Dean you are Officially Blogged

Dean I kept meaning to blog you on one of your visits and now thanks to Gigi, the girl who takes more pics than I do 🙂 I am finally able to do so. It happened so fast when you guys came by to pick up the air guitar I made for you that I did not get a chance to say thanks for the golf cart donation from you and Gigi to the San Pedro Branch. I can already see it all tricked out with some of Giovani’s plastic signs decal work on the side, they are doing our big metal sign too which will soon be hanging on the corner of the building.

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It is amazing how many people are stepping up to help in various ways, since Anna Carins made first emailed and we all started tossing it out there to our world. For those of you who do not know, she made contact with me just over month before she was ending her term with the Belize Red Cross. Her reason for moving to Belize City and volunteering with the Belize Red Cross (BRC) for a couple of months was to provide much needed help  reinvigorating their fundraising and marketing. Anna’s last day was Tuesday and I would like  to wish her all the best in her new position  as a Fundraising Manager in Africa. It’s a permanent job, so if any of you fancy a trip into the Namibian outback, please go see her. They’re always looking for volunteers and the organization is called Naankuse.

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We have even had a great response from outside the Country  Dawg aka Dan Swanson saw  San Pedro Red Cross post on the Ambergris Caye Belize Message Board and right away he emailed his local Red Cross Branch Director. I am posting his reply and a few of his emails below as there are some good fundraising ideas worth sharing.

Hey Taco girl, I talked with our director. You may be doing the following things already but I’ll tell you what she said anyway. 1) Go to the business community first and tell them what your plans are. 2) Most of our fund raising deals with a tie in with food. An example might be that the Red Cross might advertise a certain restaurant and have a day that the restaurant will then donate 10% of their earnings for that day. 3) Look for grants – When doing so, be specific for what you want the grant for. Will it go for equipment for fire calls, office equipment, cots for a shelter, etc.? I am not an expert. I’m just a volunteer for Red Cross but my wife and I wouldn’t mind stopping and chatting when we get to San Pedro. Let me know how to reach you. Thanks, Dawg P.S. 15 sleeps and we’re there.

Next came this private message –  Our middle school is planning to do a penny war as a fund raiser for the San Pedro Red Cross. I was hoping to share some information about the main focus for the Red Cross in San Pedro. Even though our meeting is today, I can still share this information later in the week. My wife and I are Red Cross volunteers in Wisconsin and are coming for a vacation to San Pedro. We are arriving March 24th and staying until April 1. I hope we can connect. Sincerely, Dan (and Deb) Swanson AKA – Dawg

And the following 2 emails with pics. This first one explains how to do a coin war which is a great way to raise cash for schools.

I have attached a picture of some of the student council members from T.J. Walker Middle School in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin.  They are holding jugs for money.  Each class tries to fill them with coins or bills.  Bills subtract the total from a grade’s jug so you want to put coins in your own jug and bills in one of the other grades.  The winning class gets to have a free activity period.  Usually, most of the money is collected on the last day so “they don’t show their hand”, if you get what I mean.  It ends on Tuesday March 20th.  Then the counting begins.  If you would like more information just let me know.  Dawg (Dan)

Our coin war is finished.  I will be bringing the San Pedro Red Cross a check for  U.S. $273.54.  I am very proud of what our middle school students  have done in such a short time.  I have included a picture of me counting the coins. Dawg (Dan Swanson)

Dan and his wife will be delivering the check in person at our Legends Burger House fundraiser Sunday how exciting is that?

Big shout out – Well done kids at T.J. Walker Middle School give yourselves a big pat on the back for doing a great job. I will make sure you get to see pictures of Mr Dan and Mrs Deb at the fundraiser.

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We have our 4 burger eating competition entrants  for the fundraiser Sunday at Legends Burger House. The King King Challenge is going to happen around 3pm. Come on out, place your bets on who you think will eat the 8 patty stack and see our 4 eaters battle it out for bragging rights and a prize. Prize will also to go one lucky better who pics the biggest eater.

Current prize list

Tropic Air – flight tickets
Fitness Club, Eileen, DandE’s & Snack shack Food and Fit package
Pedro’s Pizza – One 16″ pizza
AJ’s – 4 chili cheese dogs with fries
Caribbean Villas – $50 Bar Tab
Crave – Dinner for 2
CG Esthetic – $50 salon certificate
Scotia Bank – $100 Bank account
Manthieus Deli – Food certificate
palapa bar – 20 food and bar certificates each at $20.00
Pink Boutique –    Handbag value $75
Medina’s House of Jewelry – ring with a lovely stone value $525.00
Simon Quan & Company – a lovely pendulum clock
Seaduced – two sunset cruises for two

Thanks to all business who donated.

Fundraiser interview with Emma and I by Manuel Media on behalf of  Reef TV