Take the Challenge-Take Charge!

The NMF is launching the I [heart] the NMF Teen Challenge to give young people an opportunity to prove they have what it takes to take charge of NMF teen programs… by raising money and awareness on a very adult level.

Here’s the challenge: raise $28,000 by August 1, 2012, and NMF BFF Chris Heaney will donate another $28,000. That means double the money for NMF programs that help children, teens, adults and entire families!

Need another incentive? We’ve got one: the three teens who raise the most money will win these awesome prizes:

1st prize           Kindle Fire

2nd prize         Nintendo 3DS in Flame Red

3rd prize          Apple ipod Nano 16 GB

So how does it work?

If you’re between the ages of 13 and 19 and are affected by Marfan syndrome or a related disorder, or are related to someone who is affected by Marfan syndrome or a related disorder, you’re eligible to compete.

The first thing to do is plan your own campaign to raise money and awareness. There are lots of things you can do, from babysitting to bowl-a-thons to setting up a page on firstgiving.com. Here’s a list of some more ideas. We’ve even got a whole guide to give you ideas and help you plan them. (Download the Activities Planning Guide.)

Your campaign should have two goals: to raise awareness about Marfan syndrome and related disorders and to raise money for programs that help people effected by them.

Sound like a challenge? It is! And there’s a deadline: August 1, 2012.

Sound impossible? It’s not! If 100 teens each raise $300, the teen community would surpass the $28,000 goal!

Finally, if you succeed in raising at least $28,000 (and we know you can!), Chris will donate another $28,000 to the NMF! That’s a total of $56,000 to help pay for teen programs, conference scholarships, educating doctors, scientific research, and all the other things we do. And it will be thanks to you!

Ready?

Read the contest rules here. You don’t want to miss a chance to win those prizes!

Easy (and not so easy) ways to raise money

Here are just a few ideas:

• Provide a service, such as dog walking, babysitting, house cleaning or car washing (sometimes people pay more for work when they know the money is going to charity!)

• Organize an event, like a fashion show, a dance-a-thon or pool party

• Sell stuff—hold a bake sale or a yard sale, set up a gourmet lemonade stand, sell your handmade crafts, jewelry, whatever you’re good at

• Participate in the Hang a Heart program

• Create your own online fundraising page through Firstgiving

• Ask friends and family make a donation to the NMF in lieu of gifts for your birthday or another occasion

• Partner with an existing fundraiser at school, church, etc.

For more fundraising ideas check out the NMF Activities Planning Guide

You can also contact Cathie Tsuchiya, the NMF’s Local Fundraising Coordinator, who does this stuff every day! Contact Cathie at 1-800-862-7326 ext. 113 or fundraise@marfan.org.

Make a donation to the I Heart the NMF Teen Challenge.

Contest Rules

Every contest has rules. Here are ours:

The contest runs from February 2012 to August 1st, 2012.

All teens who are part of the community of Marfan syndrome and related disorders, including unaffected family members, are eligible to compete.

Funds received after August 1st , 2012 will not be counted towards the I Heart the NMF Teen Challenge and will not be eligible towards the 3 prizes.

For funds received by the NMF to be counted towards the I Heart the NMF Challenge, checks and cash received by the NMF must be accompanied by a letter/note stating that these funds are for the I Heart the NMF challenge and must also say the name of the teen who raised the funds or the name of the teen the donation is being made in honor of.

Donations given directly through the I Heart the NMF Firstgiving fundraising page must state which teen raised the funds or which teen the donation is being made in honor of in the comments for the funds to be counted towards wining any of the 3 prizes.

All checks, cash and funds received through the Firstgiving page will be tallied on August 2nd  the day after the contest officially ends, August 1st.

The 3 teens who raise the most funds will receive the 3 prizes. The teen who raises the most funds will receive the Kindle Fire. The teen who raises the second most funds will receive the Nintendo 3DS and the teen who raises the 3rd most funds will receive the ipod Nano.

Prize winners will be announced at the NMF’s Annual Conference in Chicago on Sunday August 5th, 2012 at the Farewell Luncheon. Prize winners do not have to be present to receive their prize. Prizes will be mailed to winners who are not present.

Why this challenge?

Chris explains:

I'd like teens to see themselves the way I see them—powerful, capable, caring, engaged, enthusiastic, influential.

I'd like to see them work together to accomplish something beyond themselves and help each other to step up and do more than they thought they could.

I'd like to see them own a place for making a difference in the Marfan community. For many, the Teen Group has been a gift that's been provided to them, I'd like them to take some ownership in perpetuating and building it.

I believe it's possible for them to fund raise enough money to pay for the teen/childern's programs and help provide scholarships too; I'd like them to see they're capable of playing at that level.

Why 28,000?

I had my aortic heart valve replaced in December of 1984 under challenging circumstances and I'm lucky to have survived. I was 28 years old.

December 2012 will mark the 28th anniversary of that surgery—I will have lived as long with my artificial heart valve as I did before I had surgery.
I've come to think of this milestone as my Cardiac Equinox.

— Chris Heaney

How cool is Chris?

VERY cool! Chris has supported the NMF for almost as long as we’ve been in existance, he’s served on our Board of Directors, and he probably has the longest ponytail of all of our members. We [heart] you Chris!

Show Your Support!

Show your support by showing us your heart hands!

Send us a photo of you “hearting the NMF” and we’ll post it on our online Teen Space. Email photos to: jbuffone@marfan.org.