Photo Credit: Courtesy of Montgomery County Parks and Rec
Looking for a way to raise more than $5,000 in an annual fundraiser? In Montgomery County, Va., the parks and recreation department and local Humane Society partner to hold a Pool Party for Pooches, which combines pooches, a pool and people to raise money for the animal shelter.
The end-of-summer event allows the Humane Society to use the county’s Frog Pond after the water park has closed to the public for the summer. The county also supplies the aquatic staff to ensure a safe party, and markets the event through its brochure and news releases. In return, the Humane Society publicizes the party, organizes the event, and runs it with help from volunteers from the student veterinary club at Virginia Tech. The revenue from ticket admissions and business sponsors is used to pay for animal food and adoption efforts by the Humane Society--costs that the county government might otherwise be paying for through the animal-shelter operations.
Working Out The Details
There is a core group of volunteers that have been on the "dog swim" committee and stage the Pool Party for Pooches each year. Planning usually begins in late spring/early summer, and sponsorship request letters/packages are sent out.