Creative Ways to Fundraise
Sharon's Art Sales
Sharon’s journey with Guatemala began in 2006, shortly after completing her college studies in violin and art. Sharon’s unique skill set led her to jobs in art and music education in Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Northern Guatemala. Those jobs included violin concerts in schools and art galleries, exhibitions of her paintings, art classes for kids, and art pedagogy classes for teachers.
After Sharon returned to the United States in 2009, she continued to support projects in Guatemala. She began donating to Foundation Todos Juntos (FTJ) in support of Voces de Cambio, a Xela-based program dedicated to the growth and leadership development of young Guatemalan women, and later, in support of the Scholarship Program and other projects of 32 Volcanes.
Inspired to Fundraise for the Projects
Sharon’s inspiration to fundraise for the projects stems from her love of seeing children grow and continue their education. She enjoys receiving the letters from the scholarship students, as well as maintaining her connection with Xela.​
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About the Event
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As an artist, Sharon has generously given her time and talent to host art shows for several years. In the past, she only occasionally sold her art, but now she exhibits and sells many pieces for the fundraisers. Students, friends, and community members learn of the event through personal conversations and via her Instagram.
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During the art show, she displays information about the projects using a brochure provided by FTJ, along with a detailed trifold display. Sharon also reproduces her artwork on cards and prints to sell. The FTJ brochure can be found in our fundraising kit. ​
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Sharon and her husband, Olger, have donated all profit from the sale of her paintings at the shows to Foundation Todos Juntos via Benevity, a workplace matching program.
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Support FTJ by Purchasing Sharon’s Art!​
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Check out Sharon's artwork on her website or Instagram. For inquiries, please contact Sharon directly via the email.
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Sharon's Art Sales
Sharon’s journey with Guatemala began in 2006, shortly after completing her college studies in violin and art. Sharon’s unique skill set led her to jobs in art and music education in Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Northern Guatemala. Those jobs included violin concerts in schools and art galleries, exhibitions of her paintings, art classes for kids, and art pedagogy classes for teachers.
After Sharon returned to the United States in 2009, she continued to support projects in Guatemala. She began donating to Foundation Todos Juntos (FTJ) in support of Voces de Cambio, a Xela-based program dedicated to the growth and leadership development of young Guatemalan women, and later, in support of the Scholarship Program and other projects of 32 Volcanes.
Inspired to Fundraise for the Projects
Sharon’s inspiration to fundraise for the projects stems from her love of seeing children grow and continue their education. She enjoys receiving the letters from the scholarship students, as well as maintaining her connection with Xela.​
.jpg)
About the Event
​
As an artist, Sharon has generously given her time and talent to host art shows for several years. In the past, she only occasionally sold her art, but now she exhibits and sells many pieces for the fundraisers. Students, friends, and community members learn of the event through personal conversations and via her Instagram.
​​
During the art show, she displays information about the projects using a brochure provided by FTJ, along with a detailed trifold display. Sharon also reproduces her artwork on cards and prints to sell. The FTJ brochure can be found in our fundraising kit.
​
Sharon and her husband, Olger, donated all profit from the sale of her paintings at the shows to Foundation Todos Juntos via Benevity, a workplace matching program.
Support FTJ by Purchasing Sharon’s Art!​
​
Check out Sharon's artwork on her website or Instagram. For inquiries, please contact Sharon directly via the email.
Aliscia's Purposeful Pursuits
Aliscia first traveled to Guatemala after completing her undergraduate degree in international relations. She studied Spanish at Pop Wuj and met Carmen and Roney, co-founders of both Pop Wuj and 32 Volcanes (32V), who were then teaching at the Spanish school.
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In 2018, she returned to Xela on sabbatical as a university professor to conduct research on comprehensive immigration reform. Carmen and Roney generously supported her by helping her connect with interviewees. Their ongoing willingness to help left a lasting impression on Aliscia, who admired their dedication and kindness.
Her Inspiration to Fundraise
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Aliscia often speaks fondly of her time in Guatemala and says that Carmen and Roney, the co-founders of 32V and Pop Wuj, helped shape who she wanted to be in the world. She had the unique opportunity to see the world through a variety of perspectives. She deeply respects the work Carmen and Roney do, trusts the organization, and has witnessed firsthand the sustainable impact they have made through their commitment to the community.
Creative Ways She Fundraised
Aliscia launched a series of creative, community-based fundraising efforts to support the projects she believes in:
Pizza Night
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She partnered with a local pizza shop, asking them to sponsor a fundraiser in which a portion of the proceeds would benefit the Nutrition Program. The restaurant agreed, and Aliscia promoted the event through social media, flyers, and word of mouth. She encouraged friends and family to attend and share the news. The restaurant even placed a sign on its door to inform customers about the cause.
