tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post1153309597242866635..comments2024-03-24T09:23:09.202-07:00Comments on Outrageous Fortune: Fundraising — blehShastahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-9433083257138979782012-05-30T13:30:00.106-07:002012-05-30T13:30:00.106-07:00Oh, hey, I just clicked over here and only just re...Oh, hey, I just clicked over here and only just realized this post is like 2 months old (and that's like a gajillion in blog years, right?). So, of course, you have this figured out already :)Jennifer Garrison Brownellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10170014214291920971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-32455146577009436122012-05-29T23:02:11.352-07:002012-05-29T23:02:11.352-07:00Yes, I agree about a separate account. In prep for...Yes, I agree about a separate account. In prep for the Kickstarter, I started a new account at my credit union but again, it's just up to people to believe and trust me. I asked them about special donation accounts but they said it's only for a short duration and it's just so that other people can deposit into it by using a name and not an account number. Since Kickstarter (via Amazon) already has a way to collect money I didn't think that was needed.<br /><br />And yeah. That anonymous comment was definitely a factor in why I dragged my feet on the fundraiser.Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-91914167579395594992012-05-29T22:21:23.367-07:002012-05-29T22:21:23.367-07:00Wow, that anonymous comment is nasty. Try again, ...Wow, that anonymous comment is nasty. Try again, anon, but with your name this time and in your nice voice, k? <br /><br />Maybe if you're worried about the money/integrity issue you could ask a third party to manage a special bank account for you? (Believe me when I tell you I am not the right person to do this, but you must have a number geek in your crowd...) I think the bank can help you with the logistics of setting up an account that other people can deposit directly into, but only one or two people an withdraw from? Anyway, I think keeping your fundraising $$ separate from your personal finances would feel better to you and also to any cautious potential donors.Jennifer Garrison Brownellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10170014214291920971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-74523230956794217252012-04-12T14:58:32.810-07:002012-04-12T14:58:32.810-07:00I just had to comment ANONYMOUSLY to the first com...I just had to comment ANONYMOUSLY to the first comment. <br />Are you a mother? A father? Do you have a child with special needs? How dare you use that tone to a mother who is just trying to do the best for her child as we all would. I would kill for my child to get the best care and would do anything possible to help my child and I know Shasta would too. And just for the record, I don't know Shasta or her sons but only know of her and I would be honored to help her along her fundraising journey.<br />If you want to take on something of this magnitude with your time, try to do some positive with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-26570586497744217512012-04-08T22:58:00.167-07:002012-04-08T22:58:00.167-07:00I completely understand why you would feel this.I&...I completely understand why you would feel this.I've been following your blog for a bit. My husband and I run marathons and we always raise money whenever we run. We are planning our marathon schedule for the next six months. We'd love to run for your son. Contact me if you're interested. www.themommypsychologist.comthe mommy psychologisthttp://www.themommypsychologist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-69535410217618109072012-04-06T18:15:25.193-07:002012-04-06T18:15:25.193-07:00Well hello! You must have been talking to the crit...Well hello! You must have been talking to the critical person in my head, or at least you are channeling her.<br /><br />I have made ALL these arguments to myself. <br /><br />What constitutes need? Who is deserving and what do they deserve? I don't have an answer to that.<br /><br />And already without even actually asking for donations I'm in the position of having to defend my budget from you, someone who won't even give their name and I probably don't even know. (I'm not going to right now, but I have to say your characterizations are uninformed and way out of proportion!)<br /><br />Maybe it's not worth it. Maybe we should all just stand on our own two feet and never ask for help. If this is the cards that life dealt us, and the money that we have to deal with it, then that's that.<br /><br />But then I think: Gosh, what a sad world would that be to live in?Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-3778770888922484392012-04-06T16:49:00.970-07:002012-04-06T16:49:00.970-07:00It's also possible that you feel uncomfortable...It's also possible that you feel uncomfortable fundraising because it is spectacularly inappropriate. Your son is not going to die without this treatment. You've managed to pay for the ABM treatment so far. You've managed to negotiate discounts from ABM treatment providers thus far. You haven't worked in 2 years, but have indicated your are amenable to returning to the workplace.<br /><br />Have you considered getting a part-time job? Has your husband considered picking up some overtime? Perhaps you could move to a cheaper house or apartment and use the savings to pay for ABM treatment? When your car dies, buy a cheap used car instead of a sparkly new one? Until you have exhausted the reasonable rationale options, it is incredibly tacky to have a fundraiser.<br /><br />And yes, if you do throw yourself a fundraiser, your friends/donors will totally be entitled to question why you shook them down for $$ you "desperately" needed for unapproved ABM therapy for your child... but somehow manage to come up with the cash for desperately needed "necessities" like a weekend at a fancy cabin or a trip to sunny Jamaica??<br /><br />PS The peer-reviewed standard is an EXCELLENT and very reasonable one. A standard in place for a really good reason!! No one's (to date) bothered to do the straightforward legwork to publish a peer-reviewed study?? Has it occurred to you to wonder why?? Especially since it'd presumably be in the interest of the ABM providers, as becoming eligible for reimbursement by insurance would presumably be good for their bottom line. Perhaps it is because the ABM technique won't pass muster?? Or is there another, better reason why a therapy protocol that has been around for 20+ years hasn't even tried??