Raising money, one Sharpie doodle at a time
What do you get when you put together more than 30 shirtless PLU students and a bunch of permanent markers?
But don’t worry. They don’t mind. Actually it was what they had in mind when the Progress club started the Sign-Me Drive last year.
“It’s visual, engaging and gets people to give money,” said Harold Leraas, Progress club president.
The event works like this – for one day (this year is was right before Spring Break) shirtless students stand in places like Red Square and for a donation of at least $1 anyone donating could write their name or draw a picture on the students with a permanent marker (Leraas said some people donated more to write on students faces).
“I still have a few (marks) on my arms and body,” Leraas said a few days after the event.
But the marks are well worth the pay off, he said.
At the first Sign-me Drive more than $1,500 was raised for the Free Care Fund and an additional $2,000 was raised through other efforts.
It was also the first year of the Progress club. The mission of the club is to raise awareness about child healthcare and what’s going on with healthcare in the United States. Partnering with the Tacoma based Mary Bridge was the perfect fit for their fundraising efforts.
“We thought it’d be good to work with someplace that was close to PLU,” Leraas said.
The Free Care Fund ensures children without coverage are taken care of. It’s important that no child is turned away from quality care, Leraas said.
“I definitely don’t mind getting drawn or written on when I know that the money is going to somewhere worthwhile,” said Marta Behling, Progress club treasurer.
The event has been successful on multiple fronts, raising money for child healthcare and bringing awareness to the issues of today’s U.S. health system. Plus it is pretty fun to be drawn on, Leraas said, and a lot of people apparently like drawing on people.
“It’s totally cool to see people who aren’t even part of the club get excited about it,” he said.
Posted: March 30, 2009 .
