Overview What is the Get Up and Go for POGO! fundraising program? It is an employee giving program that promotes community service by raising funds to support the work of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). It provides a vehicle for employees to give back to their community through their workplace. Who is POGO and what is the work that they do? POGO, a charitable organization founded in 1983, works to ensure that children with cancer across the province always receive the best possible cancer care. POGO is the official advisor on childhood cancer to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the representative voice of the childhood cancer community in Ontario. POGO s work includes: Financial assistance to families to help with out-of-pocket costs such as babysitting, food and accommodation when their child is diagnosed with cancer; Special education and vocational supports to survivors that face devastating cognitive challenges as a result of their cancer and/or treatment; Research that utilizes POGO s unique database that includes medical/treatment information on every child that has gone through cancer treatment anywhere in Ontario for the past 25 years; and Professional education to help multidisciplinary childhood cancer professionals to stay up-to-date in this rapidly changing field. POGO is there for kids and their families through diagnosis, treatment and beyond. This has been POGO s work for over 25 years. We know what kids with cancer face and how long the journey can be. So we re there for them every step of the way.
Facts About Childhood Cancer 1. Every year in Ontario, over 400 children are diagnosed with cancer.* 2. 1 in 330 individuals will be diagnosed with a malignant disease before their 20 th birthday. 3. Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death among kids in Ontario. 4. While 82% of children in this province survive cancer, approximately 60% of survivors will face physical, cognitive and/or psychosocial late effects as a result of their disease and/or treatment.* 5. At any point in time, over 4,000 of Ontario s children require cancer treatment or follow-up care* 6. POGO studies show that when a child has cancer, the family typically loses 1/3 of after-tax income due to out-of-pocket costs and lost income. 7. The types of cancer affecting children are very different from those commonly occurring in adults. Acute leukemias and primary brain tumours account for almost half of all cancers in childhood *Data source: the POGO Networked Information System (POGONIS)
Campaign Ideas Online Campaign Create group or individual fundraising pages to raise money online for POGO. You can easily ask friends, family and colleagues to make an online donation in support of your campaign. Office Parties Organize a breakfast, BBQ, or an office theme party to fundraise for POGO. The options are endless and offer a fun and exciting way for staff to participate and socialize. A-Thons Host a walk-a-thon, bike-a-thon, skate-a-thon, etc. Coworkers can compete individually or the event can become a department challenge. Draw or Silent Auction Collect prizes for your draw or auction, such as gift certificates, gift baskets, sports tickets, art, lunch with your president, extra vacation days, or a parking space for a year. Suggest a minimum donation per ticket and auction item. Dress Down Fridays Designate Fridays as a casual day in exchange for donations to POGO. Sporting Events Golf tournaments, volleyball tournaments, baseball games and other sporting events are a great way to generate office camaraderie and team spirit. By having your company sponsor the event to cover costs, and staff purchase tickets to the event, you are sure to have a successful day that is a draw for many in the organization. Payroll Giving Campaign Simply ask your Human Resources department to begin a tax-deductible monthly gift payable to POGO from your pay cheque. Promote the payroll giving campaign in your office by distributing a payroll deduction pledge forms and informing colleagues about POGO s important work. Corporate Matching Gift Program Many Canadian organizations are matching the charitable gifts of their employees. To see if your organization will match employee donations, speak to your Human Resources or Finance department about the rules and regulations of corporate matching gifts. POGO Leadership Connection (PLC) Make a longer term commitment to POGO by joining the PLC and encouraging other employees at your organization to do the same. The PLC is comprised of a group of Toronto's finest leaders whose support has helped grow fundraising revenue and build valuable partnerships for POGO. Members make a financial commitment to of a minimum of $500/year for five years. To learn more about the PLC, please contact Clark Vallis at cvallis@pogo.ca.
Steps and Tips to Ensure Success 1. Give yourself lots of time! You will need to start planning 6-8 weeks in advance of your event or campaign 2. Put together a Committee. This committee will plan and oversee the creation of the event or campaign 3. Involve Staff Champions. Identify a staff member(s) who can work with committee to share the workload and generate support 4. Select a date for your event. Plan your date(s) for your event/campaign and create a timeline of all key dates. Promote it on your company s intranet. Click Photography 5. Fundraise online. Set up an online fundraising page with POGO s easy to use online fundraising tool. Visit www.pogo.ca to find out more. 6. Involve the entire organization. Involve all staff to be part of this great initiative! Identify ways fundraising can be fit into existing staff activities. 7. Promote your campaign. Hang posters, send emails and include it in staff meetings and communications. Get creative! 8. Encourage fundraising. There are many ways your staff can be involved in fundraising for POGO. 9. Celebrate your success! Mail the Reporting and Donations Submission Form, along with pledge forms and cheques/bank drafts to POGO, and then share the fundraising total with the whole organization. Celebrate by thanking everyone who helped make your event a success; share any photos taken on Event Day 10. Send Thank You letters. Using the template provided, thank anyone who helped make your event a success.
Suggested Event Planning Timeline 6-8 weeks before your event or campaign Select a date or timeline for your event or campaign and set a fundraising goal Determine what format it will take (run, sporting day, draw etc.), and where it will take place Identify a Staff Champion Identify and approach potential sponsors (refreshments, food, equipment, draw) Start promoting your event/campaign Invite POGO to your organization to launch your event/campaign 2-3 weeks before your event or campaign Continue promoting your event or campaign throughout your organization o Make sure you have checklists for volunteer tasks and participants names Organize volunteers and materials: o Assign tasks to volunteers, remembering to designate an official photographer o Finalize event logistics o Ensure you have all the equipment you will need (pylons, tables/chairs, easels, microphones, garbage cans, napkins, etc.) o Confirm sponsors and donations Event Day! Set up your site. Open the event with an enthusiastic greeting and explain the event agenda. Thank any sponsors, donors, volunteers and committee. Have fun! Close the event with a big thank you! Following your event Complete the Reporting and Donations Submission form, and convert cash to cheque, money order or bank draft Celebrate! Recognize top fundraisers and share photos. Organize a de-brief meeting amongst organizers to critique the event and plan for next year Send thank you letters to sponsors and anyone who helped make the event a success When remitting your funds please ensure we have the following information: o A cover letter with details of your campaign/event o The name of your organization with complete address (including the email of the contact person) o Full name of each donor with complete address and donation amount (if receipts are needed)
Thank You! At POGO, we truly appreciate the time and effort you spend organizing and executing your employee fundraising campaign! If you have any questions while you are planning your campaign, please contact: Christine Cleland at ccleland@pogo.ca or 416-592-1232 ext 253 When your Workplace Fundraising Campaign is complete, please remit your funds to: Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario 480 University Avenue, Suite 1014 Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V2 Attention: Christine Cleland All cheques must be made payable to Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario.