On Wednesday, February 3rd, San Francisco-based nonprofit Teach with Africa will host its third annual fundraiser at the St. Regis hotel to benefit educators who travel to Africa to teach children.
We sat down with Co-Chairs Kristina Pollak (pictured left) and Amy Schoew to learn more about their cause and how they became involved.
1. What is it about the organization that made you willing to take on the roles as event Co-Chairs?
Amy: I believe in equity in education and that education is foundation to a just society. Teach With Africa’s reciprocal mission to learn and teach in schools in both Africa and the San Francisco Bay area drives me to contribute to the organization.
Kristina: I believe equal education is a fundamental right for every child. Unfortunately, this is not the case in South Africa. Teach with Africa works to break down the economic and social barriers to education in Africa. The organization is unique in that it fully funds educators to travel to South Africa, while other organizations require the educators to pay their own way, severely limiting participation. Furthermore, Teach with Africa’s focus on reciprocal learning offers unique opportunities for an educational exchange that benefits students both in the United States and abroad.
2. What will be special about the event?
We are bringing 10 students (and their families) who attend the LEAP schools in South Africa. This will be the first time many of these students have ever left South Africa. During the evening program- through music, dance, and poetry these students will share their stories. Students teachers educators and partners will raise their voices in support of Teach with Africa’s commitment to teach and learn and transform education in Africa and the US one student one education at a time.
3. What constitutes success for you with regards to the specific event you’re Chairing?
The event will be a success if we can gain greater recognition and support for Teach With Africa which is still just a start up non-profit. The recognition will in turn, lead to greater sponsors and support. Immediate success of course will be to raise adequate funds to allow TWA to send 25 educators to the LEAP School in Cape Town and Johannesburg in June and July 2010, and simultaneously plan a Bay Area Education and Leadership Workshop Camp in 2010 for Bay Area and South African high school students.
4. How do you balance the quantifiable goal of raising money with the goal of broadening of goodwill?
We believe they are interdependent. To raise money for a cause you need to have an organization which is built on goodwill and without funds the organization will not survive.
5. What plans have you made to address problems that may arise?
Keep very calm and be flexible to adjust to unforeseen circumstances. We have a great team of experienced event volunteers. And we deliberately chose the St. Regis for the 3rd year because of their seasoned and professional staff and more importantly committed to our specific cause.
6. Are there any pre-event parties for Benefactors?
Yes, January 31 for our host committee.
7. What background do you have to take on the role as Chair?
We both have volunteered at many events, have been on several Gala committees, and chaired events in the Bay Area. We are very detail oriented, well organized and have no scruples approaching people, talking about our event and requesting their financial or in-kind support. However, most importantly we are excited and passionate about Teach with Africa’s mission and incredibly motivated to help the organization succeed. Being resourceful and creative are also two of our better qualities.
8. Have you chaired other charitable events? If so, please name them.
Amy:
- Bay Area Discovery Museum Inaugural Gala
- Bay Area Discovery Museum Discovery Forum Luncheon (2 yrs)
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Hope Gala (2 yrs)
9. What are you wearing to the event?
Amy: custom made skirt and top hand made by the designer Thobekai in Johannesburg South Africa.
Kristina: I have not decided yet.
10. What is your fundraising motto?
We struggled a bit with this question but have come up that for this event we are “Raising Our Voices To Raise Funds.”
11. Who is your fundraising role model?
Kristina: My mother, she has been involved in philanthropy her entire life. From very early on she instilled in me how very fortunate we are to have the ability to give back to those in need. From passing out brown-bag lunches to the homeless in Washington DC, to throwing elaborate fundraising gala’s she showed me how rewarding ‘giving back’ is.
12. What qualities make an event Chair successful?
Kristina: Being passionate about the cause, energetic, organized, well connected, resourceful and willingness to take on this second (or third) full time job. Oh, lets not forget diplomacy.
Amy: Believing in the cause and being able to communicate that. People can tell when you are just giving “lip service.” Patience is very important and the ability to manage people and expectations.
13. What external resources do you use in your fundraising efforts i.e. websites, classes/seminars, etc.?
PR resources, past committee planning models
14. What is the best charitable event you’ve attended and why?
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Hope Gala- it has an incredible staff that supports the volunteer efforts!
15. What is one fundraising tip you’ve learned that you’re willing to share?
If you don’t ask you will not receive.
16. What fundraising innovation do you wish would be invented?
A money tree.
17. What faded tradition do you wish would be resurrected?
Women wearing hats. They are very elegant and should be brought back into fashion and dance cards!
View their event profile on Vivanista.
To learn more about Teach With Africa and to purchase tickets, visit teachwithafrica.org.
(Co-Chair Amy Schoew and Teach with Africa Founder Margi Schlenoff pictured right.)
