There’s always plenty of press regarding upcoming fundraisers. But ever wonder what happened after the fact - how much money was raised and how it went? We did, so The Ticker decided to check-in on few recent, high-profile fundraisers.

Fight Like a Jedi
As Yoda from Star Wars says, “size matters not.” That was the motto at Fight Like a Jedi, a Star Wars-themed fundraiser held in December for nine-year- old Matthew Litchfield, who’s fighting brain cancer and a rare genetic condition. More than 500 people attended the event, organized by Rob Humphrey, raising $15,000 to help pay Matthew’s medical bills.

The tumor was discovered in October, and Matthew underwent a 13-hour surgery, removing 95 percent of the tumor, and completed seven weeks of radiation. Recently the family learned the tumor had grown back, but an MRI last week showed it has shrunk by 25 percent. Last Wednesday, Matthew began six months of chemotherapy.

Making matters more complicated, Matthew also suffers from primordial dwarfism, a genetic condition that affects only one in three million people, which prevents his body from growing any taller than about three feet tall. Matthew’s father, Bryan, says the community support is essential to his family.

“I had to leave my job to care for our son,” he explains. “We honestly would not have been able to continue getting him the treatment he needs without the outpouring of support.”

You can still purchase items from the fundraiser here.

And on March 8, Lars Hockstad Auditorium in TC will be showing Star Wars: The Clone Wars to raise additional fund for Matthew and his family. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Spelling Bee
Can you spell “success?” An adult spelling bee at Right Brain Brewery in January brought in $6,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan. Executive Director Cecilia Chesney says 34 teams of three took part, spelling some not-so-easy words. The winning team, from Deerhaven Family Dentistry, correctly spelled “ichthyophagist,” which means a person who eats fish.

“The participants were really competitive, which made it so much fun,” Chesney says. “It was just a really great group of individuals coming together for a good cause.”

The money raised will help match six more local kids with mentors.
Chesney adds the spelling bee will become an annual event. Big Brothers Big Sisters is planning a bowling fundraiser in May. For more information, visit: http://www.bigsupnorth.com.

Dog Park
Mardi Gras went to the dogs again this year. Friends of the Traverse City Dog Park held their second annual “Mardi Paw” fundraiser last week. The event brought in $3,000 to help improve the park (at Division and Munson Ave) for people and their furry friends. That's about 12 percent of all the money collected since January 2012.

So what will the cash be used for?

“Currently, the need is hydration stations and a surface solution more befitting a heavily used, all-season dog park,” explains volunteer Gary Howe. “When it gets muddy, it turns many people away.”

Howe adds the dog park has become one of the most visited public parks in the city, since it opened in August.

“The biggest success, for me, is not just seeing the dogs interact, but seeing people interact and connect,” he says. “I’ve heard of someone getting a job offer, old friends meeting for the first time in 20 years, and complete strangers becoming friends.”

Know about another recent fundraising success? Please share by commenting!