Hardship Fundraiser Ideas

Finding and developing innovative fundraiser ideas is not an easy task.  Many people are the victims of hardships these days from financial issues to loss of loved ones.  Expenses can add up quickly when a loss of income is experienced and at times, it may seem that there is no solution.  Previously, people would rely on family and social services to raise money and much needed funds but now MicroGiving gives an additional opportunity to help those in need.

Fundraiser Ideas for Hardship Needs

There are many fundraiser ideas that can help people in this type of situation by raising a substantial amount of money.  People seeking ideas may consider holding a charity event such as a carnival, marathon or a raffle.  A raffle can easily raise a great deal of money – even thousands of dollars – just by getting people together to give donations in exchange for prizes.  The prizes may be donated by businesses, community groups or volunteers.  The bigger the prize, the more money one can charge for a ticket.  Some popular items chosen for a raffle may include baked goods, artwork, vehicles, experience days, celebrity autographs or handmade items such as crafts, including jewelry, pottery, quilts and Afghan rugs.  Of course, the better the item, the more money will be brought in.  Advertising the event or raffle on MicroGiving will help to pass the word around.

The Purpose of Fundraising

When considering why some organizations or charities resort to fundraising efforts, one might ask why so many agencies rely on fundraisers to support their work and/or causes.  Many may assume that there are private and public organizations that support non-profits or special causes.  While that may be true, the economy has caused a deficit in some of the programs that previously supported many non-profit organizations.  Therefore, the funds are not available for certain organizations to continue planned activities, or in some cases, continue to operate because operational costs are too high.

While most projects are targeted toward a specific project such as raising funds for new school uniforms, bleachers for the high school football stadium or for a specific event such as a building fund for a new church or community center, there are some that focus more on operational costs.

Extra Expenses Involved in Fundraising

Most brick and mortar organizations have to pay overheads just like any other business.  There is typically rent or a mortgage to be paid, utility bills including gas, electric, water and phone.  There must be funds for office supplies and, of course, if there are any employees for the organization, they too must be paid.  Fundraising campaigns can serve all types of purposes depending on the group or individual, and those additional expenses should not be overlooked when creating a fundraising plan.

MicroGiving Shows People How to Raise Money

The basic concepts behind learning how to raise money are relatively simple.  First, one must have a purpose for raising the money.  It could be for a personal project such as recording a CD, filming a movie or writing a book; it could be for a school project or event such as a field trip; it may be to support people that have suffered from hardship, medical issues or natural disasters; or it could be for anything related to the community or a charitable organization including a church or non-profit agency.

Deciding on the cause is the first step.  The second step is to determine the type of fundraiser that would be the most successful and do the most to support your individual or group cause.

How to Raise Money With MicroGiving

The most important step in creating a fundraiser is to promote it so that people will be aware that you need funding support.  One could have the best fundraiser in the world but it would not do any good if no one knows about it.  MicroGiving can help by showing each participant how to raise money through creating a fundraising page and then promoting it through the website, email or through social media.  Supporters can donate online, which saves even more time and effort for the organizers.  The website also makes it easy for others to spread the word.

Creating Fundraising Networks

It is relatively easy to create a fundraising network via MicroGiving.  In fact, MicroGiving was designed specifically to help people create an interpersonal system of raising money through a person-to-person or donor to recipient connection.  Since 2007, MicroGiving has helped numerous people, communities and charitable organizations raise funds necessary for a wide variety of projects.

Fundraising Through Interpersonal Contacts

Once a person or group has developed a fundraising campaign, MicroGiving makes it easy to blast the information to personal and professional contacts via email and social networking sites.  From those locations, the person or group raising the funds can ask to have the information forwarded to people that may be willing and able to help.

In addition to receiving donations, fundraisers should also consider the option of applying for micro loans or micro credit.  There are many different opportunities for receiving these loans from various sources.  The details on obtaining micro loans and/or micro credit will depend solely upon the nature of the project as well as the requirements of the lender/grantor.

When creating a fundraiser, one should remember to state clearly the project needs and the amount funded so that there is the best possible chance of raising necessary funds.  When a project is funded, a group or individual may also consider “paying it forward” by donating to another cause that is advertised on the site.

