REUNION PAWTY FUNDRAISER

Posted on by parth598win25

How a Group of Students Raised Nearly $2,000 for Pets Affected by California Wildfires

Many of us first consider the devastation to homes, businesses, and human life that natural catastrophes inflict right away. But about our animal friends, what about Devastating flames tore across portions of California in January, separating numerous animals from their homes and rendering many more in great need of aid. In response, a group of students – Evyn Johnson, Michael Boland, Dan Gutierrez, Parth Patel, and Ayushi Shah — banded together to stage the Reunion Pawty Fundraiser and effect change.

Team Photos

Why We Hosted the Reunion Pawty

Raising $1,600 to assist Pasadena Humane, a nonprofit animal assistance facility having been offering lifesaving treatments since 1903, was the obvious aim. During the fires, Pasadena Humane mobilized extensively to save animals, provide emergency pet boarding, establish pet food shelves, and create safe areas for neighborhood cats. Our campaign sought to assist these important projects.

The Pawty that Made a Difference

Just a few blocks from the DePaul campus, we had an in-person celebration at Neon Garden’s Attendees for a $20 wristband received two raffle tickets and pizza, not a terrible exchange for a worthy cause! Exciting raffles abound in the event, including a Cutest Pet Competition whereby the winner got a customized pet image.

The atmosphere was laid back and pet-loving, and the lottery prizes amounted to real business—more than $1,600! Think of a Red Bull mini fridge, a Nespresso machine, golf cards, pet hampers, and even a private party at McGee’s.

Fundraising Beyond the Party

We were planning, not only partying. Pasadena Humane helped us create our own fundraising page, which guarantees that every internet donation goes directly to the charity. Together with our web presence and contacts to nearby pet communities and our own networks, we maintained the pace even for those unable to physically attend.

The Final Numbers:

  • $721.35 from online donations
  • $635 from entry fees
  • $610 from raffle ticket sales
  • $3,047 in in-kind donations from generous local sponsors and businesses

Total raised? $1,967 — that’s 123% of our original goal!

A Few Hiccups Along the Way

Like every event, ours was not without difficulties. Though the venue wasn’t expecting us on the day of the event (yikes!), we managed it with some rapid thinking and open communication. We expanded our reach since some sponsors answered slowly. We turned to a wristband and RSVP style when the venue asked us not to charge at the door.

Lessons Learned

One of our main insights is Planning is everything. We came to see how important:

Clearly defining expectations and deadlines early on assigning work with designated due dates.
Being aggressive and not hesitant to solicit donations
remaining flexible in the face of difficulties.

Notwithstanding a few mistakes, the team’s communication, teamwork, and will paid off—in terms of money raised and animals helped.

Final Thoughts

The Reunion Pawty Fundraiser was more than just a fun evening out; it was a significant event reminding us of what is feasible when a bunch of driven individuals unite behind a cause. We raised more than our target, assisted our four-legged friends in need, and left with insightful knowledge of project management, cooperation, and compassion.

If you’d like to help, visit our fundraising page here: Pasadena Humane Fundraiser

Dodging Cancer: A Dodgeball Fundraiser

Posted on by nico598win25

 

Project Description

We successfully hosted a dodgeball tournament to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Our dodgeball tournament “Dodging Cancer” was hosted at the Sullivan Athletic Center on DePaul’s campus in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. There were eight teams, and each team had five players, competing in a bracket-style elimination format. Teams paid an entry fee to participate, and fans were also able to contribute to donating by paying a smaller fee to watch the games. We also had an option where you can pay to play but didn’t have a team and a team would be formed from participants signing up that way. Tickets could be purchased on the Eventbrite page we created and on there we also added a link to our ACS fundraising page where if people couldn’t attend but still wanted to donate, they were able to do so.

Description of the charity

Founded in 1913 in New York City, The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer research, education, patient support, and advocacy. They provide resources for individuals diagnosed with cancer and work towards policy changes to prevent and treat the disease. ACS have contributed to the work that has resulted in a 33% drop in the overall cancer death rate in the United States. That drop equates to 3.8 million fewer cancer deaths between 1991 and 2023.

Analysis of project success

Our team set out a goal to raise $2,850 this would be our best-case scenario if we had full participation between players and spectators. We also had a $300 prize for first place, $200 prize for second place and $100 prize for third place, hoping this would attract more participants.

  • Participant entry fees ($20 per player, 80 players) = $1,600
  • Spectator fees ($5 per person, 50 people) = $250
  • Donations & Sponsorships = $1,000

With the expenses we accrued throughout the project and only 8 teams participating, we came up short of our goal but was still able to raise $1,050 for ACS.

Lessons learned

  • Unexpected Expenses: Once we secured a venue, there was more than just being able to host a dodgeball tournament. Venue staff communicated that we must have security on hand which was going to be an extra cost.
  • Communication: We were able to execute hosting the dodgeball tournament through multiple communication channels. We had weekly scheduled meetings with our team on project status and any outstanding tasks that needed to be completed. We also had a group chat where constant communication occurred, and quick updates and discussions were able to happen.

Advice for future teams doing similar projects

  • Venue Securing – If you’re hosting an event and need a venue, be sure to get that locked down right away and start promoting your event. We had issues being able to have optimal dates for our event (weekends) and finally locked down a weekday. In turn promoting our event started a little later in the project than we would’ve liked.
  • Participation Recruitment – Be sure you’re taking the right steps on promoting your event to recruit enough participants. Almost two weeks before the event we were still struggling to get participants and only locked down half of the participants we would’ve liked hurting our donations we would’ve received from full max participation.

Photos

NMDP- National Marrow Donor Program (Former Be the Match)

Posted on by michael598win25

Brief description of the project   

To support the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), our team held a three-week fundraising campaign to generate donations, encourage donor sign up, and raise awareness. Our fundraiser concluded with a designated, “Be the Match Day DePaul” on Wednesday, March 12th, from 11am to 1pm. On Be the Match Day, our team hosted a promotional table on the DePaul Loop campus to spread awareness about the life-saving impact of marrow and blood stem cell donations, to educate participants about the process of donating, and to encourage them to join the registry and/or donate funds to the organization. During the event we handed out merchandise that was provided to us by National Marrow Donor Program.

Over the weeks leading up to Be the Match Day, the team ran social media initiatives on several platforms and posted flyers to maximize engagement. These social media initiatives involved frequent posts made by team members, including informational blurbs, inspiring stories found online, and reminders to join the registry or donate. Viewers were encouraged to scan the QR code which directed them to the team’s personal fundraising page made through NMDP’s website. Our goal was to use this structured campaign to raise funds, register new donors, and support the mission of NMDP effectively through online and in-person efforts.

 

Brief description of the charity 

The National Marrow Donor Program, previously known as Be the Match, is a nonprofit organization which NMDP facilitates transplants of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and bone marrow for patients with life- threatening blood cancers and disorders. Founded in 1987 in Minneapolis, MN, the organization has an international reach and operates the world’s largest, most diverse donor registry. NMDP also funds research programs and supports families through the transplant process. They have a strong social media presence, with active pages on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Instagram (@nmdp_org), where they post regularly to 168,000 followers. On their website, NMDP offers extensive material on other ways to get involved, like fundraising and various methods of raising awareness.

Contact information:

– Primary contact: Evan Hutton

– Website: https://bethematch.org

– Toll-free phone: 1 (800) MARROW-2

 

Factual analysis of success in terms of project objectives 

Our team created a donation website through the National Marrow Donor Program that kept track in real-time of our progress towards meeting our goal of raising $1200. We implemented a worst, most likely, and best-case scenario to help us evaluate & track the progress of our donation goal of $1,200. Our team completed the project with $1,020 raised and fell just $180 short of our goal. We had a total of thirteen donations that averaged around $40 each, and our highest donation was for $500.

  • Best Case: $1,500 raised through online donations.
  • Most Likely: $1,200 raised donations.
  • Worst Case: Less than $500 raised.

 

Our team also set a goal to confirm twenty-five registered donors, but we were not able to confirm any donors to register (Due to NMDP training unavailability until March 10th). We also set a goal to distribute all merchandise that was provided to us by NMDP, during our “Be the Match DePaul” event. However, we only had two guests visit our promotion table.

 

Two or three lessons learned about managing projects 

One of the lessons learned about managing projects relates to gathering information and planning early. After a couple of weeks into the project, we discovered that there was not any availability to meet with an NMDP staff member for training until March 10th. Without the training we were unable to recruit bone marrow donors. Another lesson we learned about project management is the importance of being able to adapt. Our team had to adapt and adjusted our advertising approach to strictly fundraising and spreading awareness when we found out we could not recruit bone marrow donors. If we knew this information to begin with, we would have abandoned recruitment strategies immediately and focused on fundraising and spreading awareness, which could have added an extra two weeks of fundraising time to the project.

