Where Have the Broads Been?!

Of course you’re wondering … WHERE HAVE THE BROADS BEEN?! Certainly not on social media or in the public eye much at all! Honestly, after our successful fundraiser at District Wine in May we did take some time off. Planning a big event takes a lot of time and energy and all 3 of us needed a little down time and self care. We each had personal things to attend to and a summer to enjoy. Once we recuperated we were back at it, mostly behind the scenes. Fundraising, as we’ve learned, has many components that don’t always include people. Say what!? That’s right, limited interaction with others. We have been researching, collaborating, and pursuing new opportunities. We realized after our big wine event that we kept targeting and reaching out to the same people – our immediate friends and family. We thought we should give you all a break! Your support was, is, will always be greatly appreciated, but we did recognize there’s something a little off when we only ask our moms, dads, aunts, uncles, friends, siblings and cousins to pay for our trip! We needed to reach additional people too!

So, we looked in to options that didn’t include you! ;) Let’s see… corporate sponsorship, selling donated items online – mostly National Geographic (Wow, now that’s a job and ½), becoming a 501(c) – nonprofit, to open up more doors, coordinating a food truck event and … the list goes on and on! Each thing took time and attention and we just didn’t make our efforts public. When all was said and done, we devised a plan and started working toward it. It was then that we reached out to First-Hand Aid and everything changed! We are going to Cuba in April!!!! The trip turned out to be less expensive than we originally expected. Right now we’re in discussions with First-Hand Aid coordinating our trip! That’s right, you read that!!! We are close to our goal and we are going! We still need approx $1000, but WE’RE ALMOST THERE!!!! We have money to collect and money to deposit. Once it’s all put in the account, our total raised will be $6500.00 (give or take a little – still doing the math) and our goal is $7500! WE. ARE. SO. EXCITED!!!! January – March we are coordinating and planning fun things for all of us, to make our final $1000 goal. Please keep an eye out for our upcoming events. This may or may not include another yoga session with Eve (huge success last January), Jell-O shots at a local LB bar, a Super Bowl pool (damn, that was a money maker), online sales, and a food truck event. We can’t be held to organizing any of it, as there are a lot of balls in the air. But, we WILL be actively fundraising come January 2017! Stay tuned. Stay connected. Share our page. And, send us good vibes; we are almost there! We love you and we appreciate you! WE. ARE. SO. EXCITED!!!

Fundraising is Weird!

Fundraising is an interesting beast. The premise is basically: I want _______, but I don’t have the money to pay for it so let’s ask others to pay instead. That alone is weird – “hey stranger, pay for me!" And let's be honest, you have to be a little mad to do it. :p

What is fundraising? Simply put, it is raising funds to pay for a need that can’t otherwise be afforded. Fundraising all comes down to 1 or more people asking others to pay for something. It can be done on a small scale like an individual asking for donations to pay for their every day expenses, like a homeless person or somebody that needs a surgery or is going to run in a marathon for a cause. Or it can be done on a large scale, like a non-profit needing funds to support their cause and programming. It’s important for the people asking for the money to believe in their own cause or need and for them to show others there is a need and want to give. What we’re hearing is it’s a salesman role. The truth is a request for money by somebody or many somebody's is not hard to find. So you do need to SELL why somebody should give to you. Every person asking for money or donating to something has different values in what they think is worthy enough to GIVE. Fundraising is about selling and giving! That’s weird!

The 3 Broads are somewhere between a nonprofit and an individual. We are 3 individuals raising money for ourselves to volunteer with First-Hand Aid to deliver medical supplies. We decided we wanted to go to Cuba to volunteer, but none of us had the money to do it so we’ve turned to others to help. Whoa! We’ve been on this journey for just under a year. And we have grown and changed and stopped and restarted and had to reorganize and refine as we’ve gone. We had an idea and are figuring it out as we go. The idea didn’t actually come from us; it came from another gal that is no longer working with us. We’ve had some road blocks and we’ve learned so much in this short time we’ve been working together. Like we’ve said, it’s weird and we’re learning. We’ve learned God/The Universe has a sense of humor. The 3 of us have a fun, interesting connection (learn more at Meet the Broads, posted11/3/15) and we never thought in 2016 we’d be deepening our friendship and creating something bigger than just our friendships – 3 Broads AbroadVolunteering. Each of us came to the table from a different point in our lives, needing or wanting something different and yet we each found what we were looking for in each other and in this journey together.

