It's a Truck Pull, Ya'll! Key Target Markets for this fundraiser: Schools (specifically athletic teams) Athletic leagues Camps General community Planning period: 2-3 months (has been done in 1) Volunteers needed: 6+ Fundraising Level: At $5 per person, 15 teams of 10 = $750 At $10 per person, 15 teams of 10 = $1500 The Run Down: A Truck Pull Fundraiser is a relatively simple to plan event that can be done in as quickly as one month if the trucks are available. Once you have secured at least 2 I8-wheelers the hardest part is done. (Tip: Wal-Mart has been very supportive of the Truck Pull in Middletown. They were thrilled to get their big Wal-Mart branded trucks out in the public eye for an event like this!) The next step is to recruit teams to participate in the Truck Pull. Advertise around schools, fitness centers, parks and other areas in your community with flyers that challenge participants to prove how strong they are. (Competitive athletes will be very responsive!) Teams of up to 10 participants can register in advance or the day of the event for $5-$10 per participant. Creating a Facebook page and promoting this on your Relay sites if it is to be used as an enhancer is also very helpful, as well as writing to the local paper and radio stations. Finding an appealing grand prize for the winning team also helps! At the event, the two I8-wheelers should be lined up next to each other, sitting in Neutral, with the drivers at the wheel. You will need 2 very heavy duty ropes and pullies to wrap around each truck and to layout long enough for a few feet to be left in between the truck and the team. Measure out 20 ft. from each truck's front tire with tape, line the teams up with their rope in hand, blow the whistle, and let 'er rip! You will need one person to stand as the referee with a stop watch ready to click when the first team pulls their truck over the line and to blow a whistle so the truck drivers know to hit the break.
This event works bracket style. The team that wins the first round continues on to compete against the next team in line. They battle it out and the winner stays in to compete against the next team. This continues until all teams have competed and there is only one champion team still standing. Depending on at what pace you are moving through the rounds, it takes approximately one hour for 14 teams to complete in this contest. If you plan on having upwards of 20 teams, I would recommend trying to find 4 trucks and having 2 separate contests going on at the same time. Once each side is finished, you can have the winners from each station compete against each other and determine your winner from that battle. Hold a short award ceremony for your Truck Pull Champs and present them with their trophy, certificate, or other award. Enhancers: There are many ways to enhance this event even further, including having a snack stand, making luminarias available, holding a raffle or auction, etc. Expenses: There was a $0 budget for the event held in Middletown that raised over $700 this year. There is no absolute need to purchase anything if you are also working with a $0 budget, however, potential grows when there is a little money in the pot to start, so think big!
Sample Supplies Needed List: Relay for Life Annual Truck Pull Fund Raiser Truck Pull: -Mac Trucks (40,000 lbs, 18 wheeler) -Monster Trucks -Rope -Referee -Power Lifters -Teams (community, MHS clubs & sports teams) -Cones -Signs for stations -Measuring tape -Record sheet of teams & distance achieved -Clip boards for record sheets -Pencils/pens -Bullhorn Registration: -Registration tent -Table -Chairs -Team sign up sheets -Waivers -Pens/P encils/markers -Cash box -Wrist bands -Raffle tickets -Prizes (donated by Relay/local businesses) -Poster to track funds raised -Volunteers -Relay freebies - tags Media: -Press release -Flyers -Facebook -Relay committee -Local media
Sample Sign Up Sheet to present to interested volunteers: 2011 Mt. Pleasant High School Relay For Life Wrap- Up Truck Pull! Team Recruitment b. Develop a registration sheet to distribute (with waiver included) c. Create a spreadsheet that includes the name of the team + the team member names and a box to mark if they've paid. d. Provide this sheet to the Registration committee day-of event Food b. Find snacks and baked goods to be donated and sold at the event. c. Set up a table at the event and sell items. d. Keep track of money from sales. Advertising b. Create enough posters to hang around Mt. Pleasant High School, Brandywine High School and Concord High School with event information. c. Create an invitation that can be delivered to: i. Principals at all 3 schools ii. Athletic directors iii. Coaches d. Facebook Event Page
.-,-- Raffle b. Find 3-5 prizes to be used for raffle at event c. Sell tickets during the event d. Keep track of all money from sales. Logistics b. Find Mac Trucks! c. Acquire a Microphone/Speakers or Mega-phone d. Prepare boards for brackets and organize at event. 6. Registration b. Gather materials from Day-of Supplies list c. Check in teams as they arrive, providing each individual that has paid with a wrist band. d. Keep each team's money separate in large yellow envelopes with registration forms.