to zero in on a few favorite dates, it’s also good to have an idea about what other events might be happening on your wedding day. Things like major sporting events, parades or charity walks could affect the logistics of parking, traffic or hotel availability. And you’d rather weigh those considerations on the front-end, rather than running into surprises after you’ve already picked the date.

Get a rough estimate of the guest list

The number of guests will be a factor in determining many of the other decisions about your wedding and reception. So, you’ll want to have an approximate number of how many people will be there helping you celebrate your special day. It will really come in handy when choosing a venue, to make sure there is space for everyone.

Keep in mind that the size of your guest list will have an impact on many of your wedding costs – from invitations to food and beverages.

Get Organized

There will be plenty of decisions, details and tidbits to keep track of with your wedding planning. That’s why it’s important to stay organized. Find whatever organization system works best for you (three-ring binders, electronic spreadsheets, notebooks) to keep all your notes, contact with vendors, photos, brainstorms and contact information in one place.

Staying organized will help cut down on some of that wedding-planning stress.

Slow and Easy

Sometimes slow and steady wins the race, right? Well, the same idea can be put toward wedding planning. Maybe when choosing a date, take a look at how far out you want to go. A year? 18 months? Two years? The further out the date is, it could help with vendor availability, making sure guests can get it on their calendar, and perhaps most importantly, reduce stress of all the planning.

Getting everything together for a day 16 months from now might sound much more doable than for a day six months from now.

Prioritize

It’s natural to want everything on the wedding day to go off without a hitch. Every bride wants everything to be perfect. However, nothing in life is entirely perfect, and that’s OK. Think of some priorities when it comes to the details of your wedding. What’s the most important thing? Is it having the best DJ in town? An extravagant cake from a well-known baker? A dress from the hottest designer? Pick a few things to prioritize and make sure those items are just right, and everything else will fall into place.

Enjoy the process!
SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Peace, My Journey, My Way, SimplySHAY  ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

40th Birthday for Nikeva Lawrence

Simply Perfect Peace Events was honored to plan and manage the Champagne and Chocolate's 40th Birthday Soirée for Nikeva Lawrence which was nothing short of amazing!  The honoree was stunning in her gown by Curvaceous Couture (Columbus, MD), Hair by Ebony Roberts and flawless makeup by Sheree Day Stroud, founder of Fog Cosmetics.

Theme, budget, a few must haves and GO was all she gave us to work with.  Although we hit a bump late in the planning process with our first venue selection the Main Street Diner at the Sapphire Room proved to be the perfect setting for this diva and her guests. A big shout out to my Partner who took time away from her new baby to do what we do and our team for making it memorable for all. Palette Pleasers Catering supplied the delicious cuisine, my business partners Sherhonda Atkins-Martin and Ronnie Martin from Candy Personified and the fabulous sweet table left the guests wanting more. Designs by Shay created a sexy elegant atmosphere with beautiful floral arrangements and the overall design elements. I certainly can't forget my sound and lighting team, saxophonist Rico Maatre and DJ Memphz who set the tone early and had the party rocking all night long. Last but not least, photographer, Marcus L Sanders for capturing the pure essence of this event. I'm looking forward  to the professional photos but in the meantime enjoy these taken with cell phones by myself and guests.

Champagne infused chocolate covered strawberries
by Candy Personified

Sweet table
by Candy Personified

Catering by Palette Pleasers

Ice sculpture for the mimosa bar

DJ Memoh

Saxophonist Rico Maatre

Centerpieces by Designs by Shay

Custom candy wrappers
By Candy Personified

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Hosting A Sports Banquet

Tips for Hosting a Sports Banquet

For years we’ve celebrated our sports heroes. We’ve admired their commitment, paid respect for tenacious effort and we have celebrated the brightest moments, in both success and failure. Nowhere is this practice more alive than in amateur sports and it lives vividly at the end of each season when we celebrate our athletes with a season ending sports banquet. The stars of the show vary depending on the sport.  If it's a high school team, it'll probably be the senior athletes, but the trick is making all of the athletes feel special – after all, they’ve all worked hard through the season.  

Here are some more suggestions for making your sports banquet memorable:

Decorate with team uniforms

There’s nothing more personal for an athlete than the uniforms and equipment they take into battle. They wear their gear with tremendous pride and putting some of these items on display at the banquet conjures up memories and inspiration. 

Fill the space with team color

This is straightforward, but rather than just hang a couple streamers and have a banner, put a committee together and take over a space with team colors and paraphernalia. “Own” the space and make it feel like an extension of your school spirit.

Make the kids the stars

So often banquets are bogged down by parent co-chairs, coaches and assistant coaches who all want to pass on sentiments about the season, pass on “props” for coordinating the event, etc. Of course, this is important to do, but our recommendation is to keep it brief and be sure it’s directed towards the student athletes. Make sure there is ample, yet controlled, amount of time for the kids to reflect on the season. Usually the kids provide the most entertaining moments of the evening.

Produce a highlight video

Kids love pictures and every kid loves to see themselves on the big screen and if you’ve attended a sports banquet, you have sat through many of these. First, be sure your venue has audio/visual equipment to support the video and test it ahead of time for audio levels. Secondly, keep the video brief and uplifting. If possible keep it 5-7 minutes in duration. Let the gathering know how long the video is, so they have the right expectation. So often, this part of the program drags on with no end in sight and you want to be sure you leave your families inspired!

Have fun!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter and EVERYTHING in Between: Alicia and Mileak

 

June 13, 2015 was the day Alicia and Mileak

said "I Do".  Their church ceremony was he perfect atmosphere for their love!

What an honor it was to be part of their day

 

 

.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter and EVERYTHING in Between: Kris and Terrance

On June 6, 2015 we had the honor of working with this lovely couple. Congratulations Kris and Terrance and thanks for allowing us to be part of your day.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.