Team,
you need to write letters to your family and friends in your own words about the trip. Here's a few example letters, I'll also be emailing them out to you to look at. Just be sure to talk about what we're going to be doing, which is giving help and love by building back homes. Ask for sponsorship for the trip and support all around with encouragement and prayer. Let people know that their donations can be a tax write off because Forward Edge is a non-profit organization. The letter show how to do that. Also, people can donate in whatever form of money they want to. The form I'll be attaching is for you individually to keep track of who donated to you. Also, to donate electronically (which is crazy easy) is at the forward edge international websit. On the front page on the right side there's a box that says "make a donation." Go there, and scroll down to the box that's for team fees. Click that and put the amount. Right below that is the team name and #. We're the Cameron Team, and we're #410. At the top you also contribution type and contribution method. After that it's all the donor's info and just follow the steps. Also, I'll put up a post soon on our Swamp Stomp party/fund raiser at Kells when it's sorted out! Good luck, and get ahold of me or Jerrad for anything!
Example Letters...
Please customize and change to your own personal words and settings!
Example letter from our organizer Jerrad Isch….
Current Date, 2007
Dear Friends & Family,
I am going to Moss Point, MS to volunteer my time to help repair & rebuild homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina and to restore hope to the people of the US Gulf Coast. Our trip is from July 21-28, 2007 and will be composed of people from all over the Portland/Seattle area.
Perhaps you would like to participate in this mission trip with me? I would appreciate your prayers and any financial help you can provide. The cost of my trip includes $425 for team fees and ($400-500?) for airfare to and from the destination. The team fees cover the cost of food, lodging, local transportation and building materials for the week of my trip.
If you would like to donate towards my mission trip, please make your check payable to Forward Edge International, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, but mail it to me at the address below by June 22nd. I will send all funds you donate to Forward Edge before my trip and you will then receive a receipt from them for your tax-deductible donation. (It greatly simplifies their paperwork load for me to mail all donations in together.) Please write “Team #410” on the check, but please do not put my name anywhere on the check. (Any excess donations beyond the cost of my trip will be used by Forward Edge for other worthy projects.)
Or you may contribute towards my trip online with your credit card or electronic check at www.forwardedge.org. Click on “Make a Donation.” Just remember to check the box for “Team Fees” at the bottom of the form and put my name and Team #410 in the box.
Thank you so much for participating in my life-changing mission trip!
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Your Email)
(Your Phone Number)
PS: We are having a FUNdraiser on June 1st at Kell’s Irish Pub in Downtown Portland.
Let me know if you want to receive Forward Edge’s bi-monthly newsletters, etc.
(You may also choose not to receive mailings from Forward Edge, but you will still receive your tax-deductible receipt at the address you submit on your check).
Example letter actually used by Beth Mahan on our last trip….
Dear ,
I am going to Moss Point, Mississippi to volunteer my time to help repair homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. A group of friends and I have organized our trip for our spring break, March 17-24. We are organizing it through our school, Seattle University, and Forward Edge International. I am very enthusiastic about this trip and the opportunity to help people who have been devastated by the hurricane. There are many communities that are still in disarray, and Forward Edge is committed to helping those who need it most. We will be working with the elderly and poverty stricken who have not received any insurance money and do not have the resources to fix their problems. There is extensive water damage from the flooding so we will be putting our efforts into tearing up floors and cleaning out debris. In addition to working on homes, we will be showing our support to those who have survived this traumatic experience. Many people have been separated from loved ones and neighbors, on top of losing all of their belongings. They need all of the help they can get and I believe that it is extremely important to be a part of this rebuilding.
I would love your prayers and any financial help you can provide. The total cost of my trip is $800, including $400 for team fees and $400 for airfare to and from Mississippi. I am working with an amazing group of students and we are planning fundraisers around the Seattle University campus, however we are all individually doing our part to raise the money. If you can donate towards my mission trip I really appreciate it. You can contribute towards my trip online at www.forwardedge.org/ . On the right-hand side click on the box that says 'make a donation' and then check the box for "Team Fees". In that box include my name and team number 371. Or you may contribute towards my trip by mailing a check to me at the address below. Please make your check out to Forward Edge International , a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. I will send it to Forward Edge before my trip and you will then receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation. (Please do not write my name anywhere on the check.) Any excess donations beyond the cost of my trip will be used by Forward Edge for other worthy projects.
We have our first deadline coming up on January 17th for part of the fee. If you are able to donate please do so today, because the sooner the better. I am grateful for any help you can give so that I can participate in this effort.
Thank you so much for your support! Sincerely,
Sunday, May 13, 2007
TAKE THE TRIP INTO YOUR OWN HANDS...GET STARTED!