Ways to Raise Money for Charity: Auction Your Possessions

There are many ways to raise money for the charity of your choice, but one method that is becoming increasingly popular is to auction off personal belongings.

When selling valuables to make cash it is paramount that you take the time to think carefully about what you’re selling. While you will ultimately be donating to a good cause, don’t just rush in and auction everything off in one go, because six months down the line you or your donors may be disheartened that something precious or with sentimental was sold. Donors should carefully consider which possessions they want to sell on before committing to placing them into an auction because, once they’re gone, you can’t get them back.

Auction Your Possessions – One of Many Ways to Raise Money for your Charity

Once you and the rest of your fundraisers have decided what to sell, it’s simply a matter of locating a website that allows you to auction the belongings. One of the most known is eBay, a fantastic auction site where you can sell second hand or even brand new goods to eager customers. Auction items with a reserve or simply place as a ‘buy it now’ good to start selling. Meanwhile, if you have more specific antiques, you can use websites such as ‘Value My Stuff’ to get an estimate value before you sell. And if you have clothes you don’t want, you could even use the new ASOS marketplace to list fashion apparel.

Auctioning off items is just one of many ways to raise money, whilst inspiring and attracting new donors to help with your charitable cause.

How to Raise Money for Individual Projects

When people think of charity they often think of organizations that are non-profit.  However, there are many instances in which people may need to learn how to raise money for personal projects or needs.  In the past, these people might have to use assistance programs, grants, loans, philanthropy or charity to meet these needs.  A person’s needs might range from funding an artistic project to buying a new car, adding a much needed roof to a house or some other worthy cause.  As such, their fundraising efforts may be thought of as frivolous or unworthy of traditional fundraising efforts.

Using Online Resources to Raise Money

These people may benefit from learning how to raise money via the internet.  It may seem difficult, if not impossible, to raise money online, especially if there is a time frame attached to the project.  Still, it is not hopeless.  People can use sites like Microgiving to organize a charity or project that needs to be funded.  The word can be spread through email blasts and social media forums such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook.  Fundraisers may also wish to advertise on Craigslist and similar sites for extra exposure.  Additionally, utilizing search engines can benefit the charity through applicable programs, forums, groups and interested parties that may be willing to help fund the project with little or no repayment after the project’s end.

Ways to Raise Money for Kids

Finding ways to raise money is not very difficult but it can be a challenge to find the right way for a special group.  Even more challenging is finding ways to raise money that can also educate children about the value of a dollar as well as giving service to the community.  One way in which children can benefit from fundraising is through a toy drive.

Showing Children The Gift of Giving

Most children have toys that they have outgrown or no longer play with on a regular basis.  More often than not, there are items stuffed in drawers, toy chests and cupboards that could be sold to make a profit for a fundraiser. Once the toys are collected, children can be put in charge of cleaning and organizing the toys and can also assist in helping to repair them, if necessary.  Toys that are not acceptable for sale can be donated elsewhere or thrown out with the trash.Toys may also be collected from neighbors, families and friends to make the event even more successful.

Teaching children about community service and the value of money will serve them well into the future and throughout their adult lives.  In addition, it will teach them to value what they have and to appreciate their things and to take better care of them.

Relief Organizations Step Up Ways to Raise Money

The Southern U.S. has had its share of misfortunes and individuals have come up with some pretty innovative ways to raise money and help people in this time of need. One of the most notable disasters in recent years has been Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana with more force than anyone could have ever imagined.  April 2011 also brought about a great number of disasters, so much so that the events have been dubbed “2011 Super Outbreak.”  The tornados that have ripped though the South, Midwest and Northeast have taken over 300 lives and have left thousands more injured and homeless.

Celebs Help Increase Ways to Raise Money

Many celebrities have stepped up to aid relief organizations to .  Some of the people that have offered their help in raising funds for charity organizations include Britney Spears, who hosted an event to support the St. Bernard Project.  Selena Gomez has announced her efforts to raise money for Save the Children’s Southeast drive; Brad Paisley has agreed to donate proceeds of a new song to the Alabama tornado relief fund; Roy Jones, Jr. is asking fans to support various relief organizations and has offered a phone call and autographed photo to everyone that donates $250 or more; and Kenny Chesney has offered to donate the proceeds of an upcoming concert to GiveTuscaloosa.com.

