Corporate fundraising
There are several ways for your organisation to support the DSA! If you are an organisation who wants to know how you can help the DSA, or an individual keen to encourage your company to support our work, then read on.
Here are a few ways in which companies have supported the DSA and we always encourage new ideas!
Cash Donations
The most obvious way for companies to support our work is through a one-off cash donation. If you work for a company with a Charitable Committee, which makes cash donations to charity, why not help us by suggesting the DSA as a potential beneficiary and helping us to put together an application for funding? Alternatively, if you are on your company’s Charitable Committee and want to find out more about our work, we would love to hear from you.
A special thanks to those who have generously supported the DSA!
Credit Suisse and Damon Hill raised vital funds for the DSA! In November 2006 Credit Suisse Disability Interest Forum heard an inspiring talk from Damon Hill on his “Disability need not be a barrier.” As well as raising awareness of the DSA among the 300 strong audience Damon and Credit Suisse raised more than £10,000 for the DSA!
In memory of his daughter Lauren, Mark Staley with four of his colleagues from Barclays Bank at Gadbrook Park did a tandem skydive raising a more than £2,000. Barclays bank matched their contribution pound for pound equalling a grand total of £4,117.
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As part of Medicash's 135th anniversary celebrations, the DSA received one of three £10,000 awards made to national charities after being nominated by a sales manager for Medicash. The award was given by received on behalf of the DSA by Patron and supporter Peter Davidson at the gala evening in Liverpool.
Welcome to our newest corporate supporter BusyBods Greetings Cards visit their wonderful site, use their useful diary to remind you to send a card to that important person and support the DSA at the same time! For every card that is sold the BusyBods team will be donating 10% to the DSA - remember to choose the DSA at the check out! www.busybodsgreetingcards.co.uk
Butter Thieves
A big DSA welcome to Butter Thieves -- an online shop selling fair trade, organic and ethical childrens clothing. The site went live in November 2007 and founder, Helen Aristotelous, explains her reasons for supporting the DSA…”If you visit the site you will see that a couple of my models have Down’s syndrome. I was asked to tell you why I chose to be a supporter of the Down’s Syndrome Association - the answer is on the web site - my beautiful models, both of whome I love very much”. Check out Butter Thieves website (www.butterthieves.co.uk) and the models today!
Please extend a warm welcome to Caroline Edwards, mother of 8 year old Olivia who has Down’s syndrome and two others, has set up a business to help young children develop a love of books and also to help them learn key words. Appropriately called “love2read”, the business enables its customers to upload digital photos into specially designed book templates and add a personalised caption, and the resulting book is professionally printed and delivered within a few days. For every book ordered from its website love2read will donate £2 to the DSA. When you reach the checkout page simply enter DSADONATION in the coupon code box and your donation will be registered. Just click here, to create your own love2read book today!
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GlaxoSmithKline have pledged to support the DSA with just over £100,000 over a three-year period starting in 2007 to support our Shifting Perspective Photography Exhibition. As a result of their generosity, the exhibition will travel throughout the UK. Thank you!
Charity of the Year
The DSA is proud to announce that we are the Charity of the Year for Marketforce for 2008! Parent member Ian Brownhill who nominated the DSA explains
“The help and support from the DSA has been fantastic since Edie was born, and when the opportunity arose to nominate a charity for Marketforce to support during 2008 I jumped at the chance. I’m thrilled that the DSA has been selected and hope we have our best ever year supporting a cause which couldn’t be closer to my heart“. A huge thank you, Ian!
Marketforce is one of the nations, largest magazine distributors and its staff will engage in a wide variety of fundraising actvities throughtout 2008 including races, raffles and even an ice-cream eating competition!
"Marketforce very proudly support a different charity each year and the chosen one often has a link to one our staff, such as Ian. This and our commitment to giving back where we can means that everyone gets involved and contributes to the fund-raising. The DSA was an obvious choice for us with everyone on the committee feeling strongly that the work done is incredibly valuable and a perfect option for our charity of 2008." Christina Lucas, Marketing Services Director/Board sponsor for Marketforce Charity Committee
The DSA is also delighted to be the charity of the year for Marks and Spencer’s Chester location starting in April 2008 through 2009. The DSA was nominated by Kate, Store Services Manger, who is also the Auntie of Grace, baby Janet from Eastenders. A massive thank you to Kate! The decision to support the DSA was made through an employee vote.
The M&S Charity Committee team of eight will work passionately with the DSA to encourage and organise many events with the 450 staff at Chester M&S in order to reach a target of £20,000 by the end of March 2009. The total target has been broken down to give each department in the store, including Management, a target to achieve.
No Girly night out, Birthday Bash or BBQ will go without a raffle. The Wirral Walk will be a big event – as will local half-marathons. M&S’ own sales, auctions and fashion shows will also be happening. M&S Chester’s new manager Neil Parnell is looking forward to being very involved in the fundraising to reach, and possibly even beat the £20,000 target.
Nominate the DSA for your Company’s Charity of the Year
Does your organisation operate a Charity of the Year Scheme – where the company and the charity work together for mutual benefit? If so, why not nominate the Down’s Syndrome Association.
Together with the full support of our eight strong national fundraising team and more than 106 regional networks, your organisation can join and participate in a wide range of events including skydiving, white water rafting and a host of international challenge events. As always, organisations are encouraged to come up with their own unique events and activities to support the DSA!
In addition to supporting a wonderful cause that is sure to increase your company’s moral and spirit, choosing the DSA as your charity of the year brings added value and benefits including:
Mass publicity through our campaigns manager and press officer support to ensure maximum exposure in our publications, website and via media outlets and national press
Volunteer opportunities for staff at local affiliated groups and regional offices
We also have supportive celebrity patrols such as Liam Neeson, Sir Treevor Macdonald OBE, Premier League and International Football player Kevin Kilbane, Peter Davidson and F1 Racing Champion Damon Hill.
The Down’s Syndrome Association has been the recipient of charity of the year scheme with Retail Companies Dixons and Makro who have positively impacted our efforts of helping people with Down's syndrome to live full and rewarding lives. Thank you!
For more information, please contact Patricia James at or via email at .
Christmas Cards
A big thank you to all of your corporate supporters, who supported the DSA through the Christmas season through purchasing their corporate Christmas cards through the DSA, donating the Christmas card budget or just raised a Christmas donation through cheerful activities in their office! This year we raised a whopping £2,364.69!
We will be offering similar opportunities to support the DSA in 2008, so stay tune to our website and our Big Fundraising Gazette for up-to-the minute information.
Support in kind
Does your company have any equipment or products, which it no longer requires? If so, why not give us a call to see if we can make good use of them?
The DSA has graciously been the recipient of support in kind and is still effectively using the equipment and products that have been donated.
In January 2008, the DSA received a digital camera from Olympus. Thank you Olympus!
A DVD player
Disposable cameras
Digital Cameras (2)
Computers (5)
First aid boxes (2)
TV
Coffee
Christmas tree lights
Projector screen
Thank you to everyone for their support in kind!
Donate money to the DSA straight from your pay - we even get your tax!
Recycle your old mobile phones!
Click here to read about what Trek Cycles did for us in 2006.
We would be delighted to discuss any ideas your company may have, please call Patricia James or via email at .