We’ve learned that an idea is just an idea unless you put a lot of hard work into it. Sometimes hard work is pounding the pavement by asking for donations or reaching out to everybody and their grandpa for help. Sometimes hard work is researching and organizing and putting things together. And sometimes, hard work is just staying present and motivated. Fundraising is hard work! It’s a job. It’s a part time or full time job depending on what you’re going after so you better be prepared. We’ve learned that you do need to be a salesman so depending on your personality, values, and ability this might be a little challenging. You’re essentially putting yourself on the line and being vulnerable to others. For the natural salesman this isn’t that difficult, but for some it is. Lucky for us, we have a mixed bag with the 3 of us. We’ve learned not only is it hard work, but different skills and attributes are needed. There needs to be creativity, ingenuity, and thinking outside the box, but there also needs to be organization and planning. There needs to be discipline and follow through. There needs to be every little detail and nuance that is required to run a business. Whoa, a business!? Yes, a business. We aren’t just a homeless person asking for $1.00 to buy a coffee. We are 3 Broads asking many people and businesses to give over and over and over again. We’ve learned that will get old really fast. It’s a constant process of planning events and opportunities to give so that people will want to continue giving and showing up for us. It’s important to reach out to the people you know so they’ll want to help just because they know you, but also to reach out to people that don’t so you don’t burn your family and friends out on wanting to give and help. We’ve learned that social medial is our friend. The more people that know about you, the better. The more people you reach, the stronger connections are made and the more outreach is done without needing to pound the pavement yourself. 

We recently sold a wine refrigerator that one of our cousins donated. We sold it to an employee, Courtney at XTOPOLY. Courtney was buying for her boss. Courtney’s boss also writes a pretty awesome blog on wine – I like this grape and they showed interest in 3 Broads Abroad because they are community and charity driven and we have a wine event. Through a donated refrigerator we made a great connection. We’ve learned it’s a small world, or at least Southern California is. When we called Barnes and Noble about a donation and/or fundraising event, the manager in Orange had already heard about us because of a garage sale we previously had. We’ve learned there is no small fundraising opportunity. It can be very small like recycling or throwing a garage sale and asking others to give you items for these or big like an actual event – We’re hosting one next week at District Wine in Long Beach 05.01.16. If you aren’t already planning to go, you should!  Of course there’s also everything in between, like restaurant nights or selling Angel game tickets. Fundraising is an adventure with a lot of twists and turns and a lot of different people and organizations. It’s complex and like we said, it’s weird. We will continue on until we’ve raised enough money to volunteer in Cuba and we’re sure we will continue learning. We hope you stay with us as we go deeper into the rabbit hole, otherwise known as fundraising!

Life Just Sometimes Gets In The Way!

It’s been awhile since our last blog! When you’ve got three women, two young boys, three jobs, a running schedule, community and church happenings, relatives, friends and assorted “stuff” ... Well ... What we’re trying to say is, life gets in the way!! Generally, we are focused and working hard. Every day we’re doing something for 3 Broads Abroad Volunteering. Let’s face it, things go sideways and this blog gets put on the back burner!

Since our last post, we made and sold Christmas ornaments, had another restaurant night - this time at Florentine’s Grill in Fullerton, had a Yoga class run by our amazing friend Eve del Rosario, ran a Super Bowl pool, sold Noir Naturals and continued to collect dimes, ink/toner cartridges, and magazines/catalogs. We brainstormed more fundraising ideas and did the “behind the scenes” work on a lot of upcoming fundraisers we’re really excited about. Wow, it’s exhausting just thinking about all of it. We certainly have not been idle!

We are learning and growing along the way. We’ve learned to be patient with each other, how to communicate with each other, and how to capitalize on each of our strengths. We’ve grown closer and truly enjoy our time together. We could not imagine our lives without each other. We truly look forward to our times together - to plan, to laugh, and to share! We're all such talkers and with such full, complex lives there's always so much to go over - the new things in our paths, what distracted us, and what is inspiring and motivating us. We know for sure that this is a powerful group of women with a lot of fascinating and creative ideas and experiences to share!

