Emma Loves Dogs Fundraiser

Emma Loves Dogs is an amazing tribute – a great tragedy turned into positive action.

I can’t think of many better ways to honor the memory of somebody than by letting their passions live on forever.

Recently Emma Loves Dogs raised funds by selling various items including custom socks from Elite Sport Socks. We invite everybody to visit them and help raise funds, volunteer or donate.

Interested in running your own sock fundraiser? Start your own sock fundraiser.

How to Get Parents Involved In Fundraisers

Getting Parents Involved In Fundraisers

Whether organizing the fundraising event of the season or just chipping in a bit, parents have a lot to contribute, especially this time of year.

There are many easy ways to raise money for your school or sports team if you put your mind to it. Yet many parents are hesitant to get involved in fundraising efforts or find they are strapped for time. That’s understandable since parents have a lot going on between work, home responsibilities, and taking care of the family.

Here are some great ways to involve busy parents in fundraisers.

Make fundraising efforts effortless

It sounds silly, but the more straightforward a fundraising effort is, the more likely parents will want to get involved. This means outlining goals — whether financial or otherwise — upfront and in clear terms. 

Also, outline how these goals should be met, whether through candy sales or clothing drives. Be sure to distribute fliers with all the pertinent information so that parents can program the details into their calendars.

Get everyone involved

Everyone should be able to participate, but you should let people know that everyone is welcome. While many fundraising events are hosted by school groups like PTAs or PTOs, it should be advertised that parents who aren’t active in those groups can participate, too.

One idea is to host an ice cream social or a coffee event so people can get more information. Not only is it a good way to advertise the goals of your fundraising efforts, but it can get parents acclimated to your group. When parents feel like they are a part of something, they are more likely to participate. 

Meet parents where they are

Parents are busy people! Between parent-teacher conferences, coordinating school and afterschool activities, work, and keeping the household running, parents have a lot on their plate. It’s easy for them to sometimes miss communications, especially if they are posted on channels where they may not spend a lot of time.

Instead of only using one method to communicate (e.g. email), consider promoting fundraising events through a variety of channels, including social media, text messages, phone calls, and email. You’ll want to tread carefully so as to not overwhelm them, but you should also make a solid effort to meet them on the channels they use. 

Conclusion

Most parents want to help out however they can; they simply lack the time to be more proactive about getting involved. Following these simple tips can ensure that you give willing parents the right opportunities to get involved in fundraising efforts — and to enjoy them along the way!

Driving Awareness Through Breast Cancer Fundraising Events

Breast Cancer Fundraiser Ideas

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it a great time to organize a breast cancer fundraising event. Whether you’re raising funds for cancer treatment, research, or awareness, there are many different avenues to pursue. We look at some of the most effective ways to create a community around breast cancer awareness and fundraising. 

Throw a pink party

A “pink party” is a great way to generate awareness around breast cancer. To host this type of event, you’ll want to ensure that all decorations are pink. Also, let guests know on the invitation that they should wear pink as well. Making as much of the food and beverages pink as possible is another fun way to add flair to the party. In order to make it a true breast cancer fundraising event, consider charging an admission fee or asking for donations from guests. The more the merrier.

Host a 50/50 raffle fundraiser

A 50/50 raffle is a low-cost way to raise money for the breast cancer cause. As a host, you simply need a roll of raffle tickets and a place to hold an event. You may choose to organize a pink party as outlined above or another type of event where many people can gather. Sell raffle tickets in advance of the event, at the door, and during the event for maximum fundraising. The drawing can be held at the event so that everyone can be involved in the excitement. The winner of the raffle gets to take home 50 percent of the proceeds with the other 50 percent going toward the cause. Keeping track of and advertising how big the pot is growing is a great way to get people excited and involved.

Partner with a restaurant

Working with a restaurant to host a special breast cancer fundraising event is a great way to raise money and awareness. Most restaurants are open to partnering with charities, so start by making a list of restaurants that would make a good host. You may consider both national franchises as well as smaller, more local restaurants. Hosting a restaurant partnership during Breast Cancer Awareness Month can optimize publicity and results. Once you settle on a restaurant, they will host a night in honor of the cause and a portion of the sales will be donated.

Organize a breast cancer charity run

A breast cancer charity run can be a run and engaging way to raise awareness and money for your cause. This may require more planning than some of the other options, and you’ll need to map out:

  • The ideal location for the run
  • A list of volunteers and their responsibilities
  • Refreshments
  • Legal needs
  • Awards
  • Promotion and registration
  • Communication with participants

You’ll also need to ensure that you have a website for your race set up and that you can accept registrations and donations through the site. 

No matter which route you choose, hosting a breast cancer fundraising event can have a profound impact. Doing do during Breast Cancer Awareness Month can amplify the impact even more. Consider all your options and make a pros and cons list for each. 