 

Advice for future teams doing similar projects  

  • Complete the research early, create the project scope, and start planning. Proper research can make a significant difference in reducing scope creep.
  • Establish a communication plan that works for all team members and maintain transparency.
  • Create a SharePoint folder to store all documents so they can easily be referenced by any team member. We also utilized the “Group Me” app for discussions outside of our Zoom meetings.
  • Assess all risks (major & minor) to the project, be flexible and adapt to the project as needed, and create contingency plans to combat risks.
  • Support each other& have fun!

 

Photos related to the project. 

 

The Animal Rescue Foundation

Posted on by alexia598win25

Brief description of the project

This project was focused on raising funds and awareness for the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), a local no-kill animal shelter in Wheaton, Illinois. Our team planned and organized a few activities to support ARF, such as in-person fundraising event on campus, fundraising through social media, a donation drive, and an in-person service event at their rescue house. The goal was to help raise money and collect supplies for the shelter, as well as to get the community more involved in their mission of rescuing and rehoming cats and dogs.

Brief description of the charity

The Animal Rescue Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) no-kill shelter, and their website can be found here https://www.arf-il.org/. It is a local, Illinois-based organization located in Wheaton. It is a shelter that focuses on rescuing and rehoming cats and dogs. This means that when they find a cat or dog or someone brings them in, they house them, give them the proper nutrients and medication, and then rehome them to a foster family or wait for them to be adopted. Due to limited capacity, they host adoption events every other weekend to encourage adoption, so they can take in more cats and dogs. They accept both monetary donations and supply donations.

Factual analysis of success in terms of project objectives

What How Goal Result
In-person Fundraising Flyers & engagement table on campus Increase awareness;

>15 people at engagement table;

>15 visits to Amazon wish list;

Raise at least $200 (worst case)

$350 (most likely)

$500 (best case)

 32 visits at engagement table & 7 made a monetary donation;

40 visits to Amazon wish list;

Raised $479
Virtual Fundraising Flyers on social media
 

In-person Service

  

Volunteer on-site

  

Provide assistance

  

Worked 4 volunteer hours
 

Donation Drive

  

Flyers, mass email, collection points

  

Increase awareness;

Collect at least 20 items

  

188 items collected

 

Two or three lessons learned about managing projects

  1. One of the most valuable lessons we learned during this project was the importance of constant and transparent communication among team members. As graduate students juggling coursework and other commitments, it wasn’t always feasible for everyone to attend team meetings and project events. In such cases, we found it essential to communicate conflicts in advance, allowing the team to adjust plans and assign responsibilities based on individual schedules. This emphasis on communication also extended to the organization we partnered with. Maintaining consistent contact with their team ensured they were informed of our efforts and progress.
  2. Another significant takeaway was the importance of setting clear deadlines. Throughout the project, we remained committed to establishing timelines for both short-term and long-term tasks. This proactive approach kept us on track, which was particularly critical given the short duration of our class and the extensive workload required to complete the project.
  3. Lastly, adaptability proved to be a crucial skill. The planning and execution stages of a project of this scale rarely align perfectly. When unexpected challenges arose, it was important for our team members to remain flexible, develop backup plans, and adjust as needed to stay focused on achieving our end goal.
  4. Begin the project as soon as you can. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to troubleshoot unexpected challenges and make adjustments without feeling rushed. It also allows for more productive collaboration and feedback.

Advice for future teams doing similar projects

  1. Identify potential risks during the initial planning phase and establish contingency plans. Having clear solutions in mind will prevent delays and ensure the project remains on track when obstacles arise.
  2. Even the best-laid plans can face unexpected changes. Stay open to adjusting timelines, reallocating resources, or revising your approach when necessary. Flexibility is key to overcoming hurdles.
  3. Develop a clear and organized breakdown of tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines. This will ensure accountability within the team, provide a clear roadmap for progress, and make it easier to track milestones.
  4. While project management can be challenging, it’s also a valuable opportunity to learn, collaborate, and build new skills. Embrace the experience, support your teammates, and enjoy the process of bringing your project to life.

