Philanthropy Committee Report

Philanthropy Committee Report EASFAA Summer Retreat Sunday, July 28-Tuesday, June 30, 2013 Burlington, VT

Committee Members: HELP WANTED (and needed)! Target is 4-5 committee members.

Goals for 2013-14: 1. Create awareness of and raise money for Epilepsy research 2. Involve state reps in disseminating information to their respective colleagues 3. Tie-in regional event with Financial Aid Professionals Day 4. Contribute to Facebook and EASFAA blog to create awareness

Plans/ideas: 1. Encourage EASFAA members to collect and submit stories (written, video) about how epilepsy affects us (families, friends, co-workers, students). With permission, these stories will be used to create awareness and demonstrate importance of raising money for research.

2. Implement an awareness campaign during National Epilepsy Awareness Month.  Wear Purple Day(s)  Host a guest speaker on campus to promote epilepsy awareness (take pictures to post on Facebook and EASFAA blog)  “Like” the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook  Follow the Epilepsy Foundation on Twitter  Hold a service project or fundraiser on campus to support epilepsy (take pictures to post on Facebook and EASFAA blog)

3. Raise money through a purple ribbon or awareness bracelet campaign at state conferences, regional events, etc.  Purple ribbon example can be viewed at http://www.fundraisingforacause.com/small-flat- lavender-ribbon-pin.html. Pins cost less than $0.85 apiece; they can be sold for $3.00-$5.00 each to raise funds to donate.

 www.easfaa.org  Incorporated as not for profit in the state of Massachusetts  Epilepsy awareness bracelets can be viewed at http://image2.source4.com/welcomehybrid.asp. Bracelets cost $0.40 apiece; they can be sold for $1.00-$2.00 each to raise funds to donate. (Imprinted with Epilepsy Foundation logo and words “Not another moment lost to seizures”.)

Perhaps donations of additional (small) amounts could also be encouraged when the pin/bracelet is purchased.

4. Get involved with the National Walk for Epilepsy: Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. There is a need for volunteers to assist with the event. 5. Raise money through the 2014 EASFAA Conference Charity project. Perhaps the PR affiliate for the Epilepsy Foundation would attend the Conference to accept the donation.  Raffle or chance auction of gift cards donated by states  50-50 raffle  50-50 contests (maybe limbo, other ideas?)