Make music give hope

Sing out, play up, blow your own trumpet and raise the roof with your marvellous musical money making ideas! Turn musical notes into monetary notes and help more children to get an education, and with it, a future with hope.

Here are some ideas of things you could do - as you can see, you don't have to be able to sing or play an instrument to join the fun and raise funds;

• Throw a party - see below for some party ideas.
• Hold a sing-a-thon, dance competition, disco, concert
  or salsa night
• Oganise a raffle or auction with music-related prizes
• Organise a charity performance by your church choir
• Sell your old classic CDs, records and tapes on Ebay
• Organise a musical fancy dress party at home or at the office
• Organise a musical quiz in your office, pub or social club
• Go busking!
• Put on performances* in your local pub, youth club, village hall, school, college, church, your place of work.

And, of course we still welcome non-musical fundraising ideas!

Here's what you need to do to Make Music Give Hope;

• Come up with marvellous musical money making ideas;
• Contact us for a fundraising pack, publicity material etc;
• Set up a Cecily’s Fund Virginmoneygiving account to receive donations. (American Friends should use Firstgiving).
• Let us know what, when and where so we can publicise it;
• Send us videos and photos, or put them on-line (eg on Flikr or You Tube) and send us a link so  that we can use them to inspire others; you may win a (donated) prize for the best Make Music Give Hope idea!

For more information or advice on how to take forward your idea call Sabita on 01993 869005 or contact us by email.

*Please see the Department of Culture, Media and Sport website for rules on submitting Temporary Event Notices

Party ideas

One of the simplest way to Make Music Give Hope is to throw a party. It can be as big or small as you like, and you could keep it as simple as you like. Or you could add extras such as

• themed music or food
• karaoke
• dance competitions
• fancy dress

Raise money by

• charging for tickets,
• auctioning prizes or favours,
• sponsoring non-stop dancing or singing sessions
• or just ask for donations.

Sounds of Spring ~ Musical Soirée

Sue Skaf, Director of American Friends of Cecily's Fund threw a 'Sounds of Spring' musical soirée in March. This is how she described it; "There were about 30-35 guests, the musicians - all local acquaintances of mine - were WONDERFUL, a great mix of classical and "fun" Broadway, including piano, violin, trumpet, cello and vocal. The recital lasted almost one hour. Guests donated $1,000 on the day and those who could not make it promised donations. It definitely gave a warm feeling to all concerned, and they had a wonderful time."

An evening of artistic entertainment

One of our supporters invited friends and family to join them for drinks and a simple supper at which everyone was asked to offer "contributions of artistic entertainment". They suggested guests "re-work a piano piece you played as a child, recite a favourite poem, present a favourite slide, read a passage from a novel or review a book, show and talk about a painting by yourself or someone known to you, challenge a fellow guest to join you in a foxtrot or a waltz, twirl a hoop, juggle ..."

The party was a great success and they raised £1,000 for Cecily's Fund!