Every purchase of tulips or a crispy wave fern helps us make Ontario the best place to breathe for all of us who share the air - those who have lung disease and those of us who don t, and hopefully never will. February 26 th to March 9 th
Welcome! To some, the tulip is just a flower. A fern is just a plant. To us, they are symbols of life, hope and a reminder of the importance of the air we breathe. Thank you for joining our team by becoming a workplace champion and for being part of an unstoppable force passionate about breathing. You are helping The Lung Association keep pushing forward - whether it s searching for cures to lung diseases, helping people to quit smoking and ensuring that children never start, or fighting for clean air. We appreciate that your time is valuable so we have developed this toolkit to help you with your fundraising efforts. We hope this resource gives you and your colleagues some creative ideas to make a difference while having some fun! 2
Background For the past 19 years, The Lung Association has been running its Tulip Campaign with resounding success, thanks to the incredible efforts of our volunteers across the province. This year our campaign, which has been renamed, the Breath of Spring campaign, will run from February 26th to March 9th, 2018. We re still selling tulips our signature flower - which is low fragrance and non-allergic but we re also selling crispy wave ferns, which have been shown to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and remove harmful particles from the air. Both are perfect gifts for family and friends, or a fresh addition to your desk and what a wonderful way to welcome spring and kick the winter blues to the curb! Why your support matters Today, 1 in 5 Canadians have lung disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the number one cause of hospitalization in Canada. Asthma affects at least thirteen per cent of our children. Lung cancer kills more people than breast, ovarian, colon and prostate cancer combined. That s why we need your support. The money raised through the campaign will: Fund research that could lead to the next breathing breakthrough finding cures to diseases that will deliver a future of better breathing for all. Give people with lung disease and their families vital information, support and resources. Promote healthy breathing by fighting for policies that protect our air, and educating Canadians about what they can do to promote their own lung health. Benefits to Participating Promotes your organization s commitment to an important cause A great way to encourage team building and developing leadership skills by setting a fundraising goal Inspire one another for a good cause Boosts creativity and employee morale Involve everyone with simple fundraising activities Bring fresh air to the workplace 3
5 easy steps to be a Workplace Champion 1 Step One: Read through this toolkit and get some ideas on how to promote the Breath of Spring campaign in your workplace. For more information, or to download posters, postcards, factsheets and order forms, visit:. 2 Step Two: Advise your local Lung Association contact that you are going to participate and be the point of sales person for your company. We can help you every step of the way and give you more ideas on how we can promote your efforts. Consider setting a goal.how many do you think you and your colleagues can sell? 3 Step Three: Have fun! Actively promote the sale of tulips and ferns in your workplace and collect your colleagues orders through the provided order forms. Then place your order either through your local Lung Association contact or online. Also ensure that you keep your colleagues up-to-date of timelines and how the office fundraiser is going. 4 Step Four: Be the contact when the tulips and ferns are delivered to your workplace. Follow up with those who have made an order. Remember all money must be received either prior to or at the time of delivery. 5 Step Five: Remember to say thank you to your team and colleagues! Send out a note to everyone, thanking them for being part of a part of a breathing movement that is making real change happen. Bringing Your Co-Workers Onboard Does your workplace have an event organizing or social committee? If so, that is the first logical place to go for extra helping hands for your workplace fundraiser. If these committees don t exist, here s your chance to create one. Recruit co-workers with different skill sets and who are committed to putting on a successful event to benefit the cause. If you want to reach a larger group, send out an email or post the information on an internal newsletter or intranet. Hanging posters in common areas is also a great way to recruit. 4
Promote! Promote! Promote! Get out the megaphone and let everyone know about your Breath of Spring campaign. Promoting your fundraiser is the key way to build support for it. HERE ARE SOME PROMOTIONAL TIPS: Let people know about the campaign well in advance Send out an email blast about your tulip and fern sales to all employees (or even better still, get the boss onboard ask him/her to send out a companywide email) Encourage your boss to make an order for your company s clients or customers and proudly show your support Add a reminder of sales days onto to your company portal or staff calendar Hang the posters across the office Decorate the reception areas with a floral centerpiece Host a pancake breakfast, pizza or potluck lunch to launch the campaign in your office Set-up tables in the cafeteria or high traffic areas Setup a breathing wall with signature photos of everyone who buys a tulip or fern Email digital photos of employees who have purchased a tulip or fern and post them to your company s social media pages Send out a reminder about 24 hours from your cut-off date to encourage last minute orders Thank EVERYONE who supports you - look for ways to have fun with it You re not alone We re here to help you every step on the way. As a member of our team, you ll receive guidance on your fundraiser. We also have online resources that make your life easier and help you fundraise even more. 5
Quick FAQ: What if I miss the tulip order deadline? The order deadline is usually two weeks before the start date of the campaign. If you have missed the deadline please call your local Lung Association contact. If they can t fulfil your order, they will provide information for where you can purchase from one of our local onsite sales locations. Can people pay by cheques and credit card for their tulip order? Yes to both. Cheques should be made payable to The Lung Association. What do I need to know about setting up on-site sales in our cafeteria/front lobby? If you are interested in hosting an onsite sales location, please contact your local Lung Association contact. They can provide you with advice on how to setup a location and we can arrange for a special delivery. I d like to volunteer for the Campaign? Beyond being a workplace champion we have lots of other volunteering opportunities. Please contact your local Lung Association team member to discuss what opportunities we have in your community. Can I designate a time for delivery? We will try to accommodate each request as best we can. Please contact your local office to confirm a specific time for delivery. Do people get tax receipts for purchasing tulips? Unfortunately tax receipts cannot be issued for purchasing tulips since an exchange of goods is occurring. If someone would like to make a donation to The Lung Association over and above their tulip purchase, this would be considered eligible for a tax receipt as long as the information provided is legible, complete and accurate. 6
Thank You Today, one in five Canadians have lung disease, but all of us need to breathe. Through your passion, dedication and outstanding fundraising efforts, we will create the breathing breakthroughs of tomorrow. We couldn t do any of this without you. Thank you for being part of Team Breathe. You really are helping all Ontarians breathe. February 26 th to March 9 th Charitable Registration 12404 6368 RR0002