Fundraising Outside the Box

As college students, we have always wrestled with the questions of, “How do we engage our peers in the vision of CARE for AIDS?” “In addition to their time, what other resources do college students have that they could give to CARE for AIDS?” One of my partners in crime, Zack Fallon, proposed a textbook drive, a campaign in which college students donate the one thing that has resale value, textbooks. What an ingenious idea!

So, we started small. Initially, we conducted one textbook drive on the Wheaton College campus. At the time, we weren’t sure if students would be willing to part with textbooks that were valued anywhere from $10 to $50. Then, $8,000 later, we realized there was more to this idea than we thought. Not only was this a way to fund our centers in Kenya, but a way to engage volunteers and donors on a whole new level.

Now, this December, I will be dedicating a good portion of my time helping nine different campus representatives execute textbook drives at their respective universities. Here are the campuses and leaders that are hosting book drives:

Joey Mock Virginia Tech

Alyson Pigford Georgia Tech

Lindsay King Christopher Newport University

Erin Hogan Wellesley College

Hai-In Kim University of Virginia

Jordan Rentz Clemson University

Zack Spier The King's College

Allison Tolbert Wofford College

Christine Wetendorf Wheaton College

With goals of raising in excess of $50,000 this semester, I encourage all of you to think creatively about how to raise money for causes that you believe in. Whether it is raking lawns, collecting books, or hosting benefits, there are ways for young people to play an active role in raising money. No excuses.

What are some creative ways that you have raised money to support good causes?