Event Photos

Virtual walk-a-thon for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)

Posted on by pushkar598win25

1 Brief description about the project

The project team raised money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Illinois by doing a virtual walk-a-thon. Because the event was virtual and remote, attendees could participate from anywhere, which made it more inclusive and accessible. We even had a few participants from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The project sought to include a large number of people by enticing them to participate in a straightforward and comfortable activity—walking—while supporting a more important cause. For families whose children are undergoing medical treatment, RMHC offers crucial housing and support services. The goal of RMHC is to keep families together during medical emergencies, and the walk-a-thon helped generate money and exposure for this cause. By effectively fusing charity and community involvement, the event matched participant enthusiasm with the organization’s altruistic objectives.

2 Brief description about the charity

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Illinois is a nonprofit organization that works to give families of children who are seriously ill or injured while they get care at local hospitals a “home away from home.” To lessen the financial and psychological strain on families during medical emergencies, RMHC provides food, temporary shelter, and emotional support.
RMHC helps improve children’s outcomes and gives their loved one’s stability and comfort by keeping families together throughout trying times. In order to continue operating and providing services throughout Illinois, the organization mostly depends on donations, volunteerism, and community support.

3 Factual analyses of success in terms of project objective

In addition to raising funds, the project’s goal was to create public awareness of the organization and cause.

  • Fundraising outcome: The project has raised approximately $200, which was our most expected amount. This shows that donors are actively involved and that donation tactics are working.
  • Participation/awareness rate: 34 people have signed up for the virtual walk-a-thon. It demonstrates how the project has an impact and reaches a wide range of individuals.
  • Consistent with the project goal: The two goals of increasing awareness and funding for RMHC were accomplished. Effective communication among participants allowed the charity’s mission and coordination impact to be clearly communicated.
  • Positive community engagement: Good community involvement: Many of the participants in the initiative were fitness enthusiasts or corporate McDonald’s employees, which helped them feel more connected either to the organization or the cause itself.The project’s primary goals were accomplished by growing awareness of Ronald McDonald House Charities, reaching participation and financial goals, and meaningfully interacting with a large community. The project’s accomplishment confirms that virtual gatherings are a successful way to raise money for charities.

4 Two or three lessons learned about managing projects

  • Effective Communication: It is crucial to effectively communicate among team members and stakeholders for coordinating tasks, resolving issues, and ensuring project goals are met.
  • Early planning: We were able to effectively allocate resources, establish deadlines, and coordinate duties by beginning the planning process early. We had ample time to foresee difficulties and make necessary corrections.
  • Always plan for the worst-case scenario: One important lesson learned was to always be ready for the worst possible risk and having backup plans ready to guarantee project success in spite of certain obstacles.

5 Advice for the future teams doing similar project

  • Start planning early and established detailed timeline
  • Define roles and responsibilities clearly
  • Be flexible and ready to adapt
  • Test technological platforms in advance

6 Photos or flyer of the event

DePaul x BFT for Chi-Care

Posted on by melanie598win25

Project: We hosted 2 donation-based workout classes at Body Fit Training (BFT) on February 23. The class was an hour in length and included a mix cardio and strength exercises. All fitness levels welcomed!

The minimum donation was $20 per person with an opportunity to write in/donate a higher amount via GoFundMe or cash in-person donation on the day of the event.

Charity: We chose to work with Chi-Care. A local 501(C)3 organization that operates across the Chicagoland area to support those currently unhoused or experiencing homelessness has access to warm food, water, and goods such as gloves, hand warmers, socks, etc. 

Factual analysis: We can proudly say that we vastly surpassed our fundraising goal by raising $2,868 which is 220.6% over our best case scenario goal.  When we submitted our implementation plan, we set the below expectations for the amount of funds raised based on average attendance for BFT on Sundays which is roughly around 15 members per class.

  • Expected $700 = ~$20 donation by 35 people (# of people from both classes)
  • Best Case $1300 = ~$20 donation by 65 people (# of people from both classes)
  • Worst Case $200 = ~No one attends the event/event cancelled, but we raise funds via electronic methods only ~$40 raised by each team member (5 members).

We can attribute the success of overachieving on our fundraising goal due to the following:

  • the date of the event, did not conflict with any special events during the weekend i.e. NFL Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Ramadan
  • holding the event with an already established community
  • having an ample amount of time to spread the fundraiser to friends, family, and the public
  • Making quick establishments and commitments with our stakeholders and partners 
  • staying within budget (funds donated from local sponsor) 

Lessons Learned about Managing a Project

  • Setting up a means of communication that everyone has access to is vital to the success of the project.  Open communication helps everyone be aligned with the team’s goals and the status of where everyone is so issues and changes can be identified.  
  • Planning ahead and staying organized made a huge difference in our project’s success. By securing partnerships early, and using tools like Google Forms to track RSVPs and donations, we kept everything on track and avoided last-minute challenges.
  • Start early and set deadlines with your team and stakeholders. Separate the work evenly and everything will fall into place.

