Kelly Moore of Des Moines, Iowa writes:
My aunt, Deirdre Duff-Allen of Aspen, Colorao, is a cancer survivor who has just launched a venture she is calling Survive-All. Through greeting cards, countdown calendars, inspirational booklets, workshops and a TV show, she hopes to inspire cancer patients, their families and the professionals who care for them to live for today. Having spent nearly all of her money on treatment, funds for getting the business off the ground are low, so she is seeking investors and experts who are willing to donate their time.
Topping her list of “wants” is money. She is looking for corporate investors who would like to sponsor workshop events or her TV program; accountants willing to donate their time to help her get her business started; attorneys to consult on things like copyright laws; graphic designers to help her get her greeting card designs finalized; marketers and card reps to help her get her products (cards, calendars and booklets) into the marketplace. Her cards are tailored to cancer patients, so anyone with a specific knowledge of this demographic would be great!
The workshops are designed for cancer patients. Through a series of creative exercises, the patients learn different coping methods for relaxation. I’ll look forward to seeing your readers’ solutions.
More information is at her website .
Propose a corporate partnership with the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. This would be a natural partnership and initially the possibilities seem almost limitless. The CTCA offers free seminars, so maybe you could start there. This partnership could present future opportunities to sell your giftshop items (if they have a giftshop) and you could meet other cancer surviors who might be able to assist you in your endeavor.
I’m actually going to a Graphic Design Conference in Delray Beach this weekend. They teach a lot of freelancers who are willing to donate time/designs to build a portfolio. In addition to graphic design, they have copy writing students (sales copy). They regularly advertise jobs in a newsletter “The Golden Thread.”
Go to http://www.awaionline.com for the contact information.
For cash/corporate sponsorships, I would go to drug companies like Pfizer. They always need the good PR associated with these kind of sponsorships. If there was a specific drug that you aunt used, start with that pharmaceutical company…They would probably drool over the opportunity to partner with a Cancer Survivor.
Target the network of cancer survivors – CEOs who are survivors, etc. Do a google news search in your area to find prospects. Another source is the survivors network via the American Cancer Society’s website: http://www.cancer.org. They also have a fantastic series of Relay For Life events happening in thousands of communities across the country. These might be a good networking opportunity for you….
SURVIVE ALL sounds like a worthwhile project. Here is a idea to help you.
My website contains a link to become a member of PrePaid Legal Services.
For a monthly membership fee of $16 you will have toll free access to the
provider law firm for Colorado.The firm is Riggs,Abney,Neal,Turpen,
Orbinson and Lewis of Tulsa Oklahoma. There is a lot of value in the plan
and includes unlimited telephone consultation and advise on anything
involving any law___ on your personal or business matters as well as
preexisting conditions. There is no contract,you can quit anytime you choose. If you have questions call me at 817 917 5596.
Best Regards
Gene
As a representative of a home health agency, I would love to have someone like Dierdre speak to our hospice families or other patients and their families. She could make some money with speaking engagements and make a lot of contacts with possible donors.
I would do searches for venture capital companies that target women such as Fund Isabella. She may also want to contact the Small Business Associations’ Office of Women’s Business Ownership to see if they have any resources or advisors. Another avenue might be “business accelerators” in your city or state that offer time/people resources. For example, in DFW, we have STARTech, which assists high tech startups. We also have a Center for Non-profit Management that offers advice and training for non-profits, the Volunteer Center of North Texas and an organization called Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, which serves non-profits. Contact these types of organizations that are based in Aspen, Denver and Colorado. She may also want to contact a nearby university, which may want to take on helping her business as a class project for a set period of time.
Partnering with a company that already has a line of greeting cards could save you time and money. My company, Smith Ink, is based in Atlanta, GA, and we have a six-card line of encouragement greeting cards for women with breast cancer. (I created the line after experiencing my own benign breast biopsy.) Because of their uniqueness concept and fresh appeal, our cards have been featured in major national and international publications, including Working Mother magazine and Essence, on the radio in two states, and just yesterday taped a TV program with an NBC-affliated station. The cards also serve as educational tools, listing tips for breast health on the back. We also donate a portion of our cards’ proceeds to various nonprofit, breast cancer-related organizations.
We sell to specialty stores, bookstores, etc. We also sell to nonprofits and corporations whose community outreach efforts involve breast cancer awareness campaigns. For instance, the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Hospital here purchased hundreds of cards to give to their volunteers who shepherd newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors through the wellness process at their hospital. The volunteers themselves are breast cancer survivors. Individuals may also purchase cards via our web site.
We welcome the opportunity to help Survive-All serve others. –Pam, 404-696-7492