CHECKLIST
FOR BOX-A-THON*
*Box-A-Thon:
A Box-A-Thon is a unique event that brings attention to the
plight of homeless children in the United States. Children
and adults spend 24 hours "living" in a large appliance box.
Participants solicit donations and/or pledges for their efforts
and commitment that will be used to bring homeless children
to Scottie's Place.
Facilities:
Parks and school playing fields have proven to be excellent
venues for Box-A-Thons. The facilities must be reserved well
in advance and any permits or fees required should be applied
for and paid in advance. The facilities must be large enough
to accommodate the size of the group anticipated, with access
to rest rooms, water, kitchen facilities if required and other
necessities. It is suggested that an alternative space be
reserved in the event of rain (gymnasium, pavilion, church
hall). Alternatively, a rain date for the event can be scheduled
in advance.
Supervision:
Adequate supervision must be provided for all groups of youth
and youngsters participating. It is essential that the proper
ratio of adults and staff be maintained at all times during
the event to ensure proper behavior and to assist the children
who need it. If the event is 24 hours, at least one adult
staff should be awake throughout the night to supervise wakeful
youth and assist those who may wake up during the night. Additionally,
security may be an issue based on where the event is held.
An LPN or other medical practitioner can be asked to volunteer
for the event if deemed necessary.
Food:
Every event is different, however, three meals are typically
required for a 24 hour event. Food can be provided through
a variety of means: " Participants may choose to fast for
the duration of the event or some part of it " Soup kitchen
fare may be provided to further the symbolic nature of the
event " Different organizations can be responsible for providing
separate meals " Individual participants may provide their
own meals " Food donations may be solicited from area businesses,
restaurants or stores Most of our Box-A-Thons have started
at 5:00 p.m. and continued through 5:00 p.m. the following
day. Children have brought a "brown bag" dinner for the first
evening; we have cooked pancakes for breakfast and had pizza
donated for lunch.
Marketing:
The group in charge should recruit individuals or other student
groups to participate in the Box-A-Thon. Fraternities, sororities,
social organizations, clubs, teams and different classrooms
and grades may want to be included in this unique event. Individual
participants will solicit friends, family, businesses and
private individuals to sponsor them for the event. Children
have had the greatest success soliciting family, relatives
and friends. Sponsors may pledge a flat rate or an hourly
rate (e.g. $1.00/ hour). The necessary sponsor sheets (pledge
forms) and information sheets must be provided to all individuals
who participate. (Attached are sample letters and a sample
phone solicitation.)
Media:
Area newspapers, radio stations, television stations and other
media should be contacted several times before the event to
provide coverage for the event. Press releases can be submitted
to area newspapers in advance of the scheduled date (see attached).
Box-A-Thons are great photo opportunities and media coverage
raises community awareness of homeless children and focuses
on the groups and individuals working to make a difference.
Local celebrities, church or community leaders and advocates
for the homeless can be invited to participate.
Entertainment:
Guest speakers, comedians, musicians and other entertainers
can be invited to perform for the Box-A-Thon participants.
This will help to keep morale high and help to pass the time.
A sound system can provide music for the event, or local deejays
can be invited to participate on location. Activities can
also be planned including Karaoke, tug-of-war, dancing, board
games and arts and crafts. Competitions for most money raised
and best decorated boxes have been successful. In the past,
youth have turned their boxes into tractor trailers, houses,
televisions, even Noah's Ark. Prizes to be awarded may be
solicited from area merchants.
Supplies:
All individuals participating should provide their own appliance
type box, sleeping bag or blankets, pillow and warm clothing.
Other supplies needed might include tarps in case of rain,
first aid kits, board games, personal CD players, books and
art materials. Additional boxes should be provided for those
who have solicited donations but were unable to bring a box.
Boxes are available through appliance stores, furniture stores
and warehouses. A check-in table to record participants names,
groups and money raised is also necessary.
Miscellaneous:
All sponsor money should be collected at the start of the
event. Participants may or may not be required to stay in
their boxes for the entire period. The group in charge will
determine the amount of time actually spent in the box. Participants
may have scheduled breaks from living in their boxes, or participants
may only be required to stay in their boxes for a predetermined
number of hours. A time of reflection is recommended by Scottie's
Place to remind participants and the observers of the 1.4
million homeless children in this country each year.
Contact
Scottie's Place: Please
contact the camp for a sample pledge sheet, box-a-thon flyer
and to get started.
SAMPLE
RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
60-second
announcement
Scottie's Place Box-A-Thon and Make A Difference Day
Live Announcer Radio PSA
:60 - Can be localized
On Saturday,
October 26, a child will smile because of you. Why? Because
you opened your heart and lent a hand on Make A Difference
Day. Scottie's Place is planning a "Box-a-thon" to benefit
homeless children for National Make a Difference Day on October
26. One hundred youth will find sponsors and gather together
to "live" in a refrigerator or appliance box for 24 hours.
Participants will turn a box into their home in order to bring
attention to the plight of 1.4 million homeless children in
America. All proceeds will help to bring homeless children
to Scottie's Place. Located in Peterstown, WV, Scottie's Place
is a non-profit, special needs camp that serves homeless children
from cities around the country. To find out how you can participate
or donate to the Box-a-thon on National Make a Difference
Day, contact Scottie's Place at 304-753-5701. That's 304-753-5701.