Britney Spears’ event was attended by many A-list friends, including Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, Kelly Osbourne and Selena Gomez.  In total the event raised $200,000 for the St Bernard Fund.  Britney said “The St Bernard Project is an incredible organization whose main focus is rebuilding Louisiana [which is] always in my heart.”

Rockers Support Relief Organizations

This year the Celebrity Apprentice had its share of musicians who are actively involved in relief organizations, including iconic 70s rock legend Meat Loaf, Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray, rapper Lil Jon, Motown legend Dionne Warwick and country sensation John Rich.  While the stars were certainly highly competitive in raising money for their various charity organizations, some fared better than others in Donald Trump’s reality TV scenario.

Relief Organizations in the Limelight

The organizations ranged from St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital to The United Methodist Children’s Home.  At the end of the day, the stars were so supportive of each other’s charities that several of the participants decided to get together to record a single to boost awareness and fundraising for their various charity organizations.  The project included recording a single entitled “Stand in the Storm.”  The proceeds will go to support the charities sponsored by the celebs, including Meat Loaf’s charity, The Painted Turtle, an organization founded by actor Paul Newman as one of his “Hole in the Wall Gang” camps for sick children.  John Rich’s charity is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Lil Jon has devoted his time and talent to the United Methodist Children’s Home of North Georgia; and singer Mark McGrath has focused his efforts on raising money for the Save The Music Foundation.

The single, “Stand in the Storm,” was released on May 9^th, 2011 as part of iTunes featured downloads.  Supporters may also donate online to the cause as a whole or to the individual relief organizations.

Celebrities and Soles4Souls Help People in Need

Soles4Souls, a charity organization targeted to help people without shoes, has announced Barefoot Week 2011.  The event will showcase shoe distribution and various media events throughout seven major cities.  The annual event will take place the first week in June.

Soles4Souls is a non-profit organization devoted to collecting donations through shoe drives at churches, community centers and schools.  The charity donates thousands of pairs of shoes each year to those who are unable to afford them.  Soles4Souls asks people to go barefoot for one day during Barefoot Week to raise awareness for those that live in extreme poverty.

“It’s an honor to donate shoes to help Soles4Souls as they do incredible things for the less fortunate people in this world” said singer Jessica Simpson.  “I encourage everyone to lend support.”

“I’ve got sole but I’m not a soldier” says Perez Hilton.  “However, with Soles 4 Souls I am helping to fight the war against poverty in my own small way by giving to those in need.”

Helping People by Donating Shoes

Barefoot Week begins with “National Barefoot Day” on June 1^st.  The first shoe distribution event will take place in Detroit, with other events in LA, Boston, Newark, Atlanta and St. Louis to follow.  In addition to the distribution, Ebay and StubHub are hosting a “Take Off Your Boots” event on June 5^th.  People who bring a new pair of shoes to San Francisco’s Hard Rock Cafe will be given a free pair of U2 tickets.

Soles4Souls also gives supporters the opportunity to help people through an online donation.

Celebs Help People Go Green

While many people have jumped on the bandwagon to help people and to contribute to a more sustainable future, there are some celebrities that have been referred to as trailblazers in the environmental arena.  One of those celebs is Ed Begley, Jr.  To celebrate Begley’s accomplishments, the 15th Annual Millennium Awards, sponsored by Global Green USA, will acknowledge Begley and others for their contributions in recognizing Global Green USA’s vision of “fostering a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure world.”

Global Green USA Chief Executive Matt Petersen will be on hand to honor the Los Angeles Business Council, Ed Begley Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Wendy Schmidt at the event.  Celebrity presenters scheduled to appear include Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Bacon, Christopher Guest and Kyra Sedgwick.

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the honorees, the event is also designed to raise funds to help people support Global Green’s efforts to rebuild a greener New Orleans, create green schools and affordable housing in Los Angeles and throughout the country.  The charity organization also lobbies for effective policy changes to focus on climate changes.

Help Global Green Help People

Global Green USA, founded in 1993, is the American counterpart of Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International.  Its mission is to create and advocate solutions to climate change.  Global Green is based in California, with offices in New Orleans and Washington, D.C, and to date the charity organization has “greened” almost $20 billion in new construction for schools and housing and has authored numerous state and federal laws to help people go green.

