Feb 21, 2016
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Why Fundraising is Fun
Mom has this endearingly precious habit of cutting out newspaper clippings and sending them to me along with a sweet note. It usually takes me a while to get around to reading them, but one way or another I always do.
Today, I received a note from her, written on the dog Christmas stationary I got her last December (interesting choice considering it's June, but we'll get to that another time). Included in the letter was this awesome article clipped out of the New York Times. For once, I read it immediately and its relevancy to my life got me thinking.
Something intriguing that I’ve come to realize is the perplexity and individuality of each person’s conception of what in life is fun. Where I’m living this summer, the majority of the students I’ve met are industrial engineering, biomedicaI engineering, or computer science majors. I think I met one person who was a business major, but was quickly told that such a major is looked down on, simply because it’s stereotypically an “easier” major. Yet, the baffling part of this is that all of these majors are by choice. They like engineering and find it enjoyable because it’s something that they’re good at, which I think is beyond admirable. Oh the life of an Advertising major.
Yet, I was pondering earlier today about how incredible it is, that something so difficult and dreadful in my mind can bring others so much joy. And this brought me to fundraising.
Three years ago, if you had told me that I would one day come to find joy in fundraising, I think I would have laughed and awkwardly averted my eyes out of sheer confusion. Lucy three years ago had just graduated high school. I had just begun the life-long journey searching to grasp just a flicker of my very identity and image. I was a rising freshman at the University of Georgia, swimming my way through registering for classes with Oasis and the land of neck wallets.
Yet here I am, a rising Senior. It would be a vast understatement to say I’ve grown a lot in the past three years because what college student doesn’t grow up a little. For me, I think it’s more important to focus on the things discovered, the knowledge soaked up, and the foundations of my identity that will continue to shape me within the years to come.
The summer after my freshman year, I decided to go on a Cru Summer Project to Miami. This changed my life in countless ways, but for starters it was my first encounter with raising money. And to be honest, I hated it. I hated asking people for money. I found it to be awkward, morally wrong, and uncomfortable on so many levels. It put me out of my comfort zone and my family wasn’t particularly on board, which deemed it to be out of the question ever again.
It’s funny how God works. He must have been laughing at me and my fear of raising $2900, as I had no idea of what was to come. God used that summer in Miami to completely change my heart towards raising money. I began to find joy in the opportunity that he had given me to ask people to support a cause that I believed it. He changed my burdens into joys.
The next year, I raised money to go to Brazil on a mission trip to Rio de Janeiro. For most of my fundraising here, I did photography for friends and family to raise support, babysat, hosted bake sales, and just worked odd jobs. On the plane ride to Rio, I have vivid memories of working on my application to be on the Executive Board for UGA Miracle. After spending two years involved with Miracle, I was eager and desperate to serve more and be a part of Exec in any position. But I didn’t know where I would fit. I knew that I would be happy in any position, but I was only able to see myself in roles that I was familier with due to my own lack of information. I finished my application on the plane ride home, promising in my application to serve in any role that the Executive Council saw fit, as I honestly wasn’t sure of exactly the best position for me.
In late March at 1:45 AM, I received a phone call that would forever change my life: I had been chosen to be a part of UGA Miracle’s 2013-2014 Executive Board as a fundraising co-chair. I remember jumping up and down screaming, with tears running down my face. It was nothing short of a dream come true. Yet, it was only when I had calmed down and stopped manically grinning from ear to ear that the irony of this new role sunk in. Me? In charge of fundraising? This will be interesting.
It is only through Jesus that the thoughtless can become thoughtful and menial tasks become joyful works of the utmost promise.
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17
UGA Miracle Morale Dance 2013
UGA Miracle raised $346,289.13 for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta! So so proud. For the Kids :)
Little Big Town played a benefit concert for ugaMiracle tonight at the Georgia Theater. To say they were fabulous would be a gross understatement.
Law school steals most of my time, but I owe one to Aubrey for treating me to the perfect study break - grillin out steaks and dancing to the sounds of southern pride. Merlot in a mason jar? Loved it.