Advice for future teams

  • Establish roles and responsibilities early so everyone has a clear objective in the group.  Helps avoid any confusion, passiveness, and keeps everyone accountable.
  • Track your data to stay organized. Use tools like Google Forms or spreadsheets to monitor RSVPs, donations, and progress, making it easier to manage the project and make informed decisions.
  • Clear communication with the collaborating partners to make sure you and they are on the same page in order to avoid any confusion in the future and for a smooth event.  
  • Have a point of contact person on day of event to help move people, answer questions and control the crowds. 

Team Photos

2025 Meal Mission: Greater Chicago Food Depository Informational Session

Posted on by vanessa598win25

Project Description 

Our group wanted to make a difference within Chicago, so we decided to work with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help raise funds and awareness for food insecurity and systematic issues that contribute to food waste. Not only did we want to raise funds to provide meals for the community, but we also wanted to educate more Chicagoans about the food insecurity within the city and how they can help bring hope to the community and make a positive impact. We hosted a Virtual Informational Session that allowed people of the Chicago community to come together and listen to a representative from the Greater Chicago Food Depository who goes into depth about the mission that the organization is focused on accomplishing as well as sharing our group mission of raising funds to provide meals for the those who don’t have easy access to food. 

Description of Charity/Organization 

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a food bank located in Chicago that focuses on working to reduce hunger by distributing food, advocating for a positive change for the Chicago community, as well as supporting programs that focus on addressing the poverty and food insecurity issues within Chicago. The Greater Chicago Food Depository also partners with over 800 community-based organizations across Cook County. Some of these organizations include soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries, and more. Overall, the Greater Chicago Food Depository has the goal and mission to reduce hungry and empty bellies all around Chicago, they advocate, support, and care about those facing food insecurity and want to make a positive change. 

Factual Analysis of Success in Terms of Project Objectives 

The main objective behind the “2025 Meal Mission: Greater Chicago Food Depository Informational Session” was to educate people about the mission behind the organization and to raise funds to provide meals for those facing food insecurity in Chicago. We used social media, email, and flyers to spread awareness of the event and of the fundraiser we were hosting. With the informational session, it allowed people to come together and learn about the issues people are facing nearby. There was also a raffle that helped incentivize people to join and participate in the virtual informational session. We had a group goal of $1,000, and we raised $1,043, which provided 3,129 meals.  

Two Lessons learned about managing projects 

  1. Team Dynamics Matter – it is important to have a team that has good time management skills, communication skills, and are able to collaborate with others. Throughout this process, it was clear that good communication was needed in order to stay on top of things. Which leads into being able to follow deadlines and complete tasks by the time they needed to be done by so the project doesn’t delay. It helps to have a good team dynamic so that it is a smooth, positive, and stress-free process. 
  2. Defining Clear Goals and Scope – having a lot of different ideas and trying to put them together can result in a lot of different goals that are desired to be achieved. We learned that throughout the process that we needed to narrow down on one or two main goals to keep people interested, involved, and not confused. With managing a project, it can be tempting to accept all new ideas. But we had to make sure that whatever our goal was, it was clear, concise, and people would be interested in it.

Advice for future teams doing similar projects 

When working with a group, especially online, it is really important to schedule regular check-ins with your team. Even if they do not feel like they are necessary, because this can bring up more information for future steps and tasks or can help clarify current tasks. One regret our group has is not scheduling more check-ins outside of class to see where we were all at with the social media sharing and donations. Having little quick meetings can be a lot more impactful than you may originally think. After each meeting we had, we were able to accomplish more than we all originally thought we would. Therefore, schedule those check-in meetings, talk to your group as much as possible, this will ensure better relationships and better teamwork. 

Photos: 

Virtual Info Session – Pink and Blue Background

             

Let’s Roll For A Good Cause

Posted on by kevin598win25

Project Description

Our team chose to host a bowling event to support Misericordia at Habetler Bowl in Chicago, IL. Admission to the event was $35, which included 1 hour and 30 minutes of bowling. We sold tickets to the event on Eventbrite and included the ability for individuals to make a one-time donation to the organization through the Eventbrite page. The bowling ticket, which was negotiated with the bowling alley, resulted in $20 to the bowling alley and $15 to Misericordia.

