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What is MOVE? What is unique about your organization?

MOVE is an exercise program serving the lower income public elementary schools in Boulder County. MOVE currently works with children age 6-11. Since the 1970′s, the prevalence of obesity has more than tripled for children in this age group (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies). We believe early intervention is the key to establishing healthy habits. MOVE works to improve a child’s overall health and wellness to include: improved cardiovascular function, increased energy and physical endurance, decreased body fat, improved self-esteem, increased social skills, increased team building and overall healthy living. MOVE empowers kids to manage their lives with energy and determination. Our coaches run sessions in the schools twice a week before, during and after regular school hours.

MOVE is unique in that it is currently run entirely by volunteers. The coaches are recruited form the Integrative Physiology, Education and Dance departments at the University of Colorado. Our program is the only one of its kind in Colorado, designed specifically to address childhood obesity, which has reached epidemic numbers in our country. By successfully establishing a program run by volunteers and offered free to children who need it most, MOVE can confidently expand into other communities, most hard hit by this national health crisis.

How and when was MOVE inspired and created?

I started MOVE  in the fall of 2008. As a personal trainer, I was involved in the fitness industry and was alarmed y the steady rise in childhood obesity. At the same time, I became aware that PE had been cut back to the bare minimum in most schools. Seeing this imbalance, I decided to create MOVE.

What is the overall goal of MOVE? How do you hope to impact change?

MOVE’s primary mission is to empower kids to live healthy lives. The population we serve does not have access to health clubs, expensive recreational and athletic after school programs or leagues. Our goal is to bring active experiences into their lives in fun, noncompetitive, self paced sessions.

Our students’s progress is measured by improvements in all aspects of fitness including coordination, speed, agility, balance, cardiovascular function, and the overall enjoyment of moving and feeling fit. In addition, we recognize the positive impact we have on our students by looking at the anecdotal evidence we receive consistently from their MOVE coaches as well as their academic teachers and administrators.

How do you quantify the impact your organization has?

We quantify our impact in three ways. First, each year our enrollment increases and we now have schools that our on our waiting list. Each spring we provide the kids with a challenge to use pedometers for a month to see how many steps they can log in a month. We have done this for the last two years and more children participated in the second year. Lastly, we measure our impact through testimonials from the kids, teachers, administrators and parents.

What has been your organization’s biggest accomplishment to date?

MOVE has served over 600 children since 2008. To date, our greatest accomplishment is the fact that we’ve grown each year to serve more children at more schools. Our organization owes its longevity and success to the dedicated coaches, committed school personnel, and generous donors.

Do you have a volunteer fundraising organization? If so, what is their charter?

MOVE has 2 co-directors who manage all of the fundraising efforts. We have 2 or 3 fundraisers per year to include: running races, golf tournaments and silent auctions. We also receive donations from private individuals and local companies.

Who are your partners or sponsors?

Although we have not established any formal partnerships, we have had ongoing support from First Bank, Snag, Big Red F Restaurant Group, Colorado Athletic Club, Riptide Multisport, and TDA Advertising and Design as well as other local businesses. We have also been involved with Entrust Ed, a nonprofit organization that helps nonprofits like ours collaborate with businesses.

What are the top ways that MOVE raises funds?

MOVE’s fundraising efforts have targeted private donors, local businesses, and small grants. At this point, we have relied on small events such as our golf tournament, our upcoming 5K running race, and our yearly silent auction to cover our costs. It’s becoming increasingly difficult, however, to meet the demand within Boulder Valley Schools and certainly, across the country, with this income. We are at a point where we will need to secure larger resources in order to continue to grow. We are hopeful to find a national company that would be interested in standing behind our mission and supporting our cause.

How do you thank your donors?

We thank our donors by listing them as supporters on our website and putting their names on our MOVE t-shirts, worn all year by coaches and students.

How can we get involved/help?

You may get involved by contacting in our website and making donations to the program or participating in one of our fundraisers. Our first event will be a 5K race on November 9th in Boulder with Riptide multisport.

To learn more about MOVE, watch their video below.

On August 3, 2011, The Junior League of San Francisco hosted a Patron Soiree at the gorgeous design boutique, ANTHEM, owned by Janelle Loevnar thanking their sponsors for their continuous support of the 17th annual fundraiser, Modernism Through the Ages.

Corporate and individual patrons were treated with tasty bites from Barbara Llewellyn Catering while Bartenders Unlimited continuously poured Micheal David wines and Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi sparkling.

Jay Ryder, Leslie Ryder, Lillian Phan, Jacob LeWinter

Guests celebrated the upcoming home tour which will be held in the glamorous neighborhood of San Francisco, Sea Cliff, and the new partnership with Dwell magazine to produce their first ever showhome on October 22 & 23. Visit www.hometour.jlsf.org for more information.

See all event images below.

Lillian Phan, Kristen Harper, Catherine Wong, Kelly Murphy, Andra von Behren

Marilyn Timoney, Courtney Bocci, Marsha Monro, Janelle Loevnar, Marcia Beersdorf

(Front) Amanda Sargisson, Kristen Bourke, Leslie Ryder, Kris Kolassa, (Back) Lynn Warneka, Karen Loane, Michelle Brant

All photos: Courtesy of Moanalani Jeffrey

How do I build a board for my non profit organization?

We replied via video each week now through the end of August.

For more information, visit Vivanista’s Question Session or Facebook Fan Page.

What is the most cost-effective way to maximize impact in a fundraising campaign?

After August, you can still shoot Layne Gray or Vivanista a question via Twitter or Facebook. All thoughts and inquiries are welcome.

