Sarah and Lauren -- best friends fundraising in Boston for GIRLS WHO ROCK NY!
Lauren Horn, a student at Northeastern University, heard about what Syracuse University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Tennessee, and other college co-eds were doing to fundraise for girls’ education, so she decided to bring Boston on board! She and her best friend are co-hosting a She’s the First fundraiser in July…below, said BFF Sarah Matthews tells us how it’s done — and why it matters to her.
I’ve always yearned to make a difference — whether it’s helping someone who’s lost with directions, lending a helping hand to a friend, or offering a kind word to someone who needs some positivity in their life. It’s the mantra by which I live my life, and I try to surround myself with people who feel the same. My best friend Lauren introduced me to the awesome work of her friend Tammy Tibbetts and She’s the First. After hearing about everything that She’s the First does, I was floored. How could such a small organization make such a huge difference? It’s everyday people like you and me. Lauren then asked me to join her to support She’s the First by co-hosting a fundraiser.
Sarah Matthews, planning her She's the First fundraiser for Boston friends
Once we were both on board, our event planning skills took off. Lauren and I met at our favorite brunch spot in Boston and bounced ideas off each other. Pretty soon, we had a fully fleshed out fundraiser jotted down on our little notebooks in front of us. We decided to host the event at my apartment and settled on a “Informal-Formal Gala Night.” In the Facebook invitation, we encouraged our friends to dress in their best to dine on finger foods and wine. It would be a classy night, without the stuffiness of some fundraiser events. We decided to send all of our collected donations to the Haiti Outreach Program. Since only $100 dollars funds one year of primary education for one girl, we figured that this is our chance to help out more than one girl. Also, with the devastating earthquake in Haiti earlier this year, what better way to make a difference that will matter NOW!
We marketed the event via twitter, Facebook invites, and old school word-of-mouth. I’m proud to say that the response has been tremendous. Parents of friends are getting involved and doing their own fundraiser collections for our event. Invited guests are telling their friends to join them and donate to the cause. It’s been exciting to see our fellow college students so excited about making a difference. Lauren and I are planning on hosting the event in the month of July, which gives us plenty of time to collect as many donations as we can.
I was first introduced to She’s the First through my best friend, Lauren. Imagine the possibilities if everyone told one person about this amazing organization. And now – Lauren and I are spreading the word to all of our friends. Pay it forward. You CAN make a difference in a girl’s life.
Peace and love,
Sarah