To increase the fundraising potential and provide an additional source of revenue, we also held a 50/50 raffle. Tickets to the 50/50 Raffle were $10, with $5 going to the raffle’s pot and $5 going directly to our organization. Tickets for the raffle were sold on-site and were also sold to other friends, family, and colleagues, who could not attend the event, with payment received Venmo and Zelle. We successfully held the event on March 6th and it was attended by 10 people.

Although 10 total event attendees were much lower than we had hoped, we made up for any lost donations from bowling tickets by selling more 50/50 raffle tickets than we originally anticipated, ultimately resulting in a grand total of $1,090 for Misericordia, slightly less than our projected most likely scenario.

Description of the Charity

The charity we selected is Misericordia. Misericordia is a 100+ year-old 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in Chicago, that provides comprehensive care such as group housing, as well as other services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Misericordia is a Catholic Charity of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and their mission is to provide a quality of life for their residents.

Analysis of Project Success

Our primary goal was to raise at least $500 after expenses for Misericordia.
Based on the potential performance of our project’s three primary streams of income, we identified three fundraising scenarios:

Worst Case: $100
Most likely: $1,275
Best Case: $2,175

We held the event on March 6th and raised a total of $1089.60.

  • 10 event ticket were sold, which brought in revenue of $350. After expenses of $145.60, these netted a donation of $204.40
  • 111 50/50 Raffle Tickets were sold, which brought in a revenue of $1,110.00 – after payout to the raffle’s winner, these netted a donation of $555.00.
  • 4 Individuals made an additional donation directly to Misericordia, which brought in an additional $330.20

While our project total was just short of our “Most Likely” scenario, we came very close and succeeded in holding a fun and successful event that allowed us to apply project management skills from our class.

Lessons Learned

  1. We should have spent more time on risk analysis. We spent more time and effort on our project’s Implementation Plan. This was great and was key to our project’s success, but we potentially could have had an even more successful project by spending an equal amount of time on the Risk Management Plan.
  2. Diversified streams of income. We held an in-person event and were only able to attract 12 people (10 people bowling) to the event itself. We still succeeded in raising money, but the fundraising potential of our project could have been further maximized with a couple additional streams of income.

Advice for future teams doing similar projects

  1. Start on the project early in the quarter. The short timeframe should not be taken lightly.
  2. Meet with your project team on a regular basis – at least weekly.
  3. If possible, utilize your team’s personal networks to select an organization and location. If not, select an organization and venue that is most likely to be responsive to your team.
  4. Manage the project by regularly referencing the project management documents your team creates over the course of the project.

Photos

Group 3 – Document 8 – Project Audit

 

Doing the Most Good

Posted on by taisa598win25

Project Description  

Our team successfully hosted an open donation drive for The Salvation Army in Roselle, IL to collect essential items for those in need. The event focused on gathering items such as clothing, blankets, canned foods, school supplies, hygiene products and digital monetary donations. Community members dropped off their contributions on Saturday, February 22nd from 1:00 to 03:00 PM at the approved local business. By collaborating with The Salvation Army, we aimed to maximize the impact of the donations, ensuring they reached individuals and families in need. This initiative not only provided essential goods but also fostered community involvement and support, which created a meaningful way for people to make a difference locally. 

 Brief Description of Charity  

The Salvation Army is an international organization which was founded in 1865 to provide social services to those in need. This organization operates in over 130 countries worldwide and is involved in programs such as: 

  • Homeless Shelters 
  • Addiction Recovery 
  • Disaster Relief 
  • Food Assistance 

In the United States, it is best known for its red kettle campaigns during the holidays. The Salvation Army is committed to the enhancement and betterment of the lives of people who are in need in local communities through the act of providing livelihood, emergency assistance, and long-term support. 

 

Factual Analysis of Success 

The team collected a total of 305 items, exceeding its best-case projection. This includes $50 in donations, 65 accessories, 20 non-perishable food items, 20 school supplies and hygiene products, and 200 clothes and blankets. 

Lessons Learned  

Communicate:  

When everyone knows their job and communicates well, there is less confusion and efficiencies with collaboration, which also minimizes risk. Don’t hesitate to ask each other questions if you are unsure how to do some things, use each other to bounce ideas off, and get feedback from the team to improve the project outcome. 

