It’s almost that time of year again. Time for leaves changing, cool breezes, pumpkin everything and you guessed it… DSF Gala and Benefit Evenings. STOP! Don’t tune out yet thinking that this blog post isn’t for you! If you have a desire to help raise funds for research and want to be a part of something that can change your loved ones future but don’t know how, this post is for you!
Last year our gala and benefit evenings brought in over $1.3 million! This made a HUGE difference in the amount of grants and research that DSF could fund for our loved ones. But so many people hear the word “gala” and are scared off. If you’re like me, you may not be super wealthy and may not be able to afford to host or attend a gala so you check out. But let me tell you, there are so many other ways that you can assist in these events!
Donate an auction item. Almost all of our larger events have silent auctions or raffles. Whether it’s a bottle of bourbon or a hand-crafted quilt, our guests love having something to bid on. Brenda Ferrell, mom to 31 year old Dravet warrior Brian, has crafted 3 different quilts to be auctioned off at different events this year including an Atlanta Braves quilt and a Georgia Bulldogs quilt. Brenda says, “I’m happy to do it because this is one way I can contribute. I’m a quilter and mom to a 31-year old Dravet warrior. I like to use my God-given talents to help others and have made many charity children’s quilts. I wanted to help the Atlanta DSF gala with the auction and decided to make an Atlanta Braves quilt for that event. The quilt turned out so well that I decided to also make a Georgia Bulldogs quilt. I know someone will be super excited about bidding on these items.” Brenda understands the importance of hand-crafted items and has used her natural talents to support DSF in this way. If you crochet, paint, or craft anything, you can help too! If you don’t but can donate a gift card or experience (tickets to a game or a family outing) that is just as helpful.
Help Find sponsors. Even if you are not extremely wealthy, that does not mean that you cannot help in a significant way. So many times, all that you have to do is ask. Never underestimate the power of an ask. My husband and I are not super wealthy but we decided to jump head first into this year’s Atlanta benefit evening and have been so shocked by the outpouring of support from our friends and family. My husband’s employer has agreed to be a significant supporter and even our daughter’s pediatrician is sponsoring our event. All that I had to do was ask.
Share with your friends, family and on social media. Even if you are unable to attend the event, so many times friends and family are willing to donate because they know that all of the funds raised at these events are going toward research that will impact your loved one. Kira Chieco says, “While we regretfully cannot attend “A Night Under the Stars“, Mike and I passionately believe in this cause. We are raising money to support our brave, beautiful daughter, and all children and families affected by this disease. We have also been able to share Mila’s story for the very first time since she was diagnosed, and that has been a hard but important thing for us to do as a family. Accepting our new reality and stepping into this new chapter has been surreal, but we have also been so touched by the generosity and kindness of friends and family.”
We have 5 events coming up this fall (listed below) and you can be a part of them even if you are not near any of them! Just consider helping by using one of the suggestions above and contacting meredith@dravetfoundation.org for more information. You CAN be a part of something big. You can help us raise funds for research and make a difference for our loved ones. The only question is are you willing to?
- August 24th: Double Down for Dravet in Frisco, Texas
- September 7th: Betting on a Cure Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia
- September 14th: A Night Under the Stars in Walnut Creek, California
- October 25th: Dance for Dravet in St. Louis, Missouri
- November 9th: A Night of Bets for Bentley in Crossville, Tennessee
