Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure: Items to Build for Fundraiser #1: What items to build for fundraising auction?

I like the cutting boards and maybe pens if you turn pens. Maybe letter openers?

BTW: I found some really nice figured Koa pen blanks on e-Bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/5-Hawaiian-curly-figured-koa-pen-blanks-turning-wood-/250648627316?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5bd28874. I just wish this guy had larger pieces for my cane handles.

Good luck on your projects!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

mmh,

Thanks you for your input.

I do not currently have a lathe, so I do not turn.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I also forgot to ask if anyone has any suggestions on what to expect for bids. I don’t know yet if it’s going to be a silent auction format, or a live auction. I know you need more details on the finished pieces, which, of course, aren’t finished yet, before you can make a better suggestion.

With that in mind though, do you think that regular cutting boards done up nicely will raise more money than say, candleholders? The cutting boards will use up more BF of material, but I’m definitely willing to go that route if it’ll raise more money for the cause. The candleholders I’m referring to would probably hold somewhere in the 5-7 votive or tealight candle range, not single little holders.

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

I participate in a lot of charity fundraisers, it’s in my business plan.
Generally, I’ve been donating canes and hiking sticks.
The canes have been averaging about $250.

Donate what you know will sell and what your intended market will buy.

Good luck.

-- 温故知新

One of the problems is, I’m not sure who will be in attendance. I figured if I made smaller items, they would easily sell. And never having participated in a charity auction in this role before, nor having ever sold anything I’ve made before, I’m a rookie at this.

I’m just trying to figure out what would be most attractive to a wide range of people, and things that aren’t necessarily going to be going in the $100+ range.

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

Smaller items are definitely an easier sell and functional art seems to have been the most popular for the general population. Little shelves or paper towel holders are what I’ve made for functions like this. Once I made and sold 125 cow corner shelves – I’d send you a picture but I can’t find my album at present.

But if your wife would like us to send her some of our pink cowbear soaps, please let me and we could ship you some gratis for the cause…they’ve never not sold out.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

Jordan,

Thank you for the offer, I appreciate that! I’ll let you know about that. Do you have a picture of the soap? How big are they?

What about a basic little soap holder made of ipe or something similar? A local supplier has Ipe decking material right now at a decent price that is 1.5” thick X 3.5” wide at $5.95/BF. Maybe I could router out a channel and put a bevel on it or something basic like that?

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

Just check out my profile page and at the bottom there is a link to the soap web page. One terrible thing about soap is how mucky it gets on the side of the sink – a soap dish might be a super idea – and then you could have two items that are related.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

Jordan,

I just went to your homepage and followed the link to the bear soap. I admire your willingness to give of yourselves for the cause in this way.

Those little soaps would fit perfectly into a piece of that ipe I mentioned above.

I’m not sure how much shipping would be to Colorado? Let me know and I can send you some money. I’d also love to include your story about the soap, if that’s OK with you and your wife?

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

Oaky, I’ll write you.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

Jonathan,

I hope your wife reaches her donations goal. It is a worthy cause.

I’m probably going to be severely criticized by the community for saying this but, here goes. I’m confused by the statement that, “In order to be an entrant, she has to raise several thousand dollars through donations”. My wife and I participated in the Koman Race for the Cure here in Orange County several years ago and I don’t recall that high of a cost to be an entrant. I checked on the Koman Race for the Cure website for San Diego and found that a non-military adult can enter the race/walk for a little as $30 and, $250 for a VIP entrant. Their suggested donation goal is only $125.

Again, it is a good cause and I hope your wife can raise several thousands of dollars to donate to it. I just don’t understand what has happened to the entry cost or what has changed about the entry cost that I can’t see.

Anyway, best of luck to you and your wife.

-- Best regards, Jack -- I may not be good, but I'm slow -- www.BarnhillWoodworks.com

Jack,

I have included a direct link to the 3-Day walk registration form. You’ll notice that it says there is a $2300-minimum to register and participate (near the bottom).

This is different than the regular 1-day walk that a lot more people participate in.

http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FAQ_2010#f1

If you go almost all the way down on the FAQ under the “Teams” section, #4 talks about the minimum monetary requirement of $2300/walker.

Both she and I have done the regular Race for the Cure, which is the 1-day event, multiple times. And if she has to work that day, or we have something else going on during that timeframe, she always does the Sleep in for the Cure. That’s where you still donate and get a t-shirt, but you don’t actually enter the race.

Hope that helps clear things up.

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

Thank you Jonathan. That does clears things up. I was not aware of the 3-day event and it was not apparent to me when I first went to the website. When I saw your post, I was concerned that such a high donation requirement would really limit the number of participants in the Race for a Cure event.

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places. My wife and SIL ran a 10K there, again years ago, but, I don’t remember if it was part of the Race for a Cure or another event.

Again, thanks for clearing it up and good luck on your fund-raising. It is a very worthy cause.

-- Best regards, Jack -- I may not be good, but I'm slow -- www.BarnhillWoodworks.com

How about some simply shaped pendants that can be strung on leather cord? Or, something small like a key chain fob that can be carried around and admired? Oval and Rectangular shaped with soft edges. You could use found woods from fallen branches that have unusual grain. If interested, I can send you a box of scrap woods that may work for you.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe