08 December 2005

need help

I work for a non-profit adoption agency. In an ongoing effort to keep fees down, serve more kids, etc., I am in the process of organizing a tennis tournament.

But here's the thing. Not that many people play tennis. The tournament's been around for 10 years, so it practically runs itself, but I want to add a non-tennis component this year. Here is what I have so far:

1. a catchy name: "Raise a Racquet! (even if you never have)"

2. it needs to be a side event specifically for NON-tennis players (i.e. me and most of the people I know who are like me--want to help birthparents but can't swing a racquet to save their life)

3. a general set-up idea, somewhat like a race sponsorship (different people pledge to sponsor you, and when you raise $x, you get a free shirt or whatever). If you are familiar with the Komen Race for the Cure, it will be like that, only like their "Sleep in for the Cure" for non-runner/walkers.

Here is what I lack:
1. what activity should it be? or perhaps not an activity, but a commitment that on the day of the tournament, you will NOT pick up a tennis racquet, but will instead spend the day with your family...something like that.

2. time to organize it.

3. a bank or large corporation that would like to sponsor said event.


Help!!! I need ideas! You're a creative lot, I know you are.

10 comments:

Shelli said...

Hmmmm...thinking thinking thinking.

Karen said...

yes....put that nefarious brilliance to work! mwah ha ha!

Anonymous said...

maybe you could do a ping-pong or badminton tournament. the badminton could be a team activity.

or a lemonade recipe contest

or cookies

Or both, and then you wouldn't have to worry about providing refreshments.

or you could do a great gatsby tie in and have people dress up as their fav. fitzgerald character and have a costume contest. tennis whites and flapper costumes...

Anonymous said...

ooh, ooh, rich people play golf! you could have a longest drive contest. you could make a word play somehow on the fact that you 'swing' both the tennis racquet and the golf club.

play swing music, get swing dancers... or have a swing dance contest...ooh, ooh, ooh, have a dance and hire a local jazz combo to do standards. Use old album art from Benny Goodman's Swing, Swing, Swing...
swing (tennis racquet), swing (golf club), swing (dancers)!
SWEET!
okay, maybe that's a bit much.

hey, you asked for it!

Karen said...

i did ask for it.

got any extra time to help me plan it? :)

Anonymous said...

ummmmm.........

Anonymous said...

http://www.indygolf.com/Articles/TournamentPlanning.html

Karen said...

you rock, melissa! thanks!

Anonymous said...

yes, i know.


but you're still crazy

SlushTurtle said...

I think people are more likely to pay to do nothing, like sleeping in for the cure. Some people might want to give, but everyone is so busy, it's hard to make time to do everything.