Philanthropy at Anni
This article was originally published in the April 2010. It was written by Kariada Kunai.
No one would argue that this year’s Anniversary Event was a huge success. Friends and family from all over the world gathered in the middle of America’s Heartland to celebrate 9 years of fraternity and community. All it takes is a quick perusal of the Anni forum to see how much partygoers enjoyed their time together. What might not be as apparent at first glance, however, is the high level of participation in charitable activities throughout the weekend.
Our events always serve as fundraisers for the site, and this year was no exception. In fact, this past event brought in more donations than at any other single event! In addition, this was the first year we participated in a drive specifically to benefit an outside organization.
Between our raffle, da’covale auction, and other donations, we raised over $2,300 for our site. This is a truly exceptional amount we raised! This money will go towards our annual operating costs, member assistance programs, scholarship, future event deposits, and other costs that come up throughout the year for a site of our size.
This year, we also held a book drive, encouraging members to bring along a book (or two) to donate to a local charity. The charity for this event was Easter Seals, the organization that runs the camp at which our event took place. Easter Seals is a disability services organization. Their mission is “to increase independence, maximize opportunities, minimize barriers, and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.” You can learn more about the organization and their programs at their website: www.eastersealswisconsin.com.
In total, our members donated over 80 books. This was an extremely good turnout for an event attended by only 73 people! In addition to the books, we collected lightly used linens from the weekend. We were able to leave them with two large boxes full of sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels. We also left them with all of our excess food from the event and a box of craft supplies that were left over from some of our activities. Needless to say, they were incredibly grateful for all we were able to contribute to their cause.
I would like to personally thank everyone who participated in our fundraisers and drives for this year’s Anniversary Event. I am thrilled with the response we received from our members, and am excited to see how much we can collect next year. We had a chance to leave a mark on the place we visited and leave it just a little better off – and we exceeded even my expectations. What a great way to embrace the spirit of philanthropy!
