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.

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: 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.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Faith

Imani/Faith: The duty to trust and believe in our parents and in our capacity as family, community and a people to achieve at our highest potential.

• Let us continuously cultivate that “something within” that allows us to trust beyond all doubt the spirit and truth of the principles, practices and symbols of this Kwanzaa/Nguzo Saba tradition will lead us to the righteous victory that our struggle pursues – a world more hospitable and nurturing for our families and communities and the whole human family.
• Let us always trust in the infinite ability of the Creator to show us the more effective way to use the energies and impulses of the sacred image and essence within, to go over, under, around and through the ever-evolving challenges and obstacles that stand before us (and within us). 
• Let our faith be informed, inspired and strengthened by the large and small lessons of love, diligence, determination, compassion, forgiveness and positive transformations wherever life presents them.

Candle Lighting:  Light your last GREEN candle and commit to being more  trusting  in each other in the coming year.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY


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: Day 31- Creativity

Kuumba/Creativity:  Leaving our families, community, and world a better place to live, work, and love.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ~ photo credit: Andrew Eccles

• Grow in knowing that the energy and impulse of the Creator’s image and essence within you is the power that drives your desire for a world that ismore hospitable and nurturing for human existence.
• Grow knowing and showing that the talents, skills and resources entrusted unto you are never to be used without respect for the greatest good for the greatest number of family, community and humanity. 
• Always be pro-active to share and utilize this consciousness and energy everywhere you go, with everyone you meet. 

Candle Lighting :On the sixth day of Kwanzaa the family lights the RED candle. This candle is symbolic of struggle- continuous effort and work. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The lesson here is that we light the red candle to reinforce the value and priority we place struggle as the method for creating progress.

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: Day 30- Purpose

Nia/Purpose: "Commitment, duty, and obligation to contribute to the morally serious purpose and noble goal, of nation building, i.e., the quest to recover and restore the  African American family, community, and people as a whole”

• Are you growing in realizing and appreciating that our traditional greatness includes the fact that our African ancestors were the fathers and mothers of humanity and civilization?
• Grow in knowing, receiving and revering inspiration from such a commitment (and its results) in people in every period of our history, in every geographic location.

The African proverb is insightful in illuminating the centrality of the family in the nation building project, declaring: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” And, conversely, the development and elevation of the nation begins in the home. This is an affirmation that nation building begins at the smallest level, the family.

Candle Lighting: On the fifth day of Kwanzaa, the family lights the GREEN candle.  This candle is symbolic to the collective prosperity; Kwanzaa commitments are made around the Purpose principle.

~Until Next Tiime
SimplySHAY


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: Day 29-Cooperative Economics

Today is the fourth day of Kwanzaa, a celebration of the Kwanzaa principle which is Ujamaa/Cooperative Economics sharing and pooling our financial resources and goods and services for the common benefit of family and community participants with the goal of building and sustaining cooperative economic enterprises.  To build OUR OWN Businesses, control the economics of OUR OWN Community AND share in ALL its Work AND Wealth.

Vow to the following:

• Strive to become increasingly proficient in discerning and developing family-based and community-based enterprises and sharing those visions with others
• Be studious to understand the best ways to maximize the buying power of our dollars in the local, national and global economies.
• Strive to have a serious and consistent savings program in order to accumulate the wealth required to develop or participate in significant economic endeavors. 
• Be pro-active in finding and working with others who are striving to grow according to the challenges of this Ujamaa principle.

Candle Lighting:  On the fourth day of Kwanzaa, the family lights the RED candle. This candle is symbolic of the collective work and effort. Kwanzaa commitments are made around the principle of Cooperative Economics.





~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

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: Day 28- Collective Work and Responsibility

UJIMA (00-GEE-MA) Collective Work and Responsibility: To build and maintain our community together and make our sister’s and brother’s problems our problems and solve them together.

• Are you your brothers or sisters keeper?
• Are you willing, compassionate and pro-active in extending the knowledge, abilities, energy and other resources at your disposal to help members of your family and community to achieve the best outcome of a given life or situation?
• Can you extend yourself in this manner without the expectation of some immediate material return, but with the satisfaction of knowing that helping others in this fashion is, in the long run, help and reward for you also?

Candle Lighting: On the third day of Kwanzaa the family lights the GREEN candle next to the black candle. This candle is symbolic of future success and achievement.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

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: Day 26-UNITY

Umoja (OO-MO-JAH) Unity begins the Kwanzaa celebration and stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."

Another symbol that could be useful for Umoja reflections is the Nkonsonkonson – Chain Link – a symbol of unity and human relations; a reminder to contribute to the community; that in unity lies strength. It signifies the strong bonds between people of common blood relations that are difficult to break apart. The belief includes ancestors who are constantly protecting the living. It can also serve as a reminder to give a helping hand to strengthen the communities we live in, and encourages the veneration of the ancestors in order for them to keep in touch with the living. Baba Mxolisi T. Sowell

Candle Lighting: Today we light the BLACK candle or Umoja candle. The black candle symbolizes black people. So the lesson is this: We want to build up the capacity of unity in the family, our neighborhoods and among our people. To achieve this, we discuss ways which we will build, enhance, strengthen our family bonds and community ties.

What ways have you and your family practiced this principle?

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

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: Day 2: Tablescapes!

It's the holiday season and anyone that knows me knows that I enjoy having people over, feeding them and making sure it's an overall fabulous experience. One way I try and make the atmosphere special is in the simple details. It's the Simply Peaceful things and having a nice table sets the tone for a truly wonderful evening. 

 

You may be feeling like you can't do it but tablescapes aren't as difficult as you may think. Get yourself some chargers, nice crisp linen, a few candles and you're well on our way. Don't be afraid of color and by all means, do NOT use plastic (smile) …

 

Until Next Time....
SimplySHAY

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.