How to Host a JENGATHON for Sanctuary Village
Instructions are provided below. You can print them out or send a link to this page to anyone who may want to host this fundraiser - a fun and easy way to provide life changing housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness.
TINY HOUSE JENGA CHALLENGE!
STEP 1.
Publicize your intention to have a Jenga Challenge event. Here is a sample of a Facebook post:
“I am raising funds for Sanctuary Village to build a Tiny House community for people without homes in Philadelphia. I dare you to join me in the Jenga Challenge! Comment below with the amount that you will pledge for each block that I can move in a solo game of Jenga, and on February 6th at high noon I will meet you here. I will play Jenga on Facebook live, to see how much you will contribute to Sanctuary Village! $1 a move or $100 a move, you decide. How high can we go? You can make your contribution by sending a check or on line at https://www.tinyhousecommunity.org/ Let’s move a “little building material” to make a big difference for people who need safe shelter!”
However you communicate – invite people to join you in a great cause!
STEP 2.
Encourage friends and family, co-workers and neighbors to sponsor you. You can use information from the web site to make the case for supporting this great project!
STEP 3.
Gather your friends in person or on line and play Jenga! Invite your sponsors to join you either in person, on Facebook live, or on a video platform, like Zoom. You can make a party of it, or enlist a friend hold the camera or phone that you are using to live stream.
Make it a festive atmosphere. Add up the pledges people left in the comments (and any that you have been able to rustle up off line) and make a big deal about how much money you are raising for Sanctuary Village with each block that you move. Thank your sponsors throughout.
When your tower falls ask your audience if they think they can do better! Could they stack more blocks? Raise more funds? Dare them to give it a try!
Remember, you are helping to make a difference, not just by raising funds but by raising awareness – The more people play, the more people win!
A Few Ideas to Raise the Roof on your Jengathon!
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If you have a “co-conspirator” doing the filming, they might provide color commentary – like a sports announcer!
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Before your game, let everyone know why helping people get safe shelter is important to you.
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Host a group Jengathon!Get a group or club to compete!By giving a time limit for each move, you will both turn up the pressure, and can keep track of who makes the most moves as the towers fall one by one.Give a prize for the most moves, and another for the person who raises the most money!
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Share one fact about what life is like when people don’t have safe shelter between each move.
FAQs
What if I don’t have a set of Jenga blocks?
Sanctuary Village has access to a number of sets that can be loaned out to you and your friends! Contact us for more information!
How many moves happen in a typical game?
You can play a few practice games to get your own average, but 10 – 40 moves are typical for a game of Jenga.
What is Sanctuary Village?
Sanctuary Village is a 501c3 organization that is building a village of tiny houses in Philadelphia to provide a safe place for people experiencing chronic homeless to get back on their feet. A full range of support services will help people reconnect with their skills and talents, and with the wider community.
People who have lost a safe secure place to live need respect as much as a roof. We envision a group of people, who have already built relationships on the street, being able to have each other’s back as they face the significant challenges of rebuilding their lives. The ability to come into a new living situation with known and trusted peers is a key element in developing a way of living that will make a transition to housing successful.
When you support Sanctuary Village, you aren’t just building roofs and walls. You are joining a community that is building up people so that they can live with dignity. When people have a safe place, and don’t have to worry about surviving – they can focus on thriving.
