Last month PV Jo Welter decided to have a dinner part at her house to help support the PV40 effort. It turned out to be a very successful evening, and her words a pretty easy thing to do, so we asked her to write down how the event came to be.
When I approached my friend Sandy about helping me raise money for the PVs, she didn't hesitate for a moment. I knew I could count on her since she was involved in a fundraiser held at our parish to benefit the PVs two years ago.
My idea was to have a pizza party and invite some of our friends. Sandy thought it over and said it would be better to have a dinner party instead because it would bring in more money. We hoped we would be able to have 16 people but when the fliers went out, we ended up with 22, and then even more wanted to come!
WE had three table s end to end from the dining room extending into the living room. Deacon John and his wife Kare had just returned from Italy the day before and provided the salad and gave us a hand setting up the tables, etc. One friend served as bartender, other guests insisted on bringing desserts, it seemed everyone wanted to help out.
One couple was celebrating their 57th anniversary that day, so we ended up toasting them with Proseco, which is Italian champagne. What fun!
The dinner was fabulous. Sandy did all the cooking and the desserts she made, along with the others, were out of this world. We ended up with coffee, tea and espresso.
You don't have to have a dinner party or go to extremes to have a fundraiser. Of course having a friend like Sandy would be helpful, but I'm sure if you asked a friend or a group of friends to help you, they will not turn you down. Remember the words of Jesus, "when two or three gather in my name, I am there" and when we do things to help others, our actions become prayers and the Holy Spirit becomes a helper too.
Good luck with all your fundraisers!
Joo
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
BREAKING PV 40 NEWS
As of November 18th, the PV40 Challenge has raised $6,954!!!
Thank you to everyone that has helped us get to this total. We are only $3,000 from our goal!
Thank you to everyone that has helped us get to this total. We are only $3,000 from our goal!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
WEB in Brooklyn
WEB, the young womens empowerment group formally known as TGIA, kicked off it's eighth year recently. With the loss of meeting space, the group as had to be creative as to where they can gather. They have met in diners, at parks, and for this meeting they were welcomed into the home of two of its members. We can't thank their mom enough for giving the space for the group to meet.
Leaders and WEB members alike were able to catch up on each other lives. The WEB leaders hadn't seen the young women since camp this summer, where they were all such a huge help in running our first camp at St. John's. The other purpose was to celebrate the first birthday of one of the member's child. Happy Birthday!!!
Plans are in the works for the annual WEB Thanksgiving celebration, always a highlight of the year. The Thanksgiving feast would take place in the same home again, but if anyone knows of a more permanent place where the group could meet, please let us know!
Leaders and WEB members alike were able to catch up on each other lives. The WEB leaders hadn't seen the young women since camp this summer, where they were all such a huge help in running our first camp at St. John's. The other purpose was to celebrate the first birthday of one of the member's child. Happy Birthday!!!
Plans are in the works for the annual WEB Thanksgiving celebration, always a highlight of the year. The Thanksgiving feast would take place in the same home again, but if anyone knows of a more permanent place where the group could meet, please let us know!
Monday, November 7, 2011
The PVs are on Twitter
The PVs are now on twitter at pv_program@twitter.com. If you are on twitter we hope you will consider following us!
A simple PV40 Challenge idea
Here is an easy way to ask friends and family to help support your efforts as a PV without feeling like you are asking for a lot of money.
Look at the number of contacts who are on your contact list in your email (minus fellow PVs of course) and divide that number in $250 (the PV40 Challenge amount) and ask for a donation of that amount from each person. For example, if you have 50 people in your contact list ask for every person if they can to donate $5 to the PVs. One volunteer did this and raised over $700, by asking for donations of $8. Not everyone responded, but others gave more. You never know the response you might get.
The amount is small, but when added together it amounts to quite a bit. Just like the PVs... We may be small in number, but we are mighty!
Look at the number of contacts who are on your contact list in your email (minus fellow PVs of course) and divide that number in $250 (the PV40 Challenge amount) and ask for a donation of that amount from each person. For example, if you have 50 people in your contact list ask for every person if they can to donate $5 to the PVs. One volunteer did this and raised over $700, by asking for donations of $8. Not everyone responded, but others gave more. You never know the response you might get.
The amount is small, but when added together it amounts to quite a bit. Just like the PVs... We may be small in number, but we are mighty!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tracking the PV 40 Challenge
This post will be updated regularly with news from our PV 40 Challenge
*Garage Sale in Cincinnati,OH - Saturday, October 29th: All proceeds will benefit the PV Volunteers
*Italian Club Bake Sale at Holy Angels Academy, NJ - November 7th: All proceeds will benefit the PV Volunteers
*Personal Emails - Many volunteers are emailing their friends and families and asking directly for help in raising money for the PVs.
*Coffehouse and Book Sale - Volunteers in the Bronx will be hosting a coffee house and used book sale
*Jo's Chicken Parm. Dinner - On Sunday,Nov. 13. a chicken parm.dinner to benefit P.V. Volunteer program,$15 per person. Everyone welcome but must have check made out to P.V. Volunteers by Saturday. Nov, 5. Space limited to 18 people. Please call Jo if you are interested (732)-774-9302.
*Game Night - Morris County/Parsippany, NJ - November 26th - For more information go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=253449931373297
*Ministering - Gainesville, FL - Volunteers are putting in $$$ amount for each individual they are currently ministering to. To them we have given our time and talent.
*In honor/In celebration - We have a volunteer who just retired and asked that in lieu of retirement gifts to donate to the PV 40 Challenge. This can be done for birthdays, births, anniversaries, etc.
*Garage Sale in Cincinnati,OH - Saturday, October 29th: All proceeds will benefit the PV Volunteers
*Italian Club Bake Sale at Holy Angels Academy, NJ - November 7th: All proceeds will benefit the PV Volunteers
*Personal Emails - Many volunteers are emailing their friends and families and asking directly for help in raising money for the PVs.