Flexible & Adaptable:  

Things are always changing and when you work with a group, it is important as a project manager to be proactive, along with supporting your team and having fun to keep the teams engaged. For example, our team had to completely pivot the location of our event on a last minute’s notice due to being unable to book a table at DePaul University’s Student Center. We were able to secure a venue with a local business that sponsored our event.  

 Using Resources

Our group may have saved some time if we started off by listing our resources early in the project. We all assumed that since we are students at DePaul, it would have been easier to conduct the event there. However, we came to the realization that we all lived somewhat close by in the suburbs, and most of our contacts who were willing to donate were also in the suburbs. Once we pivoted our location the rest of the project started to come together much quicker. 

 Advice for Future Teams  

Always have a risk plan in place, especially on the day of the event by practicing scenario analysis. There are many things going on the day of the event, that having a plan in place allows flexibility in an efficient manner. Having a risk plan will also help during the planning of the event so if you are unable to communicate with a charity, a sponsor, or other parties involved in the event, the risk plan can help guide the group to take the next steps.  

Frequent communication is also helpful when planning and executing the project. While it may be difficult for everyone to attend every meeting, try to meet once a week or once every other week to get updates and complete project-oriented documentation. It is also helpful to message each other quick updates such as notices from the charity or getting the venue secured.  

Start marketing your event as early as possible. One of the challenges our group faced was having difficulty promoting our event until we were able to secure the venue. If we had been able to start marketing earlier, we would have been able to reach a wider number of people in our networks to donate items for our event.  

 

Together We Tread: A Virtual 5K for Mental Health Awareness 

Posted on by jillian598win25

Project Description

Our group hosted a Virtual 5K in which physically able participants could run, walk, or ride a bike on any day or indoor/outdoor location of their choosing. All donations were due by the end of the day on February 21st, 2025, which was also the last day that the 5K could be completed. The 5K could be completed individually, with a friend, or as a group – almost like a participation choose-your-own adventure. To enter, participants had to pay a small fee of $10 and could also solicit donations from their personal network(s) via social media or in-person employment. Those who did not want to physically participate had the option to support the charity through a monetary donation.

 

Description of Charity

Our charity of choice was a local organization called Megan Butz Legacy of Hope. It is a 501(c)(3) charity that was created by Meg’s family in 2023 after they lost her to suicide on January 20th, 2020. Meg and one of our groupmates worked at Illinois Tool Works together in an early-in-career rotational program after graduating from their undergraduate universities. Meg was vibrant, kind, hard-working, and a true joy to be around. She was pursuing her MBA before she passed, and her family created this foundation to help young adults receive the mental health programming and support that they need when dealing with issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide. It is an all-volunteer organization that is committed to improving lives and assisting young people needing support. All donations support community-based programs that prioritize building self-esteem, developing resilience and life skills, strengthening mental health, and expanding suicide awareness.  

 

Factual Analysis of Success

The main objective of “Together We Tread” was to generate funds for Meg’s Legacy of Hope and to spread awareness of this charity, which is relatively new. Through our social media posts and in-person interactions, our charity reached 254 people. We raised money via the charity website and funneled the rest of the donations to one group member so that she could leverage her company’s triple match donation program. Our total donation amount was $4,045.

 

Lessons Learned

We learned that sometimes our Plan B needs a Plan B, but it does not matter what the path is as long as the right destination is reached. Our group originally planned to collect funds and encourage participation via social media and within our workplaces. We created a flyer with a Zelle QR code to help us fundraise. In order to ensure that our group adhered to our companies’ corporate policies, we each spoke to the appropriate people within our organizations to see if we could fundraise in the workplace. One of our members received verbal and written permission from HR to post one flyer in the office and to send an email to coworkers; however, someone higher up in the company later conveyed that it was against company policy to “solicit” in the workplace and required all funds to be returned to their donors. Another group member was told that $5 was the maximum that anyone was allowed to contribute within the workplace. We also learned that sharing calendars to manage deadlines and individual tasks was super helpful to know who was doing what and when.

 

Advice for Future Teams

Our biggest piece of advice is to question everything when it comes to workplace policies. Before committing to a project as a team, each team member should check with their workplace what the policy is for fundraising in the workplace. We would even recommend taking it a step further and asking the person a level above who you asked about the policy to see if both statements match. We would also recommend obtaining a copy of your employee handbook as well.

 

Event Photos

Megan Butz Legacy of Hope