“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” –Albert Einstein
I’ve come to realize that adaptability is a priceless quality to possess in world saving efforts. In the fall of last year, my friend Margaret Nolan and I revived a reading series that showcases the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender journey through theatrical literature. With nostalgia in our hearts, we tried to recreate the experience we had when we started the series in 2004 by producing the series in the same location and for the same beneficiary. It took us a couple of readings to realize that we weren’t going to capture lightning twice – donations were low, attendance was lower, and our beneficiary didn’t seem to care if we were there or not. We needed to adapt.
We approached Breakthrough Theatre, a new theatre in the area, and they enthusiastically opened their doors to our series. Breakthrough has an intimate house of 50 seats, perfect for the no-frills production of a reading. The theatre is located just down the street from Rollins College, so we’re hoping we can attract faculty and students to our readings.
Finally, we changed the beneficiary to the Paul M. Wegman Scholarship for Actors at Valencia Community College. The scholarship was created to honor a respected actor, director and teacher that our theatre community lost several years ago. Paul was also known to many people all over the world as Ms. P, performing primarily at Parliament House. At each reading, we collect a suggested donation of $5 (or more) to go toward the fund.
With these changes, our donations have grown and we are starting to build a “tribe” of audience members who attend our readings. Further, by donating to the Wegman Scholarships, we have encouraged others to have benefits (which happily often raise more money than our readings!).
This success came only with the aforementioned adaptability.
Udder Disappointment
As I’m telling you all of this, I’m also thinking through a thought or two. I’m finding the Scottie Saves the World Team for Heifer International campaign to be more challenging than I thought it would be. The fundraising is crawling along, to say the very least. After several months of no action in the fundraising, Brendan created fabulous chicken donation jars which we placed by the cash registers at two locations of an awesome local retro-clothier, Dechoes. Having done a little research on the success of donation jars, my mind fantasized raising hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.
After two months, we collected just under $40. Sigh.
Then again, I realize that‘s $40 that wasn‘t donated before. We’re talking two flocks of geese, or more than enough for a bee hive. And Brendan’s ultra-cool chicken jars aren’t done yet, we’re brainstorming where they can go next.
Act Now = Twice the Impact!
So now, with the help of a generous friend, we’re going to take a new tact to breathe some life into our campaign. From now until Harvey Milk Day on May 22, my friend will match your donations up to $1000! Simply put: if you give a buck, it will magical become two bucks. Thanks to my friend, together we could raise $2000 toward our $10,000 goal.
Click here to make your donation now. If you would like to step up your participation, you can join the Scottie Saves the World Team and get your friends to donate. Heifer International is an awesome cause, helping people around the world by helping them to provide for themselves.
