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Project Contact:
Jill Hickerson     jhickerson@tylerpaper.com or shick@tyler.net

Volunteer Organization Name:
Women's Symphony League of Tyler

Orchestra Name:
East Texas Symphony Orchestra

City:
Tyler

State/Province:
Texas

Meeting group size of the orchestra:
Group 6

Number of active members in the volunteer organization?
over 500

Name of the project:
Alex Fleming Memorial Bowl

Project Description:
Bowl-a-thon produced by our Junior Symphony League members (11th and 12th grade children of members) to raise funds for the Tyler Youth Orchestra and to create a new music scholarship. The date of the event was the Sunday prior to Halloween and so all students wore costumes. The Event was done in memory of Alex Fleming, a JSL Senior that had been killed in a car accident a few months before the event. Alex was a gifted musician. Our JSL members wanted to create a scholarship to honor his memory and love of music. Funds were presented to deserving entities by JSL officers with Alex’s parents in attendance.

1.What were the goals or desired outcomes of this project?
•Raise money for the Tyler Youth Orchestra
•Raise money to create a new music scholarship
•Honor the memory of a fellow Junior Symphony League member and musician
•Have fun while raising money for good causes

2.How was the need for this project determined?
•The date of the event led to it being a “costume event”
•The death of a classmate led to the naming of the project in his memory
•Funds were requested by the Tyler Youth Orchestra for music scholarships and to help young musicians attend summer camps. This was within the scope of what JSL’s bylaws stated as a deserving “music education” group.
•The amount of money raised allowed the creation of a new scholarship in Alex Fleming’s memory.

3.How was the success of this project measured?
•A minimum donation of $50 per JSL member was required. However, most members raised in excess of that amount
•Women Symphony League members were asked to donate to this fundraiser
•Amount of money raised from previous years’ fund raisers were compared with this year’s

4.What new information/ideas were gained as a result of this project?
•Fun event for JSL members while raising funds for worthwhile causes
•Naming the event in honor/memory of someone resulted in an increase in revenue
•Easy fundraiser with little work required to make a successful event

5.What obstacles or difficulties had to be overcome in completing this project?
•Scheduling difficulties when dealing with high school students. Event was held on a Sunday evening to try to avoid as many school/community conflicts as possible.

6.Was this a new twist to an old idea or former project? If so, what was the difference?
•Fund raisers are held each year by the JSL. This was the fourth year to do a bowl-a-thon. However, it was the only year that the event was named in memory/honor of someone. It was also the first year for the students to decide to create a new scholarship with funds.

7.Do you think you will repeat this project? If not, why?
•Plans are being made to repeat this event. However, instead of it being in memory of Alex Fleming, it will be marketed as raising funds for the Tyler Youth Orchestra and the Alex Fleming Music Scholarship Fund.

Role and number of volunteers involved:
1.Number of volunteers needed to plan this event/project and how they were used? (please do not include names)
•Four (4) volunteers planned this event. These were mothers of the JSL members. They secured the bowling alley, created mailing for both JSL members and all WSL members, secured prizes for costume contest, and coordinated snacks provided by other mothers.

2.Number of onsite volunteers needed to staff this event/project?
•147 JSL members raised money for this project. Out of these, 140 members attended the event.
•8 WSL members and spouses chaperoned and supervised the overall event.

3.What was the staff involvement on this event/project?
None

Planning Start Date:
N/A

Project Dates:
N/A

Gross revenue from all sources:
$14,350.00

Total expenses for this project:
$1,350.00

Net Revenue (Expense):
$13,000.00

The total value of all in-kind contributions of donated products and services.
Prizes (donated--value $200) Snacks (donated--value $200)