 |
 Why should we take part in the MS Global Dinner Party?
Since 2003 the MS Global Dinner Party (GDP) has been a great success for every country that has taken part. It is an opportunity to:
- raise funds for your MS society
- raise awareness of MS in your country
- raise awareness of your MS society and its role in the global MS movement
- raise funds for the global fight against MS
What is the MS Global Dinner Party?
The GDP is an initiative that unites MS organisations and individuals around the world, where on the same date, MS supporters worldwide host an event for MS.
The 2008 Global Dinner Party (GDP) took place on Saturday 23 February 2008.
The events can be held for friends, family, neighbours or colleagues and can range from formal catered dinners to casual home gatherings. Instead of bringing a gift for the host, everyone invited to a GDP event is asked to make a donation to support the fight against MS.
The event does not have to include food – a quiz or film evening could be organised or a play or concert performed. The GDP could take place in someone’s home or garden, a restaurant, a town or village hall or any suitable venue.
The uniting purpose of the 2008 GDP was to raise funds for and create awareness about the existence of paediatric MS and the work of the International Pediatric MS Study Group (IPMSSG) Find out more.
How can we raise money from the MS Global Dinner Party?
Following the GDP events held in your country, you receive and acknowledge all the donations from the GDP hosts and guests.
In 2008, participating MS societies were encouraged to use 50 percent of the funds they raise through GDP events in their country to support their own projects and programmes, and to donate the remaining 50% of the funds to MSIF to enable the vital work of the IPMSSG to continue.
Will the MS Global Dinner Party be a success in our country?
Every country which has joined the initiative has benefited from participating. The GDP Promotional material in the GDP Pack is a testament to its success.
| Year | Funds raised* | Countries participating | | 2003 | £9,510.36 | Australia, Canada, Ireland, Panama, UK, USA | | 2004 | £14,555.16 | Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, UK, USA | | 2005 | £41,792.00 | Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, UK, USA | | 2006 | £38,945.13 | Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Greece, Kenya, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA |
| 2007 | £63,127.12
(to date) | Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Kenya, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, UK |
| (* total amount raised and not the amount that came to MSIF.) |
To make participating in the GDP event easier, MSIF provides marketing materials to help you promote the event as well as Host Packs (including a registration form, invitation and donation cards and posters) for you to customise.
Three easy steps to GDP success
1. Prepare GDP Materials
Contact MSIF to express your interest in taking part in the GDP. MSIF will send you a GDP Pack (for your use) and GDP Host Pack (to send to individual hosts/chapters or branches in your country) which include the following English language materials*:
GDP Pack (for MS societies)
- GDP Information for event hosts (to be sent from MS societies)
- GDP Promotional material (stories and photographs from GDP events around the world)
- GDP Images (GDP logo and GDP flag person in JPEG or suitable format)
- GDP Event host registration form (for GDP event hosts to register their involvement)
GDP Host Pack (for hosts)
- GDP Event information for hosts
- GDP Invitation & donation card (for GDP event hosts to send to potential guests and for guests to confirm/make their donation)
- GDP Poster (for you and GDP event hosts to promote the MS Global Dinner Party)
- GDP Event host donation form (for GDP event hosts to record the information about their event)
- What is MS? (an information sheet on MS – hosts may want to include this with their invitations or display it during their event)
- A letter of support from Sarah Philips, MSIF President and Chairman
*Materials can be sent in black and white or colour and in Word or PDF format.
Customise the GDP materials for use in your country by translating the English language text to your own language, adding your MS society name, contact details and logo to the Information for event hosts, Event Host registration form, Event host donation form, Invitation & donation card and Poster. If you need support to do this then MSIF can customise the materials for you.
2. Market the event
Send electronic/hard copy materials of the GDP Pack and GDP Host Pack by email/post to your local chapters, branches and associations with a request that they promote the GDP locally.
Send electronic/hard copies of the Information for hosts and Event host registration form out to members, supporters and people affected by MS with a request that they host a GDP event. Once you receive an Event Host registration form, send out the GDP Host Pack (ensure you log all the Host Packs you send out).
Promote the GDP in your emails, letters and newsletters, at meetings, events and on your website. Maybe you could approach well known individuals, groups and organisations (chefs, actors, sports stars, businessmen, politicians, restaurants, hotels etc) in your country to promote the GDP and possibly host a GDP event.
3. Collect and process the donations
Collect the funds raised by the GDP hosts in your country and, after accounting for the cost of promoting the GDP, send a suggested 50 percent to:
Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
3rd Floor, Skyline House
200 Union Street
London
SE1 0LX
UK
Unless you specify otherwise we shall acknowledge your donation in our Annual Review.
Read all about the GDP 2005, GDP 2006 and GDP 2007 events that took place across the globe.
     
|