*Coffehouse and Book Sale - Volunteers in the Bronx will be hosting a coffee house and used book sale
*Jo's Chicken Parm. Dinner - On Sunday,Nov. 13. a chicken parm.dinner to benefit P.V. Volunteer program,$15 per person. Everyone welcome but must have check made out to P.V. Volunteers by Saturday. Nov, 5. Space limited to 18 people. Please call Jo if you are interested (732)-774-9302.
*Game Night - Morris County/Parsippany, NJ - November 26th - For more information go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=253449931373297
*Ministering - Gainesville, FL - Volunteers are putting in $$$ amount for each individual they are currently ministering to. To them we have given our time and talent.
*In honor/In celebration - We have a volunteer who just retired and asked that in lieu of retirement gifts to donate to the PV 40 Challenge. This can be done for birthdays, births, anniversaries, etc.
November Volunteer Reflection
In our November PV Newsletter, we included a reflection written by one of our volunteers,Pat Wiley. Here is that reflection:
My time as a PV started out – literally – with a bang.
After years of familiarity with the program, I finally took the opportunity to become an active volunteer at the end of last July. Along with my daughter Carrie, I headed out on a Saturday afternoon for the six hour drive to Wyoming County, WV. Other than the few summer storms we encountered along the way, the drive was quite routine. Until we reached Pineville, where I announced my presence by colliding with a vehicle being driven by a local woman quite unprepared for the appearance of my car in the intersection she was driving through.
Even before any of us had unbuckled our seatbelts to survey the damage, the great wail of a Civil Service siren sprang the small town into action. Within less than three minutes, a swarm of First Responders was on the scene. The volunteer Fire Department, which had fortuitously been holding a picnic on grounds adjacent to the accident scene, was quick to make sure we were all okay. They were unbelievably friendly; they even invited us to their picnic! While no one was injured, my car had to be towed away and I had no idea when I was going to get it back. Jenny – who along with Jill was waiting at the Pineville house for our arrival – arrived on the scene and took us to the house where what would turn out to be among the most memorable weeks of my life began in earnest.
From the time fellow volunteers got there and we joined those already there, a spirit of kindness and generosity took hold and did not let up for the entire week we were there. And that spirit was not confined by any means to the volunteers. Whether it was a homeowner in the County we were assisting, a VISTA volunteer we encountered or the mechanic who was so helpful in getting my car back on the road.
That is not to say that everything in that area is rosy; quite the contrary. Nearly every advantage most of us take for granted is absent there. One of the things that makes the experience of volunteering in Wyoming County so amazing is the grace and dignity with which those who endure so much misfortune carry themselves. There is a stoicism and strength of character about them which simply must be experienced to be appreciated.
Among the many memories I carry from that week were the nightly “Reflections”. Anyone who has had the privilege of sharing these with Dan knows of his fondness for a nightly theme. The theme of this reflection is :”You Can take it with you”. I chose that theme because for a long time after I got back to the daily grind, I found myself spiritually buoyed by the memory of my week in West Virginia, and by those I was blessed to spend that time with. Even now, and hopefully continuing to when I repeat the experience, I can adjust my sometimes negative worldview by reflecting on how, for all of its hatreds and cruelties, there is much beauty and kindness in the world, You just have to know where to find it. And I have found a bounty of it in the PV Program.
My time as a PV started out – literally – with a bang.
After years of familiarity with the program, I finally took the opportunity to become an active volunteer at the end of last July. Along with my daughter Carrie, I headed out on a Saturday afternoon for the six hour drive to Wyoming County, WV. Other than the few summer storms we encountered along the way, the drive was quite routine. Until we reached Pineville, where I announced my presence by colliding with a vehicle being driven by a local woman quite unprepared for the appearance of my car in the intersection she was driving through.
Even before any of us had unbuckled our seatbelts to survey the damage, the great wail of a Civil Service siren sprang the small town into action. Within less than three minutes, a swarm of First Responders was on the scene. The volunteer Fire Department, which had fortuitously been holding a picnic on grounds adjacent to the accident scene, was quick to make sure we were all okay. They were unbelievably friendly; they even invited us to their picnic! While no one was injured, my car had to be towed away and I had no idea when I was going to get it back. Jenny – who along with Jill was waiting at the Pineville house for our arrival – arrived on the scene and took us to the house where what would turn out to be among the most memorable weeks of my life began in earnest.
From the time fellow volunteers got there and we joined those already there, a spirit of kindness and generosity took hold and did not let up for the entire week we were there. And that spirit was not confined by any means to the volunteers. Whether it was a homeowner in the County we were assisting, a VISTA volunteer we encountered or the mechanic who was so helpful in getting my car back on the road.
That is not to say that everything in that area is rosy; quite the contrary. Nearly every advantage most of us take for granted is absent there. One of the things that makes the experience of volunteering in Wyoming County so amazing is the grace and dignity with which those who endure so much misfortune carry themselves. There is a stoicism and strength of character about them which simply must be experienced to be appreciated.
Among the many memories I carry from that week were the nightly “Reflections”. Anyone who has had the privilege of sharing these with Dan knows of his fondness for a nightly theme. The theme of this reflection is :”You Can take it with you”. I chose that theme because for a long time after I got back to the daily grind, I found myself spiritually buoyed by the memory of my week in West Virginia, and by those I was blessed to spend that time with. Even now, and hopefully continuing to when I repeat the experience, I can adjust my sometimes negative worldview by reflecting on how, for all of its hatreds and cruelties, there is much beauty and kindness in the world, You just have to know where to find it. And I have found a bounty of it in the PV Program.
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