The First She's the First Benefit Sale! (You Can Host One Too!)

Sammy Davis Vintage hosts the first benefit sale for She's the First!

Want to support the She’s the First network of sponsorship programs, but you’re low on cash? A $200 or $300 sponsorship for a girl doesn’t have to come solely from your bank account. Get social and creative with your fundraising! Sammy Davis shows us how it’s done.

Sammy is hosting the very first benefit sale for She’s the First in NYC on April 18th! Her brand, Sammy Davis Vintage, works to help women achieve style with substance for feel-good, do-good fashion. As a result, she will donate $200 of her proceeds from her sale to sponsor a teen girl in Haiti! The student she’s supporting comes from the Haiti Outreach Program, a member of the She’s the First network. And guess what? Katie Riley, the University of Tennessee student leader for the organization, will be road tripping to NYC to personally attend and speak to shoppers about the cause!

Sammy’s Vintage Lovin’ Birthday Benefit Sale is open to all — click here for details. Read on for a brief interview with Sammy to learn the secrets of effectively hosting your own fundraiser to sponsor a girl!

Q: Why did you decide to sponsor a girl in Haiti through your sale?

Sammy Davis

I chose to sponsor a girl in Haiti in particular because of the country’s recent natural crisis. While there has been an outpouring of relief aid and donation to the country since the earthquake, I want to leave an impact that is not just a temporary band aid but one which will benefit both the sponsored girl and her community now and in the future. Sponsoring a girl’s education is the greatest gift: the gift of opportunity and economic, cultural advancement.

Q: Is this type of event easy to plan? If I was to get my sorority/friends together to host a big yard sale or used clothing sale to fundraise for sponsoring a girl, what should our first steps be?

Is planning a party easy? More importantly, is planning a party fun?  Yes and YES!

To plan an event to raise money to sponsor a girl, you need three key things: 1) a product to sell or entertainment to offer, 2) Facebook or email account and 3) your open heart and enthusiasm!

It’s as easy as that. Take what you know how to do, something that you might even deem a “hobby,” and advertise those services and/or fun to your friends and family. As word spreads, the growth will take care of itself – it’s amazing how many “friends of friends” are attending my benefit sale, and I can’t wait to make the new connections!

Do your roommates drool over your homemade cupcakes? Sell them between classes on campus – word will spread of your tasty treats and of the good cause you are promoting! Next thing you know, you may even be featured in the student newspaper or on your friends’ blogs. Take positive, inspiring action and the press and promotion will come to you.

Are you a runner? Sign up for an endurance run and promise to train on behalf of raising money for sponsorship. Send out an email blast to your friends and family linking them to a site like First Giving, where they can donate money like a PayPal account.

Don’t want to run alone? Grab your gym partners to join in, make T-shirts promoting your cause, and then send pics of you crossing the finish line to She’s the First for post-run congratulations on the blog!

Sketch of pieces from the Sammy Davis Vintage collection, by Bridget McMullan.

The possibilities are endless – it’s just about applying what you know!

Q: I live in New York City. Can anyone come to your sale on April 18th?

Absolutely! The space is open to the public and easily marked. Just let the doorman know you are there for the “benefit sale,” and take the elevator to floor 2. The space is in suite 2B (you’ll probably be able to hear the sounds of merriment!) and we will welcome you and any of your friends with open arms. Arrive early for awesome door prizes!

Sign up for the Sammy Davis Vintage listerv to learn more about the girl I am sponsoring, to receive very special discount coupons for the event, and to get a preview of the vintage goodies and treats in store!