Yoga with a Twist
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Blending a love for dogs and yoga, Aliscia asked a friend to donate a yoga class as a fundraiser. Leading up to the day of the event, Aliscia distributed flyers to get the word out about the event. During the event, she shared a few words about Foundation Todos Juntos and the work being done in Guatemala, creating a sense of purpose and connection among participants.
Social Media Campaigns
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Aliscia also ran online campaigns, raising money through various social media platforms. While in Guatemala, she kept donors engaged by sending out email updates and a “photo of the day,” giving supporters a window into the projects they were helping sustain.
Spreading the Word about Foundation Todos Juntos
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In the lead-up to her events, Aliscia distributed flyers to her community and encouraged others to pass them along to their networks. At each event, she spoke about the work of 32 Volcanes and the projects supported by Foundation Todos Juntos. Through her social media presence, she not only promoted her fundraisers but also built virtual campaigns, sent targeted emails to past donors, and raised awareness for the foundation’s ongoing impact.
Here is a flyer that Aliscia made for her event!
Decades of Support
In the 1990s, Margot, and her husband, Richard, traveled to Guatemala and began volunteering at the Guardería (now known as the Family Support Center) in Llanos de Pinal. At this time the Guardería was a project of Nuevos Horizontes and Pop Wuj Spanish language students often volunteered for special activities or celebrations with the children. The couple quickly became moved by the mission and the people involved. Their experience sparked a lasting connection to the projects and the communities they served, long after returning home to Norway.
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Years later when Nuevos Horizontes no longer had funds to continue the Guardería, they asked Pop Wuj if they would be able to take on the project. Pop Wuj did not have the funds necessary, but upon seeing how interested the couple was in making a lasting impact, Carmen asked whether they would be interested in helping financially support the Guardería. In addition to dedicating their own personal funds, the couple began to utilize their personal network to drum up excitement and get others in the community invested in the cause.
Her inspiration to fundraise for the projects:
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​Margot believes nutrition and education are basic necessities for development for young people. She strives to make it possible for young people to get an education for a better society and peace. She fundraises for Foundation Todos Juntos because she knows that the funds raised reach the project participants.
About the fundraiser:
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For nearly two decades the couple fundraised together in support of the Guardería/Family Support Center. Although her husband passed away in 2019, Margot carries on their efforts in several ways.
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Twice a year, she sends an email to update her friends and family about the Family Support Center and the families served by the project. This helps donors see their impact on the ground in Guatemala.
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A teacher at a local Norwegian school invited her to speak about the Family Support Center at her school. In Norway, children typically exchange gifts for the year-end holidays. However, the teacher thought a better idea would be for the children donate the money to a good cause--the Family Support Center in Guatemala!
This led Margot to present the Family Support Center and introduce Guatemala to the schoolchildren. Later on, when Norway began having a special school day called "Hello World", during which they learned about different countries, her local school began "Hello Guatemala" to further support the Family Support Center. She speaks at the school every year, teaching 400-500 children and their parents about Guatemala and why projects like the Family Support Center need their support.​
How Margot spreads the word about Foundation Todos Juntos:​
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She has connected with her community via presentations, email updates with her family and friends, and writing for a school newsletter which goes home to the parents. She always includes pictures of the Family Support Center, including pictures of herself at the project, to help people really feel connected and see the Family Support Center through her eyes.​
Maria's Busking
Maria first visited Guatemala after graduating from college with her Bachelor's degree in Biology. She wanted to experience a new culture and learn a new language, and so she took a trip to Guatemala. Upon returning home, she continued online Spanish lessons with her favorite teacher from Xela. Wanting to stay connected with Xela, she asked her teacher whether she knew of any particularly good organizations in Xela, and this is how Maria became introduced to both the 32 Volcanes projects and Foundation Todos Juntos. Maria became an online volunteer and later had the opportunity to volunteer in person.
Her inspiration to fundraise for the projects:
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​Maria is inspired to fundraise by her belief that everyone deserves access to proper nutrition, education, and medical care. She is especially drawn to Foundation Todos Juntos and 32 Volcanes for their holistic, well-rounded approach to supporting individuals and communities.
About the fundraiser:
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​Maria has performed on her violin on the street in Philadelphia around Christmastime and in Xela, Guatemala. During her Christmas Eve performance in Philadelphia, Maria played Christmas tunes at City Hall. In Guatemala, she walked around Parque Central, as the 32 Volcanes team handed out flyers. This has brought more awareness to the work of 32 Volcanes and increased engagement from the community.
How Maria spread the word about Foundation Todos Juntos:
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Maria displayed a tri-fold with photos and information about the projects. Additionally, her friends and family handed out the Foundation Todos Juntos brochure while she played. The brochure can be found in our fundraising kit.