Os eventos beneficentes mais populares nos EUA

According to the World Giving Index, the United States has been the most generous country over the past 10 years. Considering donations made to charity, time spent volunteering, and help given to strangers in need, the Americans came out in first place. That's because in the country's culture, fundraising events involving volunteering and giving money or material donations are a part of everyday life, and this "normalcy" has made people quite receptive to requests from non-profit organizations or charities for contributions of time, money, services, or goods.

If you'd like to bring the giving spirit to your area, maybe you can get some ideas from the most popular fundraising events held in the States:

1. Walk/Run/Bike-a-Thon
Choose your sport and get moving! You can make almost any activity into a "thon" and use it as a fundraising event by getting pledges and local sponsorship.

2. Dollar Walk
Invite supporters to help pave your "Dollar Walk" with dollar bills. Outline your walk in a hallway or large room with colored tape. Use masking tape (preferably one that isn't sticky enough to tear paper) to tape donated dollar bills as stepping-stones on your walk.

3. Car Wash
It's more than just good clean fun, it's also a great way to raise funds!

4. Spaghetti Dinner
Spaghetti is a low-cost meal that's easy to make in large amounts, and everyone loves it! Some other fun, low-cost dinner options are pancakes and hotdogs. Add a twist and have a black-tie pancake supper!

5. Auction
Ask local businesses, artists and craftspeople to donate items for auction. A great event idea with children (a school group, for example), is to organize an art auction featuring the children's artwork.

6. Fundraising Raffle
Get local businesses to donate raffle prizes in exchange for advertising at your event. Make the day more exciting with carnival-style games, and sell snacks like lollipops and beef snacks to boost your profits.

7. Jeans or Casual Dress Day
If your school, organization or place of business has a strict dress code, opt for a day when people can donate a small amount (for example, $5) in exchange for the option to wear jeans or casual dress. For an ongoing fundraiser, make it a regular Friday event.

8. Bake Sale
This tried and true fundraising event is an American classic everyone loves. Participants love to show off their culinary expertise, and check out the accomplishments of friends and neighbors.

9. Yard Sale
One person's trash is almost always another person's treasure, which is why yard sales are such fun and successful events.

10. Holiday Themes
Ok, so this isn't a specific event, but you can take any of the above fundraising events, or any other event idea and easily add a holiday twist to make it extra special. For example, a Jingle Bell Dance-a-Thon, or a Hoppin' Shoppin' Easter Bake Sale! (Source: Fundraising.com)

Generosity is contagious, so as long as you have a cause that you care a lot about and are willing to give your time and energy to raising awareness and money, chances are others will want to help you out in making a difference for your chosen organization or charity. Everyone involved will soon realize that it's true what they say: it really is better to give than to receive!

Katie Smith