Question for GMG board members - charity related

stebo · January 30, 2006

I am helping a friend get a charitable organization off the ground to help fund The American Red Cross. People do bowling - running of marathons - etc.. well, neither one of us has any time or experience in doing that kind of stuff but we are both business savy... We have decided that the best way to start raising money for the Red Cross is to buy some of those Candy Vending machines, the kind that have three selections and the big glass domes on top. We figure that we will buy 5 to start and see if they raise any money - if they do, and we have places to put more, then we will expand the enterprise. My buddy recently had his entire fmily basically saved by the Red Cross due to Katrina and wants to give back a little. I figured, what the hell - I will help out as well, I can help him with the paperwork and stuff at least.

What we need are some locations to put these machines in. Does anyone on here own a business that would put one of these machines in your lobby/entrance? Obviously, it won't cost you anything, these machines are like bubble gum machines and don't even take electricity.

If you can help us out, or have an idea for a place (we are in Dallas - but would be willing to travel to anywhere in the DFW area if the location is a safe environment that might raise some money) to place one of our machines - please e-mail me at stebo1@gmail.com

Sorry to invade the board with this, just thought I would ask my Mean Green family if they had any ideas for us. Thanks.

steve

emmitt01 · January 30, 2006

Bump

stebo · January 30, 2006

Thanks for the bump Emmitt. What we need is just a small space in your office building/lobby, break room, etc... While we would like to find a place that has lots of kiddos coming through - it is ok if there are just adults. Perhaps you are a teacher and you could use a small snack machine in your teacher's lounge - maybe the police station could use one. The proceeds go to the Red Cross so I think most bosses will be cool with it. Maybe some of you work in restaurants and we could put a machine by the front door with some mints in it for your guests that are leaving.

This is really a flexible thing - and while we want to make a ton of money for the Red Cross - the deal is this - we signed up for this program - were put on a waiting list in order to get the machines (we were granted 5 brand new machines after about a 30 day waiting period) - and now how it works is that they supply the snacks (M&M's, cashews, skittles, etc...- we get to choose) and we provide the labor. As needed, we will come out and fill up the machine with goodies and then send the lockbox with the quarters in it back to them. If a refund is needed, we will issue it - no problem.

Surely a couple of people on this board work in an office or a bank that could use an M&M/gum/skittles machine, right? It won't cost you anything at all and if the thing happens to bring in any money then it will go to a great organization- the ones that are helping out in LA and MS... the ones that were the first to show up after 9/11 to give shelter and aid to those that needed it. The Red Cross is also overseas helping out with efforts to aid those in the war zones. This is really for a great cause - and I hope that we can put these 5 machines - all 5 of them - to good use. Any help? Any bankers on the board? Anyone work in a bank that can talk to their boss? There's gotta be a few suggestions from the peanut gallery! Don't make me beg!!!! Oh wait, I think I just did~!