So what’s on the agenda this coming Spring and Summer? We had hoped to plan another pool for March Madness, but there were too many barriers that got in the way. We decided to focus our energy on an afternoon of wine tasting and a silent auction (&/or raffles) at District Wine in Long Beach Sunday 05.01.16, an Angel game, and jello shots at Mine Shaft in Long Beach! We'll definitely have more restaurant nights, garage sales, and other fun and interesting things we expect you’ll enjoy. We hope to blog more this year about our journey getting to Cuba. We will continue to share our experience FUNdraising, but we'll also include the why's of our journey. Why Cuba? Why First-Hand Aid? Why fundraising? Please stay tuned as we charge on!

Meet The Broads!!

Three weeks ago today we had a fundraiser at LinX in Orange. All day they contributed 15% of their sales to our fundraising efforts. We had a great turn out – LinX promoted us all week long with flyers and social media. The day of, they were very welcoming and accommodating to The Broads. Some friends and family went to LinX early in the day and some came when The Broads were there in the evening. We met around 5:30 to support our own cause, thank the folks supporting us, and just to hang out with each other. We sat on the patio and chilled out with some of our friends and family. Sara, earlier in the day, had put up flyers all over the Circle of Orange so it was fun to see our flyers everywhere. Shelby hung out in front of LinX for a while with Wendy’s son, Matt, handing out flyers and encouraging people to come in for dinner. Wendy made a great sign to mark our fundraising progress and chatted with all people that would listen to her J. Sara’s brother took pictures of The Broads with his fancy camera and family and friends of each of The Broads met and mingled with each other. It was a great night! We earned $150 and all we had to do was eat delicious food, drink amazing beer, and hang out with people we love, doing random, fun stuff! Fundraising is fun!! Fundraising is fun when you’re doing it with 3 cool cats and you have awesome friends and family to support you. The 3 Broads came together for different reasons in different stages our lives, but with one common goal of raising money to travel to Cuba, delivering medical supplies. We are dedicated and we are determined. And, we are having a blast doing this. We are excited to share in this experience with you and want you to know more about us!

Sara is a Broad, dangerously close to her 30s that lives in Orange, CA with her dad and 2 nephews. About a year ago, her nephews came to live with her at her dad’s and it has been an interesting journey for her to say the least! Taking on the responsibility of her nephews has been an adjustment and shift in perspective and priorities. She went from living her life kid free to being a stay at home “mom”/Auntie. Sara loves the little boys to pieces and clearly would do anything for them! Her dad – Papa Dren, is super supportive and she could not do this without him! The Broads couldn’t do this without him either – he’s a treasure. She also has an amazing boyfriend, Camron, who has been her Superman! They have been together for 5 years and he is her best friend. She loves him so much and we’re all hoping they’ll be engaged soon (hint hint). Even with all the amazing love and support from her family, Sara doesn’t have a lot of time for herself. When the opportunity to volunteer in Cuba came up she jumped at the chance! Sara LOVES to travel and spend quality time with friends and family. Cuba gives her a chance to not only give back to others, but to do something for herself. The trip also means a lot to her because it is a cause that is near and dear to her heart. Sara suffers from Fibromyalgia – a chronic pain illness. She knows how important and necessary it is to have good healthcare with the needed medical supplies! Sara can’t wait to help the doctors, hospitals and patients in need in Cuba and meet wonderful people along the journey.

Shelby is the quintessential bleeding heart or so it would appear. She lives in Long Beach, CA in an area she calls “The Loop” because everything is within a quick few blocks around her – the beach, bars, restaurants, yoga, friends, family… everything! Shelby is a Social Worker. She works with chronic and vulnerable homeless Veterans. Even before she was a professional helper/giver, she has always done it personally. There was one year when she was in junior high when there had been a natural disaster of some sort and Shelby asked her parents to please not give her any Christmas gifts and to give to the emergency response instead. Helping is what she does! When Shelby isn’t working with her Veterans, she probably has the most free time of all The Broads. Shelby doesn’t have children, doesn’t really want them, and really enjoys her free time. She spends most of it either hanging out with friends, doing something fun outdoors or jumping toward a new experience and/or adventure. Fundraising to volunteer in Cuba meets all her interests – new, adventure, and helping. As with the other Broads, Shelby jumped at the chance to volunteer in Cuba.

