ANNOUNCING: AAFSW Fun for Funds Fundraising Events Committee

Established on Thursday, December 1, 2016 and Officially Approved by AAFSW Board on Tuesday, December 13, 2016

CHAIR: Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos, AAFSW President

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On Thursday, December 13, 2016, during the recent AAFSW Board meeting, the AAFSW Board officially approved AAFSW President Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen’s initiative to form a new AAFSW committee, the “FUN FOR FUNDS” Fundraising Events Committee, to help support AAFSW financially.

The purpose of this committee is to put together FUN, spectacular, and amazing events for our AAFSW members and guests for the sole purpose of raising funds for AAFSW while bringing our community and guests closer. The money raised from these events will go to AAFSW’s general budget. However, as it was agreed during the December 13, 2016 AAFSW Board meeting, this committee can advertise and direct a percentage of the profits from such events toward specific causes that the AAFSW supports including but not limited to the Family Crisis Fund, scholarships, awards, and more.

As it was mentioned during the AAFSW Board meeting, this committee will not interfere with other events that Sheila Switzer, AAFSW Program Chair, organizes for AAFSW and FBS. The FUN FOR FUNDS Fundraising Events Committee and/or Sheila Switzer can advertise these fundraising events to AAFSW members and other guests. In turn, each AAFSW member is welcome to advertise these events to his or her own acquaintances, friends, societies, clubs, and associations to attract more people to these events, which may also help increase AAFSW’s visibility and membership.

Initially, this committee will consist of 5-10 AAFSW members (in good standing). All AAFSW members with great imagination, who have ideas on how to raise funds, are energetic and willing to help, can join this committee. As it was agreed during the first committee meeting on December 1, and during the AAFSW Board meeting on December 13, during its initial stages and until it successfully takes off, Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen, AAFSW President, will be the Chair of the FUN FOR FUNDS Fundraising Events Committee.

Dr. Athanasopoulos Owen would like to harness the unique talents of AAFSW’s members, e.g. singing, playing the piano, leading educational seminars, etc. She is grateful to all AAFSW members who stepped up to offer their talents to help with putting together successful AAFSW fundraising events. Some ideas for fundraising events are: themed quiz night (such as winning table/misery table), bingo night, a wine tasting, board game night, friendly bridge tournaments, darts night, a fashion show, a bazaar or flea market, charades night, a professional art and painting seminar, themed afternoon tea party, comedy improvisation night, a piano concert, a professional ballroom dance lesson event for ladies or couples, a golf tournament, a glam-up Hollywood theme night, appraisal roadshow, karaoke, geography bee competition, etc. Any AAFSW member can suggest and bring new ideas, which will be welcome! Also, if AAFSW members have some special interest or talent, this committee can organize a fun event around it.

Depending on the number of volunteers, the aim of this committee is to organize 6-12 FUN events per year. Most of the events will take place at AAFSW members’ houses, clubs and/or country clubs where AAFSW members are members, free of charge community rooms in buildings where AAFSW members live or work, etc. The intention is to raise as many funds for AAFSW and its causes as possible.

Taking inspiration from Henry Ford who said: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is a progress, and working together is success,” and as the AAFSW President, I would like to promote the ideas of volunteerism, community and fun, which together can benefit AAFSW and its members’ spirit and bring success to AAFSW as an organization. With AAFSW members’ help and the official establishment of this AAFSW FUN FOR FUNDS Fundraising Events Committee, let’s find out the best ways we can help AAFSW raise funds while we are all having fun!

Any and all volunteers are welcome! Please contact the AAFSW FUN FOR FUNDS Fundraising Events Committee Chair at funforfunds@aafsw.org

Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen, AAFSW President
FUN FOR FUNDS Fundraising Events Committee Chair