The more I read, they more I know that I have so much to learn from Carol. The systems that she and Lao health workers have set up in the first province is being replicated in a second province.

Here’s a little from this article about her work:

If you want to stop babies becoming sick and dying in remote villages in poverty-stricken Laos, you put your faith in science and pragmatism, not superstition. You set up a primary health-care program. You teach the village midwives to do away with traditional birthing methods: no more cutting the umbilical cord with the first sharp implement to hand…

I wanted to share with other small organizations lessons learned from CleanBirth.org’s first live fundraiser.  We raised $4400 and spent $500.  In the end we have $3,900 to make birth safer for moms and babies!

Nutshell.  It was hard, stressful work that more than anything required organization and the support of a core group of volunteers.  We would never have raised so much if we had to pay for the space. The silent auction raised 2/3 of the funds.

Here’s the details:

Place.  We were lucky enough to get a space that was beautiful, free and could accommodate 100+.  I had a friend who arranged this.  Critical.   Arrange it early.

Press. Our local newspaper, The New Haven Register, gave great press surrounding the event.  Not sure how many attendees we got from the press but we received $700 or so in donations and Mother’s Day card orders.

Publicity.   I talked about the event non-stop and printed Vistaprint postcards 2 months in advance and handed them out.  I gave 3 local talks the month before and pitched the event. I asked them local moms on the playground personally to be there.  Facebook was probably less of a help getting people to the event but it was a great way to generate interest and legitimize the organization.

Music.  We decided to have pre-recorded music, though next year having live music may be a way to get more attendees.

Silent Auction.  We had a very successful silent auction with 50 items like gift cards from local businesses and, most popularly, local artists.  For next year we will work to get even more artists.   The auction is a lot of work: asking for donation, collecting them, making bid sheets with descriptions of each item, displaying the items at the event, and finally closing out the sales.  It is well worth it: ours brought in upwards of $3,000!

Volunteers  I planned the event and gave specific jobs to helpers.  I met with 2 people to review the plans in advance.  The day before, I had 2 people help set up space.  The day of, I had 3 people helping most of the day.  I then had 2 friends at the registration table, 1 the info table, 1 at the food area, 1 the auction area, and 1 to make announcements/intro me.  This system meant that I was in control because people had specific tasks.  Next year maybe a committee and delegate more?  The night of the event I was kind of useless and mingling so it was great that the event jobs, besides presenting, were not mine.

Menu.  We planned for 100 and had 65.  We had ½ food left.  We went with water and wine: 2 cases red and 2 white. We had 1000 pieces of food or 10 per person for a 3 hour event.  There were 5 main items:

1. Crackers and two cheese and grape; Crudite (peppers, carrots, cukes, celery, tomatoes), chips, Pretzels and salsa + 3 dips

2. 250 sandwiches

3. 150 mini quiches

4. 250 meatballs

5. 200 desserts.

Too much food and next year we will do less.

Presentation.  I planned to give a short talk and show a 2.5 minute video that shows life in Laos.  This was the one glitch.  The audio didn’t work, so I had to narrate on the fly.  Having given 3 talks in a month, and practiced a lot for those, it was fine.  But that is another area to check.

Planning a non-profit fundraiser?  I am happy to answer questions. Email me: kzalota@yahoo.com

What a night at the CleanBirth.org Barn Party Fundraiser. We exceeded our goal and raised $4,400!

The list of thank yous is long:  Susan Clinard for initiating the event and believing in the cause.  Bill Brown and Sally Hill, along with the staff of the Eli Whitney Museum, for donating the beautiful barn space.  It was gorgeous!

The Silent Auction was a huge success thanks to donations by:

Art: Susan Clinard, Dave Coon, Karissa Van Tassel, Kiara Matos, Judy Rosenthal, Laura Nevard, Flavia Abley, Sandy Rhodes, Charles Jones, Linda Durie, CT Piecemakers
Health & Beauty: Dr. Ginger Nash ND, The Fitness Haven, Edigio’s
Baby: Julie Robins LMT, Amy Romano, Full of Joy Yoga
Business: The Grove
Eats: Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Ashley’s, Moe’s Dinner, Sitar, Zoi’s
Creative Supplies: Hull’s, Knit

Thanks to volunteers Jenny Fouracre, Anna Festa, Dave Coon, Ari Thibodeau, Robin Ladoceur, Holly Jermyn, Aly Heimer, and Max Zalota.

Last night my village of New Haven got the backs of villages in Laos.  So humbled and grateful for the generosity.

I was SO impressed that so many people (150+) turned out to hear about 10 new topics related by 10 New Haveners in this cool, visual format.

Would I do it again?  Sure.  Just not anytime soon.  But I was thrilled to get the chance to spread the word about CleanBirth.org to curious New Haven movers and shakers.  Seriously how cool is this city that people want to do and learn new stuff.  Anyways, here is it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeDY8CVwGOg&feature=youtu.be

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44662&Cr=maternal&Cr1=#.UWyQcxlAups

Representatives from 50 countries are participating to address the three major causes of newborn mortality: prematurity, birth asphyxia and infection. These three causes can be prevented with simple interventions such as low cost medicines, equipment, and health strategies.

It is hoped that as a result of the conference there will be stronger push to implementing interventions in countries that need it the most, in the run0-up to 2015.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/shortcuts/2013/apr/07/geolocation-technology-save-lives-developing-world.

The data show the effects of distance from a clinic on mortality. Using the technology, organizations were able to know where clinics were present and where they were not. This technology can be used to build clinics in places that were overlooked.

Can GPS be utilized in other developing countries like Laos?

The nurses have requested digital cameras to use when registering mothers, tracking the kit use and for capturing Safe Birth Outreach sessions.  This will enable us to better document the work being done.

Do you have an digital camera that you aren’t using?

If yes, email kzalota@cleanbirth.org.

Special thanks to World Moms Blog and my friends and family who have given and given again.  I couldn’t have done it without you!