Group,
for those who are truly wanting to come on this trip or still aren't sure, there's only one way to find out. Start the fund raising. I have a huge fund raiser coming up June 1st at Kells Irish Pub that's in the working process. Those details will be out as soon as I can get them. Until then, people need to start carrying their own weight. We can't wait around to see who's going or how much money this fund raiser can give each person, we need to group to start forming NOW! If you think about it, it's less than 3 months away. Forward Edge needs to prepare for us coming in advance, way in advance to also get plane tickets. Now plane tickets is something you can do invidually if you'd like, I know some of you have connections. However, if we get a group over 10 people they can probably get some sort of a better discount. If you haven't received an email from me with the mock letter to look at and the form for your family members to hand out, then please contact me by calling, email, or leave a message on here. Thanks. Now let's get started and also start recruiting! The money will come if we work at it and pray about it!
for those who are truly wanting to come on this trip or still aren't sure, there's only one way to find out. Start the fund raising. I have a huge fund raiser coming up June 1st at Kells Irish Pub that's in the working process. Those details will be out as soon as I can get them. Until then, people need to start carrying their own weight. We can't wait around to see who's going or how much money this fund raiser can give each person, we need to group to start forming NOW! If you think about it, it's less than 3 months away. Forward Edge needs to prepare for us coming in advance, way in advance to also get plane tickets. Now plane tickets is something you can do invidually if you'd like, I know some of you have connections. However, if we get a group over 10 people they can probably get some sort of a better discount. If you haven't received an email from me with the mock letter to look at and the form for your family members to hand out, then please contact me by calling, email, or leave a message on here. Thanks. Now let's get started and also start recruiting! The money will come if we work at it and pray about it!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Fund Raising?
We need to get some ideas accumulated asap, so we can try and get the most money donated as possible so more people can come! Ideas on Fund Raising or tips?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Q & A
If you have more questions, please feel free to call, email, or post a question on this blog and I'll be sure to answer as thorogh as possible!
--When is the trip?
We will be arriving in Gulf Port Mississippi on July 21 and leaving on July 28
--How much does it cost?
$400 for a group more than 20
$425 for a group less than 20
Plus a plane ticket -- We're trying to get people together as soon as possible to get a group discount flight through the organization!
(So let's bring as many as we can!)
--How can I donate money?
You can always write a check out to:
Forward Edge International
15121-A NE 72nd Avenue
Vancouver WA 98686 USA
and put the name or number of our group, which we will be getting here soon once things start getting cemented in!
This organization is non-profit so it's tax deductable!
--Where are we staying?
Moss Point Mississippi
--What will we be doing?
In general, depending on the state of the project at the time, we will be doing rebuilding. Last time we went we were doing drywall and painting.
--Do I need to have any sort of skills?
No, just bring yourself. The last trip we had like a 15 minute demo on dry wall, and then we were off. We actually did a very good job!
--Is this a religious organization?
Yes Forward Edge is a Christian Ministry. Don't think however that you have to be a Christian or religious in anyway to go on this trip. Many of the students from the last group weren't all Christians and still had the best time ever. We do however attend a church service on Sunday. It's an awesome Southern Baptist church and quite an experience!
--Who can go?
Anyone can go. I think however it would be easier to have people be over at least 16 so there doesn't need to be any supervision (we're all grown ups here anyways right?) But bring anyone that's interested at any age. I'm trying to get my mom and dad to come. The last group was mostly from Seattle University so they were mostly college age students.
--How will we raise the money?
Majority of people on the last trip wrote out letters/emails to friends and family asking them to sponser their trip. There will be an idea, a mock letter that I will be posting soon. Most people went over their amount with that support. We're also looking into getting support through ideas of fundraising. Kale and I have talked about a concert fund raiser. If you have any contacts with an organization that may sponser you, look into that because most church bodies or groups like that would be more than willing to support. My goal is to try and get at least everyone's $400 raised. Believe me, people are willing to go out of their way to give some money for you to go out and make a difference!
--Is Forward Edge International a non-profit organization?
YES! If people want to donate, they can use that as a tax write off as long as they send the money written to Forward Edge.
--How can people sponser?
I will be getting like I said a mock letter, or you can come up with your own (which is much more personable and meaningful) to send out to people and then there will be another form to mark on their with a check to Forward Edge. Even if you college checks from people, just make sure to collect and the checks are written out to Forward Edge and not you. ALSO, it's much easier for Forward Edge to keep track of these individual accounts for our group, if you collect the money and checks, and send them in altogether in stead of separately.
--Do we have to fly out of the same airport?
No, in fact I'm asking friends from a few different states to come, and you can fully book and plane you're own flight, as long as it gets you there and back on the dates needed.