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-40613652769333318142012-04-05T22:07:10.321-07:002012-04-05T22:07:10.321-07:00Nice! That would be cool! Let's talk more on F...Nice! That would be cool! Let's talk more on Facebook about what you think you could do.Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-111412395823289112012-04-05T22:06:32.489-07:002012-04-05T22:06:32.489-07:00Yeah, I deleted mention from earlier versions of t...Yeah, I deleted mention from earlier versions of this post of a specific amount because I really don't know how much is needed and because there is a range. If I put out what I consider to be a "minimum" for the next year of his therapy, does that mean I will only get to offer my son the minimum? I don't want to "milk it," but I don't want to pass up opportunities either.<br /><br />I agree that it needs a measure of transparency. *I* know that I'm disciplined and honest enough to make sure every penny goes toward Malachi's medical expenses, but I need a way to make that clear to everyone else.Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-32352792884443059972012-04-05T21:48:30.234-07:002012-04-05T21:48:30.234-07:00I want to help who knows maybe I can go up th...I want to help who knows maybe I can go up there for the eventAZ Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04797298787967914735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-55735763467784008642012-04-05T21:47:06.769-07:002012-04-05T21:47:06.769-07:00You make some really good points about fundraising...You make some really good points about fundraising. It seems like people are so overwhelmed with all the charity requests nowadays, we don't answer our phones or read the "junk mail." But Malachi has a real need, and you need to publicize it. You say you need "thousands of dollars." How long will those dollars fit the need? Will this need be on-going? If it will be on-going, is it better to announce it now so that it doesn't look like you've "found a way to make a living" with future fundraising? Gee, maybe you don't know how long you're going to need to pursue this for Malachi? Dunno, but it seems like honesty about what you might need in future may be best declared asap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-65986786914817863062012-04-05T21:27:47.962-07:002012-04-05T21:27:47.962-07:00Thanks, Traci! Maybe you can even come down for ou...Thanks, Traci! Maybe you can even come down for our event so we can finally meet! I feel like I know you so well already!Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-9624115901488644642012-04-05T21:26:58.569-07:002012-04-05T21:26:58.569-07:00WOW! That's a great idea! Right now we were so...WOW! That's a great idea! Right now we were sort of angling toward "backyard BBQ" w/ raffle. But our local twins group has a ton of experience with yard-sale type stuff, maybe I should ask them for support! Thanks for the idea!Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-61086470361593054792012-04-05T21:25:02.567-07:002012-04-05T21:25:02.567-07:00I will take you up on that, Cherie!! That would be...I will take you up on that, Cherie!! That would be amazing!Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-1435206324171128332012-04-05T21:24:35.370-07:002012-04-05T21:24:35.370-07:00I know, right? I mean, I know why they do it. Obvi...I know, right? I mean, I know why they do it. Obviously you wouldn't want people wasting their insurance money on snake oil treatments, but I also wish things that were legitimate had a way to get fast-tracked. ABM not only costs less than conventional treatments now but it's so much more effective meaning it will cost so much less over Malachi's lifetime! I don't understand why even conventional medicine doesn't put all its firepower into the early years instead of later when the brain connections have already failed to be made.Shastahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013565031179610593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-51145298143987832282012-04-05T21:22:25.438-07:002012-04-05T21:22:25.438-07:00I went to David Douglas! That's the best schoo...I went to David Douglas! That's the best school ever. I'm so glad the kids picked your awesome boy. I'm sorry that you have to face this decision: receive financial help for boy and never have financial privacy again or get no help and your son suffers. That's horrid. I will wait with anticipation for what you decide to do and will help in every way I can!Tracihttp://www.tracihilton.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-19357668337647979962012-04-05T21:18:32.255-07:002012-04-05T21:18:32.255-07:00I organized a fundraiser for a family with two spe...I organized a fundraiser for a family with two special needs kids and raised $7000 in just under 4 hours. We had a yard sale/bake sale. We did it in the spring when everyone was full swing into spring cleaning and more than happy to bring all of their "salvation army" bags to my house. We posted some well designed fliers all over town and got a free public service announcement on the radio. We had donations come in from all over town once people found out what was going on and the yard sale was a huge success. We got permission to use a parking lot on a busy corner and had volunteers to help price and sell. We also made sure that every single person who happened by knew that it was a fundraiser and many kind people paid more than the asking price on things. Hope everything goes well!Meggan Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05435752639112939535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-3675555046514596552012-04-05T20:14:23.129-07:002012-04-05T20:14:23.129-07:00I will help! I'm good with most things online ...I will help! I'm good with most things online related and I do love to plan a good party. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27546414.post-52900705756131106012012-04-05T19:26:15.854-07:002012-04-05T19:26:15.854-07:00GAWD. Do not feel bad doing what you have to do fo...GAWD. Do not feel bad doing what you have to do for your child. We don't fund raise--my husband is adamantly against it--but we receive "help" from many family members. <br /><br />I, too, am frustrated that the things that help the most aren't covered by insurance. The things I do for Charlie are actually FAR CHEAPER than traditional therapy--if they would just let parents pick one or the other--they could save money and make their customers happy.Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02189007616883663434noreply@blogger.com