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The Special Role of Special Events
A message from Jim Tidgewell, President, QVHF Board of Trustees
As this newsletter goes to press, dozens of hard-working volunteers are getting ready for “Day for the Queen,” now in its 23rd very successful year. Back when “Day for the Queen” started, special events were the main focus of fundraising for the hospital. But what role do special events play in the Foundation’s strategy today?
Although “Day,” the Designers Show House, and other events consistently make money for the Foundation’s projects, it’s obvious they can no longer be our main source of revenue. At a time when the cost of crucial medical technologies such as CT scanners and cancer-treatment equipment is in the six- and seven-figure range, there aren’t enough weekends on the calendar for all the events we’d need to hold in order to meaningfully help the Queen — to say nothing of what we’d put our volunteers through!
But that doesn’t mean special events are no longer needed. Because in addition to raising money, special events serve a number of other very important functions:
Events Enhance Community Awareness
“Day for the Queen,” “Reach for the Stars,” and other events are a great way of reminding the people who live and work here about all the services Queen of the Valley provides and about what the hospital needs to continue to offer outstanding care.
They’re An Opportunity for Giving
Many people who can’t afford large donations to the Foundation, or aren’t ready to make that kind of commitment, are willing and able to make substantial donations of their time and talents. Events give the Foundation a way to involve those for whom it’s easier to give hours than dollars.
Events Build Relationships
People rarely make substantial donations to any cause unless they are already involved in some other way. Special events provide a variety of ways for people to get involved with the Foundation and get to know others who are committed to supporting the hospital and the community’s health.
In fact, many of the hardest-working trustees on our board first got to know the Foundation by coming to events, then volunteering to help out. The more opportunities we give people to participate in what we’re doing, the more seeds we plant for goodwill and support in the future.