--How long do we have to notify you or Forward Edge that we're on board for the trip?
ASAP! The sooner the better so we can get an idea of the amount here and get cheaper airfare. Jerrad and I predicted the beginning of June to be the time to know who's in and who's not.
--When does the money have to be in by?
Again, the sooner the better. This is also because then you know how much you have and perhaps how much more you need. But, once we start getting more cemented here with who's going, Jerrade will give me the dates of the exact time the money should be in by.
--Where does the money go?
The money pays for a variety of things. Food, gas, supplies, the building we stay in, the water bill, electricity bill.
--Where do we stay there?
A church. There are two churches in Moss Point Mississippi that combined to form one, and so the older one is used for these group trips now from Forward Edge. There's plenty of nice rooms with nice blow-up mattresses and showers with plenty of hot water. Actually we were told we have one of the nicest facilities down there to stay in.
--What's the food like?
Good old amazing southern food! Plus we'll get to go out to the Shed at least once!
--When is the trip?
We will be arriving in Gulf Port Mississippi on July 21 and leaving on July 28
--How much does it cost?
$400 for a group more than 20
$425 for a group less than 20
Plus a plane ticket -- We're trying to get people together as soon as possible to get a group discount flight through the organization!
(So let's bring as many as we can!)
--How can I donate money?
You can always write a check out to:
Forward Edge International
15121-A NE 72nd Avenue
Vancouver WA 98686 USA
and put the name or number of our group, which we will be getting here soon once things start getting cemented in!
This organization is non-profit so it's tax deductable!
--Where are we staying?
Moss Point Mississippi
--What will we be doing?
In general, depending on the state of the project at the time, we will be doing rebuilding. Last time we went we were doing drywall and painting.
--Do I need to have any sort of skills?
No, just bring yourself. The last trip we had like a 15 minute demo on dry wall, and then we were off. We actually did a very good job!
--Is this a religious organization?
Yes Forward Edge is a Christian Ministry. Don't think however that you have to be a Christian or religious in anyway to go on this trip. Many of the students from the last group weren't all Christians and still had the best time ever. We do however attend a church service on Sunday. It's an awesome Southern Baptist church and quite an experience!
--Who can go?
Anyone can go. I think however it would be easier to have people be over at least 16 so there doesn't need to be any supervision (we're all grown ups here anyways right?) But bring anyone that's interested at any age. I'm trying to get my mom and dad to come. The last group was mostly from Seattle University so they were mostly college age students.
--How will we raise the money?
Majority of people on the last trip wrote out letters/emails to friends and family asking them to sponser their trip. There will be an idea, a mock letter that I will be posting soon. Most people went over their amount with that support. We're also looking into getting support through ideas of fundraising. Kale and I have talked about a concert fund raiser. If you have any contacts with an organization that may sponser you, look into that because most church bodies or groups like that would be more than willing to support. My goal is to try and get at least everyone's $400 raised. Believe me, people are willing to go out of their way to give some money for you to go out and make a difference!
--Is Forward Edge International a non-profit organization?
YES! If people want to donate, they can use that as a tax write off as long as they send the money written to Forward Edge.
--How can people sponser?
I will be getting like I said a mock letter, or you can come up with your own (which is much more personable and meaningful) to send out to people and then there will be another form to mark on their with a check to Forward Edge. Even if you college checks from people, just make sure to collect and the checks are written out to Forward Edge and not you. ALSO, it's much easier for Forward Edge to keep track of these individual accounts for our group, if you collect the money and checks, and send them in altogether in stead of separately.
--Do we have to fly out of the same airport?
No, in fact I'm asking friends from a few different states to come, and you can fully book and plane you're own flight, as long as it gets you there and back on the dates needed.
--How long do we have to notify you or Forward Edge that we're on board for the trip?
ASAP! The sooner the better so we can get an idea of the amount here and get cheaper airfare. Jerrad and I predicted the beginning of June to be the time to know who's in and who's not.
--When does the money have to be in by?
Again, the sooner the better. This is also because then you know how much you have and perhaps how much more you need. But, once we start getting more cemented here with who's going, Jerrade will give me the dates of the exact time the money should be in by.
--Where does the money go?
The money pays for a variety of things. Food, gas, supplies, the building we stay in, the water bill, electricity bill.
--Where do we stay there?
A church. There are two churches in Moss Point Mississippi that combined to form one, and so the older one is used for these group trips now from Forward Edge. There's plenty of nice rooms with nice blow-up mattresses and showers with plenty of hot water. Actually we were told we have one of the nicest facilities down there to stay in.
--What's the food like?
Good old amazing southern food! Plus we'll get to go out to the Shed at least once!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
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