CMT and Others Support Disaster Relief Organizations

Disaster relief organizations are receiving much needed support thanks to a recent concert on cable television. On Thursday, CMT premiered a 90-minute concert titled Music Builds that aimed at raising awareness and much needed funds for those affected by recent floods, storms and tornadoes. Charity organizations like the American Red Cross have stepped up to provide assistance wherever possible.

The event was co-hosted by HLN’s Robin Meade, ESPN’s Erin Andrews, and comedian Ron White.  During the evening many celebrities performed, including Tim McGraw, Hank Williams, Jr., Alan Jackson, Alabama, Gretchen Wilson, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Sara Evans, Ronnie Dunn, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Trace Adkins.  The evening also featured a call to action from U.S. President Barack Obama.  All proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts.

The event was broadcast around the world via American Forces Network, local TV affiliates and radio stations and CNN.com.  It is estimated that the program reached tens of millions of viewers worldwide.

Victims Need Relief Organizations

Since the natural disasters have struck various parts of the country and the world, many victims are relying on relief organizations for support in many areas, including providing basic necessities such as shelter, food, water and clothing for those left homeless.  Affected areas include Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and North Carolina.

In addition to the evening’s performances, there were special calls to action from American Idol judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, with host Ryan Seacrest.  Carrie Underwood, Ellen DeGeneres, Courteney Cox, Taylor Swift, Big Kenny, University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, Shania Twain and Nicole Kidman were among others that showed their support.

Those wishing to support disaster relief organizations can donate online.

Volunteer Opportunities for UNICEF HIV/AIDS Innovation Fund

Sarah Jessica Parker is one of the many celebrities that have embraced volunteer opportunities for the UNICEF HIV/AIDS Innovation Fund.  Parker, an ambassador for UNICEF, will be on hand at the Global Business Coalition’s 10th Anniversary Conference to introduce the UNICEF HIV/AIDS Innovation Fund.  The conference is scheduled to take place on June 2^nd.

Worldwide Opportunities

The Global Business Coalition’s 10th Anniversary Conference is being co-sponsored by UNICEF and the Global Business Coalition.  The fund is designed to raise UNICEF’s presence of mind and to join together a vast network of entities from more than 150 developing countries to gather information and to draw on the assets and experience of industry experts.  The ideas gained through this network will be reviewed and shaped by the GBC with the aim of refining ideas to provide a valuable base of resources for the fund.

The UNICEF HIV/AIDS Innovation Fund is focused on bringing together HIV experts along with a group of diverse business leaders and philanthropists to invest in a variety of high impact, low cost technology and interventions that have a strong potential to alter the face of the AIDS epidemic.

UNICEF, one of the world’s foremost charity organizations plans to allocate $4-5 million annually through the fund to support projects with the highest potential success rate, and starting in 2011, the plan is set on a five year schedule with the hopes of achieving the possibility of an HIV/AIDS free generation by 2015 thanks to a number of volunteer opportunities.

Celebrities Provide Housing Assistance for Japan

Disaster relief organizations such as www.uniteforjapan.org and the American Red Cross are providing housing assistance to the Japanese people, along with funds that will allow them to rebuild their country and their lives after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in March, killing thousands and leaving many more homeless.  Actor Ken Watanabe founded www.uniteforjapan.org, a charity organization designed to pull people together to assist in funding Japan’s relief effort.  In addition, the organization is working with other agencies such as the American Red Cross, Global Giving and Japan Society.

“When I first saw the catastrophic damage, I was in shock and utter disbelief,” said Watanabe.  “In the days following the earthquake, it was devastating for me to watch the homeless taking shelter at evacuation centers.”  Watanabe talks about people not having an adequate supply of clothing and food, a fact that caused him to feel helpless.

Disaster Relief Organizations Create Funding

Unite for Japan gathered together a group of A-list celebrities to help record two Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness about the plight of the Japanese in the aftermath of the disaster.  Participating in the PSAs were: Paula Abdul, Jamie Lee Curtis, Matt Damon, Zac Brown, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Marshall, Ben Affleck, Johnny Depp, Mikael Hafstrom, Katy Perry, Clint Eastwood, Ayako Fujutani, William Shatner, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Muramasa Kudo, Jennifer Morrison, Aisha Tyler, Sharon Lawrence, Cameron Diaz, John Legend, Hideki Matsui, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Patrick, Richard Lewis, Zoe Saldana, Cillian Murphy, Julian McMahon, Cobie Smulders, Apolo Ohno, Steph Song, Maggie Q, Charlize Theron, Jake Shimabukuro, Jonah Hill, Masi Oka, John Travolta, Ben Stiller and Mark Wahlberg.