For more information, visit Vivanista’s Question Session or Facebook Fan Page.

[Feature photo by kevindooley, Flickr.com]

How do you find sponsors, if you’re a young, new organization?

After August, you can still shoot Layne Gray or Vivanista a question via Twitter or Facebook. All thoughts and inquiries are welcome.

For more information, visit Vivanista’s Question Session or Facebook Fan Page.

[Feature photo by The DEMO Conference, Flickr.com]

Michael Douroux, Dorothy Campeau, Neil Figurelli, Elyssa Thorp, and Macy Wood

More than 20 bags were available from preview, including bags autographed by Justin Bieber, Brian Wilson of the World Champion San Francisco Giants and Tiffani Thiessen. Other bags on display included several vintage Escada, a custom couture donated by Elizabeth Thieriot, beautiful new designs from Bulgari, Dior, Porsche Designs and collection of signature handbags from Event Sponsor Bloomingdales including Kate Spade, Tory Burch and Marc Jacobs. Also on display were several vintage designer bags donated by the late Dame Bella Farrow, founding chair of This Old Bag.

Zoe Sexton, and Veronica LaBeau

Kaiser Permanente returns as Presenting Sponsor of This Old Bag 2011 and several Corporate Sponsors have already joined to generously underwrite the event including: Ross Stores, St. Regis San Francisco, Bloomingdales, Delysium Events, Fairmont San Francisco, Pacific Union Real Estate Community Fund, Safeway, Premier Staffing, the Eli & Mae Rosen Foundation and Media Sponsor San Francisco Magazine.

Joel Goodrich, and Irene Bechtel

The evening was capped by the establishment of The Bella Farrow Fund by Elizabeth Thieriot. Ms. Thieriot’s pledge of $50,000 was quickly increased to nearly $70,000 by others moved to pay tribute to one woman’s legacy and renew their personal support of Breast Cancer Emergency Fund.

Ludmila Kisseleva-Eggleton, Susannah Dunlap, and Judith Branch

The Bella Farrow Fund will maintain This Old Bag as an annual event and provide vital resources to low-income women battling breast cancer in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Joining Elizabeth Thieriot as founding funders of The Bella Farrow Fund are Judith Branch and Chase Young, Rose Coyle and Greg Boudreaux, Veronica LaBeau, John Rosin, Mary Skinner and Janeen Smith, Diane Easterwood, Neil Figurelli, Skeeter Buck and Alexandra Walterspiel, Beth Townsend and Doug Wagoner, Elizabeth Martini, and Cynthia Hester.

Barbara Adams, Diane Easterwood, and Sally Wingard

All photos courtesy of: Drew Altizer

Learn more about the Fundraising Summit and get your early bird tickets now.

Welcome to the final week of Vivanista’s  Question Session! We’ve sifted through your inquiries and chose the following question for our founder, Layne Gray, to answer.

How does an organization decide what type of fundraising event to put on?

We’ll reply via video each week now through the end of August.

For more information, visit Vivanista’s Question Session or Facebook Fan Page.

Below are 10 key pointers to help you make your first event an extraordinary one.

1.  Venue Choices  Your guests should be treated to a wonderful venue with an expert staff. As your guests enter you event, even in the parking lot, the appearance of the venue is vitally important to their overall experience.

2.  Planning As If You Are a Guest  When planning your event, examine it during the planning stages as if you were a guest and not as the organizer. This includes meal selection, items for your Live and Silent as well as presentation length.

3. Plan to Plan  Well before your event, meet with your event committee and discuss all aspects of the event. Go over your event time line over and over so that everyone understands. Ensure that everyone understands their duties and everything they are responsible for.

4.  Meal Matches the Ticket Price – When reviewing meal choices for your guests, do not pick what you like or what is economical, pick the meal that your guests will truly enjoy. A fantastic meal is the cornerstone of a great event, a bad meal will ruin their experience.

5.  No Lengthy Speeches  When someone has a speech or some type of presentation, do not make it lengthy. No one is attending your event to listen to speeches, they are attending to have a good time, see their friends and enjoy a night out. Keep any speeches or presentations on a limited time line.

6.  Donations  Donations are just as important as attendance. Without the seats full, you will be unable to raise the funds you need. Without donations, you will not have the items you need to raise the funds, through the Live, Silent and Raffles.

7.  Fundraising Platforms  A successful fundraising event comes from several well planned fundraising platforms, such as a Live Auction. But remember, not everyone attending can bid on your items in the Live Auction. Account for lower bidders as well as those who would enjoy an entertaining raffle.

8.  Items Which ‘WOW’ the Crowd  As with any fundraising event, your guests will bid on items or trips that will excite them. Local donations are fantastic but larger more exciting items, such as “No Risk Auction Items are needed to urge on higher bids.

9.  Entertainment While entertainment options seem like they cut into your event’s net proceeds, they can be productive investments. Background music provided by live bands can break up the time, as well as fill dead space. Furthermore, an entertaining Master of Ceremonies is a very valuable asset. Your guests will enjoy someone who is not afraid of speaking in front of crowd and can create excitement.

10.  Understanding the Events Sticking Points  There are two sticking points during an event  Check In and Check Out. Ensure your check in or registration table is adequately staffed to ensure your guest entering do not have to stand in line. During check out, ensure again that your check out table is staffed so that your guests can pay for the items they purchased quickly. Make sure your staff understands their duties and understand all aspects of the Check Out. Also, ensure that there are staff members assisting your guests in retrieving their items.

Post: Courtesy of George Wooden, founder of benefit auction and event management consultancy company.