Charleston Jaycees
Charleston, Illinois (pop. 21,000)
Krista Taylor and the Charleston (Illinois) Jaycees purchased a 2005 Harley Davidson Fat Boy, and raffled it off this summer to raise money for a Bullard Thermal Imager. The group sold 300 tickets, most at the price of $100 each, for a chance to win the Harley. The Jaycees raised a total of $26,000 through this activity, netting about $10,000 after the purchase of the motorcycle.
A Poker Run took 60 bikers on a ride through about 100 miles of roads in southeastern Illinois. This activity brought in $300 after the pot was split between riders with the best and worst hands. The local CBS affiliate, WCIA, covered the event.
Krista Taylor: “The Poker Run was designed to draw attention and bring an element of fun to the fundraiser. We also hired a band to play in an outdoor beer garden at a local bar, and that’s where we did the drawing at the end of the day. With the luck of the draw, a Charleston firefighter won the bike.”
Funding Advice: Krista Taylor and the Charleston Jaycees raised the money for a thermal imager with one well-managed, successfully promoted event. Though the Poker Run wasn’t a significant money-maker, it was an excellent way to draw media attention and make the day fun for everyone involved.
