Daily Party Dish

How to Host a February Spin-A-Thon Fundraiser for American Heart Month

Recently, spinning has become a popular way to burn off the fat and get healthy! This year, consider hosting a trendy fundraising event that takes advantage of new exercising fad: a Spin-a-Thon!  There’s no better way to show you care than donating to a good cause and burning some calories while you’re at it!  A Spin-a-Thon is just like a walk-a-thon, only participants cycle on stationary bikes in a facility rather than walking around a track.  Cyclists gather in teams and members trade off cycling (sometimes over the course of twenty-four hours) to raise money through sponsors. 

If you’re thinking of hosting a Spin-A-Thon fundraising event for American Heart Month (or any health-related cause), take a look at the fun ways to get donators involved below. From music to buffet food to door prizes, there are many ways to draw in donators and draw the attention of news outlets.   Also, make sure to check out our Fundraising & Charity Event Ideas and Planning Tools to make the process a little easier.

1. Spinning Sing-a-Long: At a Spin-A-Thon, participants cycle for long periods of time, and the last thing you want to happen is for them to get bored. To keep participants engaged, play a popular song every 15 minutes so everyone can sing-a-long, belting it out from their bikes.  If your fundraiser is in February, a DJ playing and emceeing songs like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band (Beatles), Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis), Straight from the Heart (Bryan Adams), Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler), Achy Breaky Heart (Billy Ray Cyrus), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Dolly Parton) will keep the event hopping. Display the words or music videos on a large projector screen in front of the cyclists so they can follow along.  
2. Spin-a-Thon Favors:  If your event is in February, have a local business sponsor the purchase of heart themed favors to pass out to everyone as they enter.  You can find many Valentines favors at the dollar store, and you can choose to either sell or give them away. You might also choose to include a goodie bag that participants can buy to support the cause:  water bottles, energy bars, and other donated items are great add-ins.  In order to receive the bag, participants must donate an extra $5 over the price it takes to participate, which is a great way to bring in extra fundraising money.
3. 50/50 February Raffle:  Another option is to have a 50/50 raffle. Everyone who buys a raffle ticket receives a heart favor to wear (like a pin, sticker or headband) so that they stand out from others (a great way to get people to buy into the raffle!).
4. Spin-a-Thon Food: Decide whether you are selling food or giving it away.  Of course, for a fundraiser in February, you need heart-shaped cookies, cupcakes, or healthy muffins with heart sprinkles on them.  Plus, wouldn’t it be fun to have heart-shaped finger sandwiches (easily done using a cookie cutter to cut a slice of bread!).  If the event starts early in the day, you could add a small heart-shaped pancake breakfast if the facility allows it.  It might even be possible to find a vendor that makes heart-shaped pizzas!  Keep in mind, stand-out food adds to the newsworthiness of your event and will increase participation.
5. Fundraising Participant Perks: Wouldn’t it be fun to have chair and foot massages for tired cyclists?  Contact local vendors to see if they could donate their time or offer a portion of the proceeds to the fundraiser (for example: 50% of $10 for a 15 minute massage).  Another option is to rent massage chairs for participants to use.  It might also be fun to have someone set up a “make your own smoothie” bar… healthy, hearty, and another money maker.

Good luck planning your Spin-a-Thon fundraiser, and make sure to save a bike (and a smoothie) for the Party Girl!

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Cinco de Mayo 2013 - Decorate your guests or don’t decorate at all!

I know that’s a tough headline, but I mean it.  Decorating your guests means more fun for them and a lot more fun when you look back at all those photos when the party’s over...  Or WAIT! You might find yourself named as the best host/ess ever on Facebook or Instagram.  Well, that’s bueno, no?

