Birthday for a Cause

It's my first birthday without my mother. 
"How am I going to celebrate my special day without the woman who gave birth to me and took good care of me in my 26 years of existence?"
 An excellent idea crossed my mind. 
Instead of throwing party for myself, why not use the money in spending or donating it for sick kids.

Let me share with you the steps in planning for a successful birthday for a cause:

•       Research and choose an Orphanage, Charitable Institution or Foundation that you want to support or become involved in.

http://www.charity-charities.org/Philippines-charities/Philippines.html

              >>list of charities in the Philippines

http://www.pcnc.com.ph/ngo-list.php?a=A

              >> list of Certified NGOs.

In my birthday for a cause 2014, I chose Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc.  My mom suffered from cancer and I felt the need to help and serve sick people. It became my advocacy. Missionaries of Charity, Home of joy for the sick children was also in my list. When I was in college, we volunteered and donated toys in this charity. 

•        Think of ways that you can become involved with the charities you have chosen. Call, message or visit them and inquire for important details.

I advise you to at least have a brief knowledge about their mission vision so that you can pattern that to your “birthday for a cause” plans.  Visit their website if there’s any, like their FB page and read articles about them to gain ideas how can you contribute to them.

When I’ve browsed the cancer warriors foundation website (http://cancerwarriorsfoundation.org/) , I immediately called their contact number and they asked me to email all my inquiry.  Because I’m too excited and can’t wait for their email reply, I liked their FB page and exchanged messages to their FB admin. My first idea was to throw a party for the cancer warriors to bring smiles to the sick kids in my special day, but I was informed that there was already a party set on 19^th of July 2014- 1 day before my birthday.  Instead, they invited me to come and be a volunteer in assisting the kids there. Sounds great!  I told myself it’s a better idea. Instead of spending money on party for the kids, why not donate it as a small help to the kids with cancer for their medicines.

 I also called the Missionaries of Charity and ask if we can visit the kids on my birthday but unfortunately that day was not available. The nun asked me for other dates that I prefer to visit so that she can check if it’s available. I chose July 21, after my birthday. Luckily, the date slot was still free. We discussed the children needs, the dos and donts and other regulations. As per her, July is an off-peak season for donations. Instead of receiving toys from donors, they prefer to receive milks and other groceries for the kids.

•       If you can, organize Fundraising Project to increase the money you can give to your chosen charities. More help, the better.  Also ask your family and friends to support your birthday for a cause. You can ask for their financial assistance or any donation in kind such as clothes, groceries, etc.

I have to warn you. In organizing a fundraising event, you have to prepare yourself not only physically, but emotionally as well.  Your time and efforts are so much needed to make it successful  but you also have to strengthen your inner core to accept that not everybody will going to support your advocacy. Some people will praise you and so much willing to help and give but some are not, no matter what their reasons and responses are- respect it. We all have different point of views. They have the choice to give or not to give, to help or not to help. Simple as that.

When I’m doing the fundraising- asking people for donations, I was not comfortable about it. I hate the feeling of asking money from people.  I even cry in the first day of the project. I don’t know if it’s a pride issue. But I pray to God and I heard an immediate answer.  Feels like there’s a voice whispering in my head  “Hey Don’t be discouraged! Always remember why you’re doing it and what makes you do it. Think of the smiles of the kids that you can help in your fundraising project.”. The next day, I was totally inspired and more determined. PUSH! 

Tips for a successful fundraising:

-create a birthday campaign and write a very powerful message to the possible donors. State your advocacy clearly and write it wholeheartedly.

-promote your fundraising using social media such as fb, instagram or tweeter.

-ask your friends and family to help and promote your fundraising project.

-don’t forget to update the donors about the result of their generosity and send them thank you letters.

•       Finalize and list all your plans for your birthday for a cause.

The date in meeting your chosen charity is set. All your donations are now ready. It’s time to think of some ways how to make that day extra ordinary.

Below is the draft agenda I made in our volunteer activities together with my childhood friends  in Missionaries of Charity:

            Missionary of Charity, Home of Joy for the Sick People 

Agenda: 

02:00 pm        Arrival at Missionary of Charity. 
                       Greetings. Introduce group. 
                       Give Donation Supplies. 

02:20 pm        Prayer for the Volunteers                           

02:30 pm        Opening prayer for the activity                  

02:40 pm        Get to know the kids. Introduce selves. 
                       Chat time. Interact with them. 
                       For girls: Fix their hair. Put a headband/clips. 
                       Make them feel better about their selves. 

03:00 pm        Groupings. 
                        Start of activities: (choose any) 
                        -Art works. 
                             *Coloring activities 
                             *Interpret drawing 
                             *Teach them how to make origami. 
                        -Ask them to show their talents. 
                                *Sing and dance with them. 
                                *Praise them. 
                        -Teach them how to pray. 
                        -Read them fairy tale/story telling. 
                                -ipad/ visuals 
                        -Games 
                                     *rubber games: 10/20, etc. 
                                *stop dance 
                                *paper dance game 
                                *etc. 

04:00 pm        Dinner 
                        Ask kids if anyone have birthday on this month. 
                                *if any, ask the group to sing happy birthday 
                                 -blow cakes and make wishes with them. 
                        Food trip. 

05:00 pm        Ask them to write letters 
                -message 
                -dreams 
                -wishlist 

05:20 pm        Distribute loombands. 

05:25 pm        Closing prayer                                 
                Messages to the kids. 
                Messages from kids. 

•        Don’t forget to tell the charity how grateful you are for having a birthday for a Cause.

I wrote a thank you letter for each charities I've chosen expressing my gratitude for the opportunity to do good deeds and help sick children.

The feeling is priceless. I have learned a lot from all this experience. My only goal is to help sick children in my birthday but I didn’t expect that I also promote the importance of charity works and able to inspire others. I received a lot of compliments and messages from unexpected people that they also want to join me in my advocacy and was inspired with what I’m doing. All my efforts, sacrifices for this project and everything I did were all worth it :’>