Senior Center Best Practices

Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Money Making Ideas

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
Community Action Southwest
Carmichaels Activity Center/Waynesburg Community Center

Address
150 W. Beau Street, Suite #304, Washington, PA 15301

Phone Number
724-225-9550

E-Mail
sstroman@caswg.org

Contact Person
Stacy Stroman

Event Name
Steelers Sunday Cash Bash

Description/Overview
A Cash Bash was planned to raise funds for the Carmichaels and Waynesburg Centers. Our Cash Bash consisted of selling 500 tickets @ $20 each with a chance to win twice on each ticket. This price also included food and refreshments. The Cash Bash was held at the Carmichaels Activity Center at 1:00 PM on Steeler Game Sunday. Drawings started at 2:00 PM with numbers being drawn every 20 minutes with a $200 prize. At 7:00 PM, the last number was drawn using the PA Lottery with a $2,000 cash prize. During the event, tickets were sold for a Chinese auction with a chance to win a basket of their choice. Also, during the event, 50/50 tickets and small games of chance tickets were sold. This was our first fundraising event utilizing a Cash Bash.

Time and Manpower
Planning occurred over a 5 month period with the Site Councils meeting once a month. Five paid staff and approximately 20 volunteers were utilized to plan and implement the event. The planning stages included: food preparation, ticket sales, seeking donations, set up/clean up and working the actual event. Smaller committees worked on implementing the planning stages and provided numerous hours.

Marketing
Flyers were posted throughout the community and connecting counties (Fayette and Washington.) Public service announcements on the local radio station and regular notification at the senior centers were utilized. The event was also publicized in our local Center Connection. Tickets were sold at local events such as the King Coal Show in Carmichaels, and at local businesses.

Audience Served
Greene County Residents

Partnerships Utilized
Albert Gallatin Home Health Care, Shop 'N Save, Giant Eagle, Community Bank, Magic Moments, Sheetz, Fredericktown Meat Market and Yoskovich Funeral Home.

Budget/Costs
Costs were very minimal due to the large number of donations. Tickets were donated by Yoskovich Funeral Home and most food items were contributed by the local grocery food chains. Raffle items were donated by local businesses and private individuals throughout the community. Both Site Councils paid for the minimal costs up front, but were reimbursed after the event.

Impact On Center
There was an $8,000 profit which was split between both Carmichaels and Waynesburg Centers. These funds help support both centers and provided community awareness about the Greene County Senior Centers. This was an opportunity for both Site Councils on opposite ends of the County to work together and become more aware of the programming offered at each center.

Good Tips/Other
Planning meetings were very critical and choosing individuals to lead the committees who understood the importance of the project. Also, to have someone in charge of running the show the day of the event, who is knowledgeable about hosting a Cash Bash. This year, we are planning to add a $200 cash prize to the person selling the $2,000 winning ticket. This will help to entice more ticket sales. This has become an annual event for us.