Anyway…here are my favorite things for forcing your guests to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

 

 

1. Sombreros, first and foremost.  Regular or neon! In fact, buy them by the dozen and save money.  Use the leftovers as centerpieces, filled with taco chips (with salsa on the side).  Chances are they’ll be wearing the centerpieces as soon as the Mexican beer is tapped.
2. Red hot chili pepper hats.  Ok, I know, it’s another hat but it’s better than a lampshade (and you always have one guest who would if they could).   Plus, if they are into the Red Hot Chili Peppers, maybe you can get them to audition in front of everyone.  Now, that’s entertainment.  
3. Beads.  What celebration is complete without beads?  None.  I have beads from parties hanging off every lamp and doorknob in my house.  Some with nametags attached, some without.  I keep them.  I don’t know why. Reminder of good times? Nah. Just can’t throw anything away.  Choose from metallic chili pepper beads, beads with a red pepper hanging from them or a large mustache bead necklace (for one bad amigo)—especially perfect with those sombreros mentioned above! 
4. Margarita Glow Glasses.  You don’t necessarily need a glass for everyone, but a dozen of these glow margarita glasses would look great mixed in with some plain ones.   
5. Finally, and last but not least, decorate yourself.  You think I’m kidding.  Oh no.  Guests know their host/ess has gone all out when they answer the door at Cinco de Mayo dressed as a taco, one of the three amigos or a Spanish dancer.  Don’t have that much nerve?  Wear a poncho.  I’ll forgive you.  

If you don’t have the budget for all of the above, remember, almost everyone has a camera in his or her phones these days.  Set up a place for photos with everything possible they can wear as props…the pix will be fantastic and they’ll have them forevermore!

 

The Party Girl

Hasta Luego!

Five themes I might use if I was Turning 50! (again)

 

The girls taking me to make strudel for my birthday.

 

Fifty.  A milestone.  The big 5-0h! (no).  Fifty is Nifty.  Still up to speed at 50. Fifty if Fabulous!  Do you want me to continue?  I've heard them all.  The best thing about these 50th birthday party ideas is that if you choose one for a theme, you can find plates, cups, napkins, guest towels and who knows what else emblazoned with the saying of choice.  Kind of like "over the hill."   For a few brief moments, the over the hill theme became passé, but alas it has returned in full force.

Wnat something more unique? Me too. Here are my top five ways I would celebrate turning 50!

1. 50's Diner Theme - Oh yeah.  I'd send everyone an old 45 as an invitation (gluing over the label with the necessary info).  I'd use checkered cloths and put those silver napkin holders and those silver things that hold the old style salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard (available at any restaurant supply and cheap, too) on the tables as centerpieces.  I'd play 50's music, and I'd serve hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries with cheese and gravy all in those red plastic baskets.  I'm excited thinking about it.  Last, and certainly not least, I'd have a bar, but next to it, I'd have a milkshake bar.  Yum.

2. 80's theme - Lived through the 80's and enjoyed it?  Well, the Material Girl (Madonna) was at her height of fame.  Cindy Lauper was lauping about.  Girls just wanted to have fun.  People were "Footloose!"  I'd have everyone dress 80's and turn my party room into a dance club with cheesy lights, 80's music, posters of all the 80's great rock stars and films. 80's theme party ideas... fun and easy.

3. Fiesta -  There's a couple reasons for this.  Fiestas are fun, fiestas are inexpensive to host, fiestas have great beer and dips (taco chips are not high in fat), I can beat a birthday piñata with a stick and finally, I would get to have a lifesize cut out of a burro/ass with a lifesize cut out of me next to its behind saying, "you bet your ass I'm 50!" Plus, there are tons of Fiesta Party Supplies out there to make decorating easy. What more is there?

4. Fifty - What a great play on words.  I would take every song title, movie title, phrase and more that has 50 in it and theme it out.  Worried there won't be enough?  My invitation would announce "I'm no cliche, but I am 50."  Then I would surprise them with all of the below...on cocktail napkins, seating cards, centerpieces, even in the restrooms:  50 Ways to Leave your Lover,  50 First Dates, 50/50, 50 is nifty...and make up a few of my own...like "don't trust anyone under 50," "50 is the next 40," so on and so forth.

5. 50 Shades of Grey -  Ok.  It's popular, timely and can mean anything you want.  I think I'd spell grey with an "a" though.  More appropriate to the situation if you're thinking hair, and I am sure you are (right?).  Use every color gray imaginable for linens, napkins, cocktail napkins, votive candles, invite and more.  Turning fifty is a gray area since, of course, you are only as old as you feel.  Only you know the shades of gray you are experiencing as this birthday approaches,  but you might want to let people guess...and then again...


