Granting a Wish

It takes about $7500 to grant the wish of a child. To understand examples of how the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has impacted the lives of children, click here. When a child is asked, "If you had one wish, what would it be?", the wish typically falls in to one of four categories:

  • "to be" (Elvis),
  • "to go" (Disney World
  • "to meet" (Derrick Rose)
  • "to have" (a PC)

It is the EKMGT committee's goal to raise $25,000 annually for the foundation. Last year's Eileen Keller Memorial was the most successful to date, with approximately $19,500 raised. We obviously need your help and dedicated fundraising efforts to get there.

Helpful Fundraising Tools

Online Donation Site                                                                     Sponsorship Opportunities
Printable Donation Form                                                              Sponsorship Letter
Sponsor List Spreadsheet

Picture

General Fundraiser Ideas

Many players have asked how to go about raising money for the charity. Here are some simple ideas to try:

  1. Be prepared to suggest a donation amount when you approach potential sponsors. You're likely to be asked. You'll be amazed at how quickly your total will rise by suggesting $10 or $20 contributions.
  2. Don't forget to fill out the Sponsor List Spreadsheet. This Excel spreadsheet is important for you to email to Dave Keller by August 26, 2011 so that the EKMGT committee can track the financial achievements of the tournament.
    Also let donors know they can contribute online at the secure website.
  3. It's sometimes easiest to ask family and close friends to support you.
  4. Ask coworkers and bosses to donate as part of their support to the local community.
  5. Check to see if your company has a matching program for your personal donations. Remind your sponsors of this, as well
  6. Ask your favorite local business owners to support the effort as it directly supports the Chicago-land community. If it helps generate interest from the business, the EKMGT committee would be happy to exchange advertising on tournament day in exchange for donated merchandise or services. The committee is actively seeking merchandise for raffle and silent auction items.
  7. Please restrict your solicitation of donations from businesses located within the Chicago-land area, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation needs to prevent "double dipping" with other chapters of the Foundation.
  8. Throw a charity party, dinner or barbecue at your home. You can keep the donation activity low-key by leaving the Make-A-Wish Foundation donation forms near the door to your home (also make the request to have donors provide the dollar amount so that you can keep track of your fundraising acitivity on the Sponsor List Spreadsheet).
  9. Hold a garage sale or sell unwanted household items in local papers or the internet. Use the proceeds towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation®



Special thanks to our sponsors

Dean Foods  Buddy's Bakery  Buddy's Bakery  Old Orchard Country Club  Noodles & Company  Bob Rohrman Auto House  Monastero's Ristorante
Travel Center  Top Notch
Monastero's Entertainment  Derrick Smash

Dean Foods   -   Buddy's Bakery   -   Old Orchard Country Club   -   Dave Keller & Family   -   Marc L. Dash, MD   -   Marc Arnush   -   Derrick Smash   -   Rockit Ranch   -   Travel Center Inc.   -   The Cacal Family   -   Noodles & Company   -   Santon-Attorney-at-law   -   Advanced Auto Body   -   Top Notch Auto Sales   -   Bob Rohrman Gurnee Volkswagon   -   Lee Zeidman   -   Chicago Painters   -   Farmer's Insurance   -   MID Club   -   Monastero's Ristorante   -   Monastero Entertainment   -   Dino's Pizza   -   Jim Cannon-JP Morgan Securities   -   Lynfred Winery   -   Trader Joe's   -   Diplomat Travel   -   Dick's Sporting Goods   -   EZLinks.com   -   Chicago Wolves   -   Chicago Slaughter   -   Giacomo's Restaurant   -   Chicago White Sox   -   Chicago Bears   -   Jim Beam