A public service message from Scottie's Place and (station
call letters).
SAMPLE
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
July 30, 2001 CONTACT:
Scottie's Place
Powell Mountain Rd., Peterstown, West Virginia, 24963
Contact: Jo-El Wadsworth or Paul Winter, 304-753-5701
SCOTTIE'S
PLACE PLANS UNIQUE FUNDRAISER
Scottie's Place, a special needs camp for homeless children,
will hold its first annual Box-A-Thon, August 23-24, at the
Rich Creek Town Park. The fundraising event will feature 100
area children who solicit pledges to "live" in an appliance
type box for a 24 hour period. The Box-A-Thon is designed
to increase awareness of the one million homeless children
in this country each year and to raise operational funds for
the camp.
"The community
response has been great," says Paul Winter, one of the camp's
founders. "Area children will be able to directly impact the
lives of hundreds of homeless children from shelters around
the country."
Entertainment,
meals and supervision will be provided by adult volunteers.
Participants are encouraged to decorate their boxes and prizes
will be awarded for the most creative boxes. Special prizes
will be awarded for children who raise $500 which is the cost
to bring one child to Scottie's Place for a one week camping
session. If you would like to volunteer or belong to a group
that would like to participate, please call the camp at (304)
753-5701 or see their website at www.scottiesplace.org.
SAMPLE
INFORMATION STATEMENT
Make
a Difference Day is the nation’s greatest day for helping
others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.
All across the United States, individuals and groups
work to make a difference in their communities. As our
contribution to this national effort, some of our finest
youth are participating in a fundraising event to provide
programs at Scottie’s Place and bring attention to America’s
1.4 million homeless children.
Scottie’s
Place, (www.scottiesplace.org) located in Peterstown,
WV, is a year-round special needs camp for homeless
children. There are 1.4 million homeless children in
this country every year and Scottie’s Place is one of
the first organizations in America to offer hope to
these children. The mission of the camp is to empower,
educate and enliven homeless children with programs
that emphasize wilderness adventure, pioneer living
and community service.
Children
from shelters around the country have come to Scottie’s
Place for adventure, friendship and healing. All homeless
children are eligible for the programs and are referred
by shelter directors, case workers, clergy and teachers.
Come
and join us at the Box-A-Thon where children are sponsored
to “live” in a box for 24 hours, proceeds to benefit Scottie’s
Place. The event will run from October 25-26, 2002 at
Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.
For more information, please
call Jim Redmond at 304-753-5701.
SAMPLE
LETTER OF SOLICITATION FROM AN ADULT PARTICIPANT
Hello
Dear Friend!
I am writing
to you on behalf of Scottie's Place and America's homeless
children. Scottie's Place is America's first year-round special
needs camp for homeless children and serves children from
shelters around the country. The mission of Scottie's Place
is to empower, educate and enliven homeless children through
programs based on wilderness adventure. Scottie's Place provides
a unique opportunity for each child to become stronger, to
heal and to gain a new perspective on life.
As part of
Make a Difference Day on October 26, 2002 I will be living in
a box for 24 hours. My hope is that this action will help bring
attention to the 1.4 million homeless children in the United
States and will allow Scottie's Place to bring more children
to the camp. This is where I can use your help. Please consider
becoming my sponsor and making a tax deductible donation to
Scottie's Place. For just one dollar per hour or $24 you can
help to make a difference in a child's life. If you feel the
will to give more, please do. What a joy to see the smile on
a child's face after two weeks of friendship, adventure and
healing. To make your gift, you can send me a check made out
to Scottie's Place. Thank you in advance for your support.
For the
children,
Jim Redmond
SAMPLE
LETTER OF SOLICITATION FROM A CHILD PARTICIPANT
Dear Uncle
Richard,
I am participating
in a fundraiser for Scottie's Place, the first year-round
special needs camp for homeless children in the United States
of America. Scottie's Place is located in Peterstown, WV and
serves children from shelters all around the country. The
Scottie's Place mission is to empower, educate and enliven
homeless children through wilderness adventure.
During
this fundraiser, called a Box-A-Thon, I will "live" in a box
for 24 hours. The purpose of this is to raise awareness of
the 1.4 million homeless children in America. Would you please
consider sponsoring me for this fundraiser? For just $1 an
hour, or $24, you can help bring a child to Scottie's Place
and touch their life in a positive way. All proceeds go to
Scottie's Place and your donation is tax deductible.
Thank
you so much for caring!
Love,
Kayla
PS. I'll
send you pictures!
SAMPLE
PHONE CALL OF SOLICITATION FROM A CHILD PARTICIPANT
Hi Auntie
Jo!
This is Emily
calling! How are you? I am participating in a fund-raiser for
Scottie's Place, one of the first special-needs camps in America
for homeless children. The fund-raiser is called a Box-A-Thon
and I will be staying in a large appliance box for 24 hours
to raise awareness of the 1.4 million homeless children in America.
The reason I am staying in a box is because homeless children
live in boxes, in alleys and even on the open street. I was
wondering if you would be willing to sponsor me? For just one
dollar an hour or $24 you could help change a homeless child's
life in a positive way. All proceeds help bring homeless children
to Scottie's Place. You can check out the Scottie's Place website
at www.scottiesplace.org.................... Thank you!