At the end of the day, rest easy knowing you are contributing in a great way to a great cause. 

Why You Should Wash Your Socks More Often Than Boris Johnson

Why You Should Wash Your Socks More Than Boris

New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is known for his unkempt fashion sense — baggy suits, tousled hair, and rumpled dress shirts. Adding to that are his socks, which are often colorful. According to Women’s Wear Daily, Johnson is a fan of socks because they are opportunities to display his personality. 

They are, he said, his “one concession to fashion.” He even has a favorite place to shop for socks: north London’s Chapel Market

In fact, Johnson likes socks so much, he is known for wearing the same pair of socks for several days in a row. Recently the British press noted that Johnson wore one pair four straight days, evidenced by press photos taken during interviews each day. 

The socks in question are distinctive — They are emblazoned with the image of King Ashurbanipal, ruler of the Neo-Assyrian empire from 668 to 627 BC. The British Museum sells them in their gift shop. During one of the four days, it appeared that Johnson wore one of the socks inside out.

Be Like Boris?

His media team insists that Johnson owns several pairs of the one sock. But if that’s not true, it does raise the question: How often should one wash their socks?

The consensus among experts: Socks should be washed after every use. But it may depend on what your sock is made of.

The American Cleaning Institute, an advocacy group for the U.S. cleaning products industry, says that underwear and socks should always be cleaned after a single use. The only items that can wait for washing after repeated use are pajamas, bras, suits, jackets, and jeans.

Yet research shows cotton socks may have the advantage over polyester. A 2014 study by Ghent University in Belgium found that bacteria are more likely to sit on polyester than on cotton. Which means that socks made of the synthetic fabric will smell far worse after one wearing.

The authorities on this issue are the foot doctors. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says some of the worst foot ailments are related to the presence of microorganisms. The most common is Athlete’s Foot, a fungal infection that is also known as ringworm of the foot. 

The APMA recommends changing socks regularly to decrease moisture, especially if you perspire heavily. (Acrylic socks, the kind sold by Elite Sports Socks, has much greater moisture-wicking properties than cotton or polyester.) 

So for hygiene’s sake, it is probably better to not be like Boris. Buy more socks because wearing the same pair every day is going to lead to something very itchy and smelly. 

Your feet will thank you.

The History of Baseball Socks

History Of Baseball Socks

Like the game itself, the history of baseball socks is long and colorful.

When baseball gained popularity in the 1840s and 1850s, socks were not a significant part of the uniform because players wore long pants. The decision was a practical one: Pants helped protect the full leg from the action on the field. Socks at that point were largely invisible and didn’t play a role in the uniform.

That changed in 1868 when Cincinnati Baseball Club owner George Ellard, a fan of the game cricket, designed a uniform that had the pant leg stop just below the knee where it was met by a high, red sock. The fashion statement was close to the knickerbocker pants worn in cricket, but Ellard also believed the look would turn heads and increase ticket sales.

He was right: The newly-minted Cincinnati Red Stockings were a hit in the league, a phenomenon that convinced two other teams — the Chicago White Stockings and the Boston Red Sox to follow suit.

The Stirrup Sensation

Long socks became a hallmark of the uniform until around 1905 when teams started utilizing stirrups. These long, colorful enhancements layered over plain white socks were considered necessary for health reasons stemming from an incident involving Cleveland Naps second baseman Nap Lajoie who contracted sepsis from an untreated injury from getting spiked in the shins through his socks. It was feared that the baseball socks themselves played a role in his affliction, with colored dye entering his bloodstream.

As a result, stirrups were added as an extra layer, with the traditional white baseball sock (at the time called “sanitaries,” or “sanis”) providing protection underneath. The stirrups were cut around the ankle and had no feet so players, now wearing two layers, could still easily slip their feet into their cleats. Soon, players started wearing the stirrups higher so the bottom sock was more visible.

Back to Long Pants

By the mid-century, more players wore their socks higher to reveal the white sock underneath. The advancement of colored dyes and a heightened sense of fashion in society led to more colorful stirrups. Stripes in the stirrups were introduced in the 1960s. But by the 1970s, players were wearing their stirrups so high that their purpose became almost irrelevant. As a response, manufacturers invented the “two-in-one,” a combination of stirrup and sanitary in one sock.

Today, most baseball players have gone full circle back to the long pants look, which carries the pant leg down to the shoe. There are exceptions, depending on the player, but stirrups and long, colored socks now tend to be found more in the Little League circuit, or in high school and college baseball. Major League Baseball (MLB) has no official ruling on the kind of socks players must wear, and how they must wear them. That means the long baseball sock plus stirrup still appear on the field from time to time, usually by traditionalists paying homage to a time when fashion on the diamond mattered.