Remember...50 is only a number...wow-- that's another great theme!
The Party Girl

5 Things Not to Wear On St. Patrick's Day

I don’t know about you, but I thought St. Patrick’s Day was a celebration of Irish culture (well, actually it started out as a celebration of the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, but nothing lasts forever).  I don’t know when it became a drink fest for Americans (and other nationalities, I’m sure); and I also don’t know when the poor Irish had to start tolerating what goes on across the globe each March 17^th in celebration of their culture.

Anything and everything green and things that have never been green before are selling like pints of beer in a pub on a St. Patrick’s Day parade route anywhere between here and Dublin.   There are the usual wearables available (shamrock beads and such) and then there are the unique items that are, frankly, embarrassing and an insult to anyone Irish.  I, for one, want to take a stand.  As a purveyor of parties, I apologize to the entire country of Ireland, its residents and its forebears. 

If you were truly Irish, would you be caught dead in a green LED Mohawk wig or a St. Patrick’s Day feather fascinator?  Only if you’re plowed. 

I can tolerate green hair extensions, but I would absolutely choke if I saw someone wearing a St. Patrick’s Day top hat that comes complete with a green beard that looks more like a wet mop than facial hair -- unless I was on my fourth green ale, of course.

Last but not least, I may think I’m having an out of body experience if I see a dog dressed as a leprechaun or a human dressed as the General Mills Lucky Charms icon.  Well, maybe not, if I just finished watching the St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Parade or attending the Greek-Irish Society St. Patrick’s Day Ball and am still trying to understand what or how that happened.

But then again, if you can turn a river green…

Have a good St. Pat’s—and be safe.

The Party Girl

Love Boat Theme Party: A Rehearsal Dinner for Marcy & Todd

We were so thrilled to provide custom decorations for this Love Boat themed rehearsal dinner. Todd's mom chose the Love Boat for a theme because she and her husband actually met Marcy on a cruise and fixed her up with their son (Todd). Todd also proposed to Marcy while on a cruise...so cruise theme it was!!

The entrance had a gangplank with life preservers personalized for the happy couple.  Each buffet was a different port of call--from China to Italy to Greece!  Each bar was named in boat terminology (e.g., the Aft Lounge) and everyone was adrift on the sea of love.

Centerpieces included Marcy and Todd waving from their own Love Boat on blue shreddz (substituting for water) with Lifesavers® scattered about as confetti and a Mylar heart balloon that screamed TRUE LOVE.

Next port of call?...a baby shower?

Party411 Cookies!

I just wanted to share these fun Party411 cookies that we just recieved here at the office! Ivan Schwarz sent them to us as a "thank you" for the work we did on the Road the Red Carpet benefit. They were made by one of the lovely sponsors of the event, Luna Bakery.

We are so blessed to work with the "sweetest" people!

Mercer Olympics - Custom Fundraiser Progress Board

 

Party411.com had a wonderful time creating a custom scoreboard for an Olympic theme fundraiser!

The Mercer Olympics is a fundraiser held to benefit a local elementary school. The custom board tracks the donations that are made to each teacher. Hopefully they all cross the finish line!

All proceeds benefit the school and the event builds school spirit while promoting teamwork, exercise and wellness. The kids have a fun week with opening and closing ceremonies and Olympic competitions in their gym classes all week!

It looks like the kids had a great time! Thanks for letting Party411 be part of the fun!

Dead Celebrity Halloween Party

The Party Girl and Party411 plans many local events in our hometown of Cleveland Ohio. We were just looking back fondly on one Halloween party (many years ago) and we thought we would share some of the photos. The theme was "Dead Celebrity", and the party was for a local TV station.  Guests were encouraged to dress as their favorite dead celebrity.This party inspired our Dead Rock Star Halloween Party Theme!

The event was hosted at Grey's Armory, an old building in downtown Cleveland that has the look of a haunted castle. 

When guests entered, the lobby was decorated like a haunted graveyard, complete with spooky houses, trees and a graveyard with cutouts of the ghosts of famous celebrities.

In the main ballroom, guests were given Halloween masks as nametags.  Sharpie pens were out for people to write their names.

Another fun decoration was a display labeled, "Programming Brain Bar" - perfect for our host, the TV station.  Jars with "brains" were labeled for different TV shows like, "Brains of Losers on The People's Court."

