Father’s Day is an ideal time to consider new COTA fundraising opportunities to honor and celebrate those special men in our lives. Your COTA community campaign can help honor Dad while raising funds for transplant-related expenses. Consider these activities:
Donuts for Dad. Consider hosting a Krispy Kreme fundraiser for Father’s Day. Take orders in advance so supporters can surprise the dad in their family with a sweet treat that Sunday. With Digital Dozens you can pre-sell and collect the money from your supporters via a COTA Event Thermometer, then submit your order online for what you have pre-sold. It is tasty and easy!
Daddy Daughter Dance. Provide the perfect opportunity for a Daddy Daughter Date with a summer dance. Secure a local event hall at a discounted price (receipting with a COTA Gift in Kind Form); book a DJ to play fun tunes; and recruit volunteers to make snacks or ask a local restaurant to cater. Be sure to remember the decorations!
Team Sporting Tournaments. Golf, softball, bowling, darts, cards, basketball 3-on-3, corn hole tournaments … choose a sport and fill your roster with what is popular in your community. Consider asking the sponsor of an existing tournament in your community to donate a portion of the proceeds from their event to COTA. Remember, COTA Bowling for Life and COTA Golf for Life can be excellent fundraisers this time of year.
Fishing Tournament. Invite people of all ages to enjoy a day on the water by hosting a fishing tournament. Make sure you have a fisherman or two on the event planning committee to ensure your ideas are in line with safety rules and sport protocols. Consider asking COTA volunteers to craft unique fishing lures for additional contributions.
Men’s Meals. Plan dinners or breakfasts with menu items such as hot wings, barbeque, or mile-high stacks of pancakes. If you want to provide a variety, consider checking with local food trucks to see if they would set up at your fundraising event and donate a portion of the proceeds to the COTA community campaign. Include local entertainment or ask your COTA Dad to share his family’s transplant story. Fathers will appreciate a special afternoon while supporting an important cause.
Bike or Motorcycle Ride. Host a rally or poker run for riders. Plan stops at locations in a wide circuit and allow for plenty of open road between stops. This is not a race but a group ride from location to location. This can be a great opportunity to eat, drink and socialize with others while raising money to assist with transplant-related expenses.
DIY Dads. Invite the community’s handymen to a how-to workshop … repurpose furniture, gardening ideas or woodworking tips — you name it! Or it could be an opportunity for dads to teach their children a new skill. Take registrations in advance to ensure you have enough supplies.
Gifts to COTA. Encourage your family members and friends to honor their fathers with a contribution to COTA in honor of your transplant patient. Gifts can be made online or by sending a check made payable to COTA (2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403) with your COTA campaign name in the memo line.
Be creative and send your best ideas and photos to CampaignInfo@cota.org to help us celebrate Dads this year!