Those who want to make a donation to charity organizations that help Japan can donate online and provide much needed housing assistance.

Olivia Newton-John Sings for Micro Charity

International pop star and music legend Olivia Newton-John is scheduled to sing at an upcoming AFL football match with the aim of raising money for her micro charity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.  The performance will take place on May 27^th at the match between Melbourne and Carlton.  Melbourne is Newton-John’s hometown.

Olivia’s Charity in the Works

Olivia Newton-John’s online charity was founded in 2003.  Since that time, $15 million has been raised to fund the facility.  Due to open next year, the “O” centre requires another $10 million in donations to make the dream a reality.

“I’m incredibly excited at the opportunity to perform in front of a big crowd in my home town of Melbourne and urge all footy fans to come along and give generously so we can now help complete the O” said Olivia.  ”I also want to acknowledge the Melbourne Football Club and especially president Jim Stynes for all their tremendous support.”

Newton-John goes on to say that Stynes has his own personal battle, one that inspires Olivia to move forward with the project.

In addition to the public donations expected to be received for the charity organization, Olivia has released a new cookbook titled LivWise.  The proceeds from the book will be added to other funding sources for the centre.  The book’s publisher’s stated: “The recipes were created in her own kitchen along with recipes contributed by friends and chefs at her Australian health retreat, Gaia.  In Livwise, Olivia explains her belief in the importance of eating a healthy diet in order to maintain wellness and balance.”

Those wishing to give to her charity organization can make a micro charity donation online.

Online Donation for Celebrity Experiences

A recent trend in the online donation and celebrity charity world is a chance to meet-and-greet one or more famous celebrities.  The premise is that people will clamor to donate online to meet a celebrity.  The opportunities are given to those who bid the highest amount for a particular event, whether it is a simple meet-and-greet or a special event such as tickets to a popular show, day long experience, lunch or other fantastic opportunity that a fan would most likely never have the chance to receive otherwise.  One such organization that is participating in this recent trend is charitybuzz.com.  The site gives various charity organizations a chance to raise money in a unique way.  By auctioning off the experiences with the celebrities, it is almost guaranteed that the charity organization receives funds that it may not have received from a single donor under other circumstances.

Online Donation for the Chance of a Lifetime

Recent offerings at charitybuzz.com include once in a lifetime experiences that may never be available again.  The website shows the event, the current highest bid, the number of bids entered, the estimated value, and the date the auction ends.  The celebrity experiences going on right this minute include a stroll through Strawberry Fields with Yoko Ono, a tour of the U.S. Air and Space Museum with famed Astronaut John Glenn, an invitation and meet-and-greet with former President Bill Clinton, and a tour and meet-and-greet at Howard Stern’s Sirius studio. Those interested in giving to charity organizations that raise money in such a unique way can look at the various online donation opportunities.

Karan Celebrates Haiti’s Efforts to Helping Poor People

International fashion designer Donna Karan is helping poor people in Haiti rebuild their lives after the latest disaster.  As a token of Karan’s dedication to Haiti, she is offering a weekend trip to the island nation accompanied by actor, humanitarian and comedian Ben Stiller along with other special guests.

Helping To Preserve Culture

Karan shares her vision for helping Haitians in their quest for development via micro charity and crowdfunding efforts.

“For me, Haiti is where all the initiatives I care so passionately about come together; preserving culture, securing the health and well-being for people and the education of the children who represent their tomorrow” said Karan.  She then talked about the island speaking to her heart and embracing everything that people seek to accomplish at Urban Zen.  She said that the vision for Haiti was a simple one: “Help Haiti help itself by utilizing and organizing its artisans, natural resources and production potential to create business models that can be properly marketed and distributed throughout the U.S. and Europe.”

The American designer and businesswoman stated that she had a good sense of what makes products desirable to consumers in the West.  Her trip to Haiti followed a previous visit with the Clinton Foundation that served to focus on some opportunities for creative business development.