The room was dark, of course, and we added to the spooky feel with fog machines scattered around the room.  Other decorations included black balloon arches, graveyards, dancing skeleton balloons, cauldrons and lots of candy!

The guests all dressed to the nines and had a great time dancing the night away.  As they left, everyone was given a gift of chocolate skeleton teeth.  Yum.

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Halloween Party Games for Adults and Children

So you’re throwing a Halloween party that will have adults and children? Are you having difficulty coming up with activities for both sets of guests? Well, since you have a diverse crowd (kids and adults) you should have activities that work for everyone.

Two things always work for the adults and children; costume contests and karaoke. You can’t go wrong with either of them.

Make sure your guests know you plan on handing out several different prizes for the costume contest; ranging from most realistic, made everyone laugh, best overall, most creative...

You should also give gifts to the children too! Give everyone a little trophy! You can even have a category for best family costume. Incredibles family costume anyone?

For karaoke you should keep all the songs "Halloween" themed. Here are a few to get you started -

• I Put a Spell on You - Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
• Witchcraft - Frank Sinatra
• Highway to Hell - AC/DC
• Monster Mash - Bobby Boris Pickett
• Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley
• VooDoo Child - Jimi Hendrix
• Super Freak – Rick James
• Led Zeppelin - No Quarter
• Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
• Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
• Halloween – Stephen Lynch

The kids might not be as interested in karaoke as the adults so if you need one more activity, why not have a scavenger hunt? We happen to have a great Halloween Scavenger Hunt on our site.

Here is an example of the clues -

First Clue

There's a special place that you must go to.
To discover a cauldron of witch's brew.
Dunk one team member's face to find
the apple of your team's design.

What you do: Set up a cauldron of "Witch's Brew" where everyone can bob for apples. Tie a different color of string around the stem of each apple, and make sure the teams know which color they are and that they must bob for the apple with their team's color on the stem.

Second Clue

For your next task you must retrieve
a set of tootsies among the leaves.
Look up, look down and you may see
a pair of feet in a great big tree.

What you do: Cut a pair of feet in each team's color out of construction paper. Hang the feet in the trees- if you want you can color red on the feet to make them look dismembered. Each team must somehow get their pair of "dismembered feet" from the trees.

And so on. There are 11 clues in all. Or use this as a template and do your own, the kids will love it!

If there is another great Halloween song for karaoke please share it in the comments below. Have a great time, and Happy Halloween!

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Induction Reception Parties for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Party411Events Coordinates Induction Reception Parties for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011on August 6, 2011

Sherri Foxman’s Party411 Events announced today that the company was chosen by each of the inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 to coordinate their induction reception parties. These events follow the Enshrinement Ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on Saturday, August 6, 2011

“Beginning in early spring, Party411 begins sending proposals to each team and/or player to coordinate and plan their induction reception. Some players are easy to pitch. This year, for instance, we knew Deion Sanders had a wild and crazy personality so we had a good feel for him,” said Sherri Foxman, CEO and ultimate party girl. “Whereas, others of the players are very low key. It’s all part of the process.”

This year, Party411 Events is working on the receptions for Deion Sanders (Atlanta Falcons), running back Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams), defensive end Richard Dent (Chicago Bears), linebacker Chris Hanburger (Washington Redskins), linebacker Les Richter (Los Angeles Rams), tight end Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos) and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol—making it over 25 induction receptions Party411 has coordinated and creatively themed since 2007 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Each party has its own personality; some tents are decorated with team colors while others are decorated and/or themed based on the inductee’s interests or personality. While this year one tent boasts a country western BBQ and music to match, another is decked out with club lighting, increasingly high-tech video screens and celebrity performers to match. Each year is remarkably different from the prior year and the energy in each tent (reception) is higher than high.

“Because of the lockout and the Hall of Fame game being cancelled, we were very worried the receptions would be affected. That isn’t the case; each player’s party is packed, and we’re sure this will be one of their most memorable evenings,” Foxman said.

About Sherri Foxman’s Party411 Events:
Party411 is located in Cleveland and was founded in 1996. The company offers event coordination and planning throughout the U.S. for corporate, private and non-profit organizations. For more information, go to http://www.party411events.com.