Wendy, having grown up in the 60s and 70s, instantly though the ideal of traveling to Cuba was intriguing and mysterious so she was all in immediately! She loves to travel because because she loves seeing other cultures, traditions and art. Wendy loves people and is passionate about helping. The adventure of helping in Cuba seemed custom to her. Like Sara, Wendy also has an autoimmune disease and has struggled through difficult times,  without proper care because of lack of health insurance and/or funds. Wendy is passionate about First-Hand Aid because it brings the necessary supplies to people who might also suffer from an autoimmune diseases! Wendy is in a different phase of life than the other two Broads – she has two adult kids and she’s currently living with her aging mom. As Wendy moves further down her path, she’s loving the feeling of knowing herself and what she wants to get out of life. She’s appreciative of her own talents, acquired wisdom, and how she can give that back and share with others.

All 3 Broads have really enjoyed connecting and bonding with each other by joining forces to fundraise and volunteer in Cuba. Wendy has known Shelby since Shelby was in high school and it’s been a blast for each to watch the other travel through life and figure things out. Shelby and Sara have know each other for 5ish years and found each other through dating (and breaking up with) brothers – the brother-boyfriends, as they’re called now. Shelby and Sara agree they dated the brother-boyfriends to find each other. It was kismet that brought The Broads together. Wendy and Sara instantly connect, as Sara shares a name with Wendy’s daughter, as well as her wit, sense of humor, and sense of responsibility; Funny enough, each of Sara and Wendy’s immediate family members also share names (Wendy’s son Mathew and Sara’s brother Mathew; oh and there’s more J). They instantly felt familiar to each other and connected. The 3 Broads were brought together to love and know each other – to combine their passions and interests to volunteer in Cuba. Since each has their financial challenges the only way to make it happen is through fundraising. That too seems like it was meant to be because, though it has its challenges, it’s been a collaborative, smooth process with each other. We, The Broads, are excited to be here and hope you are too!

GARAGE SALE SCREAMING SUCCESS!

Last Saturday was the second epic 3 Broads Abroad Volunteering garage sale and it really was a great success. 
Things started off a little shaky on Friday evening when we realized that Chapman University was holding a 5K and the streets leading to Sara's house would be blocked to traffic!  Saturday morning led to even more frustration...5 AM brought the realization that the traffic blocks were actually set up right in front of the yard!! We didn't let that stop us!  We rearranged the road blocks and carried on!
We were really fortunate to get a very understanding cop standing guard over the road blocks.  She was actually letting cars in to get to us, once the majority of the runners passed. 
There were a few other obstacles to overcome before we were finished setting up.  The sprinklers that are on automatic timers went off as we were setting up tables and then the lock on the gate would not release and the gate was rusted shut!  It was just a little bit crazy making!  But we overcame, like the fabulous broads that we are and had a great day!  I had a table set up for my handcrafted goods and donated the proceeds to our cause as well.  All-in-all, it was a huge success and we are that much closer to our goal! 
We want to give a special shout out to Mark Drenner for all his help and his never failing support.  Thanks Papa Dren!  And to all our friends and family for digging deep into their stuff and donating some great items!  Y'all have been awesome!

Our next Garage Sale is scheduled for December 5 at The Drenner's home in Orange.  It's a great location.  Mark your calendars now!!!

Of course, we won't be waiting until December for more fundraising!  This Tuesday, October 13th we will be meeting at LINX ARTISAN SAUSAGE in Orange for some fun.  15% of your meal will be donated to our cause!  Please come out and share a meal with friends and family.  The event runs all day!

Welcome to our blog!!!

We are 3 broads - Sara, Shelby, and Wendy, on a journey to volunteer abroad (Cuba) with fundraising and fun to get there! We want to share with you all our upcoming events and progress as the months go by. So come back often and check out what we're doing!We'll be traveling with First-hand Aid. You can check out their website here.