“As I was sitting in a local Chipotle franchise a few months ago, I saw a flyer that caught my eye about fundraisers with Chipotle. Now, normally, if ones goes into a fast food establishment and sees a fundraiser, it is most likely for an elementary school or high school sports team. I decided to take the flyer and when I got home looked into the requirements a bit more in-depth. What I found was that Color My World qualified for most of these fundraisers that I have seen. So, I decided to start the application process and see what happened. From the information I found, 50% of the sales from CMW supporters would be given to CMW after the fundraiser. I was able to pick the location, time, and date and Chipotle even provided me with these great flyers!

So, about 2 weeks before the scheduled event, I created a Facebook event and started sharing and publicizing the night like crazy. I called the event “Chipotle for Charity” and went to town. I picked this night because the Provo location of Chipotle gets a lot of traffic and Monday nights in Utah are big family nights as well as it being a holiday, I expected a good turnout.

I had gotten a corporate email a few weeks before the event saying that we were not permitted to hand out flyers at the location during the event which would have greatly increased our donation. So, I decided to call the manager, Luis, and talk with him about it. He was more than welcome to let us come in to answer questions during the night and promote the fundraiser.

So, the day of the fundraiser came. I printed flyers and picked up cookies for all the Chipotle staff. Having worked in the food industry and just retail in general, I know that cookies and acknowledging what these employees were doing that night would make them more apt to be on our side and help promote the fundraiser.

It started at 4 pm and by 5 pm, the manager had come outside and told me that he was going to count the entire night’s sales toward the fundraiser and that I didn’t need to stay outside. He felt bad I was out in the cold but could see it was something I was passionate about, so he bought me dinner and told me to come inside. Major props go to Luis because he was definitely the Hero of the Day.

The fundraiser was definitely a success and went off without a hitch. Many companies do fundraisers like this or host similar events that allow them to get tax breaks and bring in some good publicity. In 4 hours that night, we raised over $1100 for Color My World! This was a great fundraiser because it allowed people to donate while doing something they would normally do anyway- eat dinner. But if you’re having a hard time coming up with the funds to join us abroad this year, or even next, just get in contact with Morgan Lowe (me), one of our volunteer directors, and she can help you brainstorm and get all the necessary information you need to help get you on one of our trips!”

How can you apply to have a fundraiser at a Chipotle near you!

Click here!

When filling out the application you will need this EIN 20-1831524 and our new address 12231 Joshua Tree Trail, Windermere FL 34786 to register.

This is a great way you raise money for your trip with us this summer!

The post Chipotle Fundraiser! appeared first on Color My World.

Amazon makes it easy to give to the charities that matter most to you, without costing you anything! Here’s how you do it.

Go to smile.amazon.com and login to your amazon account. In the top left corner, you will be able to choose a charity to donate to. Choose Color My World, and from there every time you buy something on Amazon, Amazon will donate .05% of the proceeds to Color My World.

This money will help fund orphanages, home building, continuing education, and every other project that Color My World will undertake this year in India, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Peru.

It’s a small way to make a huge difference!

Click Here and make a difference today!

The post Amazon Smile appeared first on Color My World.

The #ColorMyWorldPledge helps guide each volunteers focus in the lead up to their summer. From the beginning, volunteers are impressed on how important learning the language is. No volunteer needs to be fluent in Spanish to do a humanitarian trip with Color My World, but knowing a few phrases and questions really does make a big difference.

Next, we asked our volunteers to learn a little about the communities that they will be working in, and what the realities of poverty actually are. As you get to know the communities that you will be working with, you will soon realise that a poor GDP does not always equal a low quality of life. The families that you will work alongside understand the meaning of family and community. You will be able to learn so much during your humanitarian trip.

Today we are asking our volunteers to go one step further, and find a way to fundraise for Color My World. Whether collecting items to bring down on your humanitarian trip, or raise funds to help support the projects that Color My World sponsors around the world… we need your help.

By spending time in the lead up to your humanitarian trip fundraising for people around the world, you will be focusing your mind on the true purpose of the trip. If you decide to fundraise, these funds will be used on vital projects around the world. Some of these are, funding of the building of homes in Jiquillo, or the school in Islamabad, Pakistan. Whereas, if you choose to bring items to donate, you will be able to provide much needed items to communities that do not have the affluence to afford such items.

What items can you donate?

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to collect and donate on a humanitarian trip. Check out some of the tips below from what we have seen volunteered in previous years.

Hygiene kits

Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and sanitary packs are all vital items that many families find difficult to afford in some of the communities we work with.

School kits

Pens, pencils, notepads, and translation cue cards are all items that can make a real difference in a child’s life.

First aid kits

Simple first aid necessities are items that are needed, and can prevent further issues. Band aids, paracetamol, anti-bacterial wipes, are all vital items, no matter where you live.

New born kits

multi vitamins can be vital for expecting mothers. These things are not in large supply in the communities that we work with. Blankets for new borns can also make a real differences for new mothers.

These kits can be simple and easy to gather. Whether you are able to collect 20 kits or 100, each kit will make a real difference to a persons life. Taking the time to fundraise will help you create a stronger connection with the community that you will be working with during your humanitarian trip.

Take the challenge with the #ColorMyWorldPledge, and find time this summer to fundraise.

The post Preparing for your humanitarian trip through fundraising appeared first on Color My World.

Today, for 1 day only, Amazon are giving 5% of all purchases to charities (if you go through the charity account). It couldn’t be simpler. Click here, or on the image below, where it will take you straight to the Amazon Smile page. From here you can click on “start shopping” with Color My World, and away you go.

It is that simple.

Back in 2013, Amazon introduced their AmazonSmile program. The concept is simple, and doesn’t cost you a cent. Every time you buy something on Amazon, whatever day, they will place 0.5% of the purchase into your chosen charity. So whether it’s a new book or a new TV, 0.5% of every purchase goes straight to your chosen charity.

The 5% donations from each purchase on Amazon make a real difference to communities that Color My World volunteers with. From donating towards homes in Nicaragua to supporting orphanages in Guatemala. Each purchase that you make through Amazon Smile will go towards projects in Central America.

The post Use Amazon To Make A Difference With Color My World appeared first on Color My World.