Red Scarf Project

Red Scarf Fundraising Drive 2009

The annual fundraising drive for the Red Scarf Fund is currently ongoing in my regular blog, from now to midnight Eastern Time, December 15, 2009.  

There are loads of prizes to be won!

Here are the rules:

1 chance to win for every $5 donation.

Winners are chosen at random.  

When someone wins, only one "ticket" (the equivalent of one $5) donation, is removed from their count. For example, if you donate $20 and win something, you could win three more times.  (Or you might not win at all. It is completely random.)

CHECK BACK OFTEN!!!

The final big drawing will take place December 16, 2009, but surprise drawings take place all along the way, on a random basis

The list of prizes is constantly being updated and described in my main blog. The prizes are outlined in my main blog, under the category "Red Scarf Project."

In order to qualify to win prizes, donate to the Red Scarf Fund via Paypal

or send in a check to

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

and  notify us at redscarffund@gmail.com of the amount of your donation to qualify for the drawing (one chance for every $5 donation).  

Each donor of greater than $5 also gets a thank you coupon for 10% off a purchase at JessaLu ArtFire site.

Working On Awarding Prizes

The Now Norma Knits fundraising drive for the Red Scarf Fund for Foster Youth closed as of midnight Eastern time last night, and I am currently working on the spreadsheets, awarding all the prizes to some lucky winners. 

Of course, the fund needs money 24/7/365, so don't let the fact that my fundraising drive is over stop you from making a tax-deductible donation. Just click on the Paypal button to donate at any time. Your donations help with emergency expenses for students receiving OFA scholarships.

Stay tuned here and in my regular blog for the list of winners, and don't forget to take advantage of year-end sales to buy your red scarf yarn (doesn't necessarily HAVE to be red) for next year's Red Scarf Project.Get started early!  Word is, there will be a scarf-a-month knitalong or two going on around Ravelry and in the blogs for 2010. When choosing yarns and patterns, choose unisex colors and patterns, soft yarns. Machine washability is a plus, but NOT a requirement. 

Red Scarves At Mount Vernon

Just got back from a wonderfully fun outing at Mount Vernon with Lynn Davis, Tracey F., and Cheryl, who is an interpreter at Mt. Vernon. We had so much fun. Here is a photographic preview for those who read this blog and Facebook. A full accounting will be in my regular blog tomorrow.

 

 

Ideas for Things to Include With Your Scarves

Several people have asked about what else to send with their completed scarves. First off, attach a small tag or a wrapper such as Melissa's wrappers, available here, saying "Knitted/Crocheted for you by (your first name)." You can add your city or state if you wish. And attach a small tag with washing instructions. There are care tags in Melissa's blog, as well, or you can just write it on a small hang-tag.

If you want to be thanked or have your scarf acknowledged by the OFA (you won't be thanked by the recipient, because you will not be identified to the recipient other than by first name and/or city/state, as mentioned above), please include a stamped self-addressed envelope, which will help the volunteers tremendously. 

It's not absolutely necessary to include anything else, but it is encouraged and will be very much appreciated. The anything else can include a check to the OFA to be added to the Red Scarf Fund, or a gift card to any national chain. Appropriate cards are to department stores, discount stores, food chains, music cards, bookstores, office supply stores, drug store chains, stamps -- you name it.  

Read a longer version of this post in my regular blog.

UPDATE RE MAILING DEADLINE

UPDATE RE SUPER-DUPER SERIOUS DEADLINE RE RED SCARF MAILINGS:

Several people have asked when is the drop-dead deadline, and I have got the word from Lynn this morning:  Please try to mail your scarves by the 15th of December. But if you can't, or you're not quite finished or if it means that you might be able to send one or two more in, if you mail them the first week of January,there will still be time for the volunteers to process them before they have to mail them out in the beginning of February. It would just be difficult if everyone waited till then, so keep that in mind. We are all so excited to see everyone's wonderful high-quality scarves in all the photos. I'm going down to Virginia later this week, so I will be able to see some of the scarves with my own eyes.  EXCITED!

MORE SCARVES URGENTLY NEEDED!

After a large unpacking event on Saturday, November 21, 2009, the count of scarves stands at 1,287.

Please knit more!  (or mail yours off if you are finished)  

P.S.  I forgot to mention, as a reminder:  The goal is 3,000-3,500 scarves.