This Clinton Foundation trip was about working with the creative Haitian communities and helping them.  Karan added that Haiti brought out every emotion people have: “Despair, compassion, love and hope” – in addition to the excitement of what can be achieved with a heartfelt connection and creative collaboration.

Micro charity donations for helping poor people and other efforts for Haiti can be made online.

Jason David’s Corner Foundation Continues to Help People

Jason David’s Corner Foundation (JDCF) has announced its 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic to help people, which will be held on June 24 at the Industry Hills Golf Club . On board will be actor James Denton, best known for his role as Mike Delfino in the TV series “Desperate Housewives.” Denton is on a long list of professional athletes and celebrities who have made a commitment to help inform people about the prevention of kidney disease.

Raise Awareness about Kidney Disease

In some ways, Denton has already begun his work as a supporter of charity organizations such as JDCF through his role as Delfino. In the series, Delfino is struggling with the illness of his wife Susan Mayer (Terri Hatcher) who is in dire need of a kidney transplant after her dialysis treatment has failed.

Susan’s story may not be real but it reflects the stories of many Americans. Kidney disease patients may experience kidney failure if it is not properly treated. Without treatment patients can die within a matter of days due to build-up of fluids and toxins and fluid in their blood.

“I am happy to help out in any way I can,” Denton said in a recent interview. He praises the work being carried out by JDCF and notes that kidney disease is “something that touches everyone, I’ve got a friend who just donated a kidney to a guy he works with and I know Jason had a personal encounter with kidney disease.”

Fans may donate online to JDCF to further support the cause and help people affected by kidney disease.

Britney Asks People to Donate Online

Britney Spears has asked fans and supporters to donate online, namely the St. Bernard Project.  The St. Bernard Project is working alongside the United Way to help people in the New Orleans area and Spears was recently named as a charity ambassador.

“It’s time to bring families back home to New Orleans” she tweeted today.  “Join the @Stbernardproj with me & help rebuild lives.”

Give to Charity

Spears posted the following on her FirstGiving.com page: “Your donation today will help St. Bernard Project (SBP) get families home and help rebuild the New Orleans area.  You can be a part of the rebirth of New Orleans and have a significant impact on helping families finally return home almost 6 years after Hurricane Katrina.”

The St. Bernard Project was launched in 2006 by Zack Rosenberg and Liz McCartney.  To date the organization has been able to help more than 350 families move back into their homes after the catastrophes surrounding hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  There are still approximately 200 families living in FEMA trailers while thousands of others reside in temporary housing.

In order to carry out this mission successfully, the St. Bernard Project has founded a Volunteer Driven Rebuilding Program, which is able to rebuild homes in approximately 12 weeks of volunteer labor with around $15,000 in building supplies.  It has also established a Good Work Good Pay (GWGP) Program, an Opportunity Housing Program and a Center for Wellness and Mental Health. Britney Spears is urging those wishing to make a contribution to donate online.

Celebrities Give to Charity for Children

Celebrities banded together on April 30^th to give to charity and participate in the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital event, “Walk for Kids, Street Party and Turn on the Lights Celebration.”  Among the celebrities that participated in the event were American singer-songwriter Crystal Bowersox, supermodel Heidi Klum, and actresses Jennifer Grey, Jamie Lee Curtis and Melanie Griffith.  Another famous face also participated in the event – six-year-old actor Max Page, who appeared as Darth Vader in this year’s popular Super Bowl commercial.

“I’m so happy to be part of the celebration because Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a very special place,” said Bowersox, a singer-songwriter that gained prominence on American Idol and released her first solo album Farmer’s Daughter late last year.  “I’m glad to bring my music to the Street Party celebration for families to enjoy so we can all have a good time.”

The volunteers walked through the streets of Los Angeles to help support the new children’s hospital.  The walk began in Griffith Park through the neighborhood of Los Feliz to the hospital entrance at 4650 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The volunteer opportunities continue to abound even though the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital has been built.

Opportunities Abound

The 317 bed facility is scheduled to open its doors to patients on July 10^th but the hospital will continue to take donations from those who give to charity – in person or online donations, to secure its ability to run efficiently and to serve the vast number of children that come through its doors each year.