about :: district project
Children's Specialized Hospital is no ordinary hospital.Over the past three years, Key Clubs across the state have raised nearly $300,000 to aid hospital patients. And for the fourth year, Children's Specialized has been chosen as New Jersey Key Club's District Project.
Although Children's Specialized is just one of many worthy charities to which Key Clubbers could contribute, it has been chosen for four consecutive years for a simple reason: in the words of a Key Clubber, it has become "our hospital."
In the 2008-2009 service year alone, NJ Key Clubbers in total served more than a year worth of service, 24 hours/day. This year, the New Jersey District aims to raise $84,350.16 for the hospital. This includes $20,000 for 4 facilities, $4,000 for the fourth year of serving CSH, $350 for the $350,000 that the New Jersey District will have raised by the end of the year, and $0.16, the day of the 2010 District Convention. We also aim to serve 11,679 hours: one for each NJ Key Clubber.
For the past three years, funds raised by NJ Key Club have gone to the Children's Fund. Children's Specialized Hospital never turns a patient down: the money we raised went toward covering medical expenses for patients. This year, Key Club funds will be directed toward funding four facilities (New Brunswick, Mountainside, Toms River, and the new facility being built).
Clubs should send contributions to:
NJ District Key Club
PO Box 447
Roseland, NJ 07068
As soon as possible.
Children's Specialized Hospital is the largest freestanding pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the United States. The hospital has 8 sites and treats over 16,000 children per year. These children are usually affected by brain injury, spinal cord dysfunction and injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses.
The seriousness of patients' conditions, however, does not stop the staff and volunteers at Children's Specialized Hospital from being positive and fun. A friendly environment, the hospital was named the #1 best place to work in New Jersey in 2008 by NJBIZ. Over the past three years, we have been a part of that. Key Clubbers have developed bonds and good relationships with patients and staff in the hours of volunteering. We have raised nearly $300,000. But the lasting bonds and relationships that we have formed with patients and staff at Children's Specialized Hospital are what Key Club is really about.
The vision of Children's Specialized Hospital is to see "A world where all children can reach their full potential." For the next year, Key Clubs in the New Jersey District will share this vision and truly make a difference.
Please download the
Children's Specialized Hospital Guidebook (PDF) for neat project ideas, rec therapy info, and more!Need photos to promote CSH?
Download a collection for Key Club use! (ZIP-15.9MB)Recreational Therapy is the service that we, as Key Clubbers, participate in to make the greatest impact on the lives of the children at the CSH facilities. Recreational Therapy is an opportunity for Key Clubbers to help the children improve their bodily and mental development. You will be helping 1 on 1 or in a group for an activity planned by the therapist.
Key Clubbers can volunteer to participate in Recreational Therapy at the Mountainside, New Brunswick, or Toms River facilities. They must be in groups of five or less, as long as one of the five is older than eighteen. Taking a group of officers of a club is a great way to get them passionate about the District Project for the fourth year.
To set up visits for Rec Therapy or to plan their own event at one of the hospitals, clubs should contact the rec therapist for the facility. When emailing them, clubs should provide your contact information and dates of interest. Soon, there will be a Rec Therapy Request form located online.
Clubs must schedule 1 month in advance. If requesting multiple dates, you can spread the appointments over several weeks (i.e. 1st and 3rd Tuesday). After dates are confirmed, you will receive information and a confidentiality form (HIPPA). All new volunteers must submit a signed HIPPA form. The following are Rec Therapy hours (some dates may be unavailable or reserved already):
Mountainside: contact Rayna Correia, rcorreia@childrens-specialized.org
1-888-CHILDREN
Mondays-Fridays, 6:15 PM-7:30 PM
Saturdays-Sundays, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
New Brunswick: Jamie Richards, jrichards@childrens-specialized.org
(732) 258-7405
Sundays-Thursdays, 6:15 PM-7:30 PM
Saturdays, 10:45 PM-12:00 PM
Toms River: Carolyn Bashant, cbashant@childrens-specialized.org
(732) 914-1100 ext. 3740
Thursdays, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
Saturdays, 10:45 PM-12:00 PM
When volunteering in Rec Therapy, Key Clubbers must remember to sign in on the Key Club sign-in sheet located at the facility. The sign-in sheets and CSH report forms allow us to record our progress toward our CSH Service goal.
After serving, please download, fill out, and send the 
updated CSH Service report form to Namir Shah, District Secretary. Clubs must complete this form they participate in Rec Therapy, hold an event at a CSH facility, or hold a local CSH event.
For more information about Recreational Therapy, please refer to the CSH Rec Therapy Guidelines flier. Please download the Children's Specialized Hospital Guidebook (PDF) for neat project ideas, rec therapy info, and more!
NJ District Key Club
PO Box 447
Roseland, NJ 07068
As soon as possible.
For more detailed project ideas, please download the
Children's Specialized Hospital Guidebook (PDF).
The following list of service, social, and fund-raising projects has been provided by Key Club International. The listed projects are general suggestions, which can be adapted in a way that best suits your club. Use this list of ideas when planning your year and adopting the nine recommended projects. Remember, all projects need good planning, enthusiasm, and club support.
Activity Board
Buy an activity board for the school. One member can
be assigned to maintain it throughout the week,
announcing all school activities and sports events. Sell
advertising on a weekly basis, with all revenue to be
used to pay for the board.
Aluminum Cans
Collect cans and flatten them in a race to see who can
collect the most for the recycling center. The money
from the center can be used to treat contest winners
to prizes and to purchase recycling containers for the
school.
Provide recycling containers at the cafeteria exits so
students can throw discard aluminum cans. Once a
month, take the cans to the recycling center. Store the
cans in a trailer or bin outside the school.
Bake-Off
Sponsor a bake-off, perhaps between the high school
athletic teams, clubs, and faculty. This could become a
fund-raiser where your club could charge an entry fee.
After the competition, sell the baked goods during a
school lunch hour or after school.
Bake Sale
Key Club members bake food and arrange to sell
treats at school or at local events. This project is most
successful when planned for the holidays.
Barbecue Dinners
This is an especially good project to do during the
early fall. Food usually can be secured wholesale. This
project would be ideal before a school sporting event.
Sell tickets prior to the dinner, and make sure you
promote the event.
Birthday Kits
At the beginning of the school year, send a direct mail
order to students' parents, selling "birthday kits." The
Key Club can deliver birthday cakes, donuts, cookies,
balloons, or something similar to students celebrating
birthdays. If the club does a one-time sale, it alleviates
an on going problem of accurate ordering. This
project would require strong committee organization.
Buttons
During sporting events, sell buttons with pictures of
athletes in uniform.
Candy and Nut Sales
Caramels, chewing gum, hard candy, nuts, chocolate,
and other treats are excellent sale items any time, but
especially during the holiday season.
Car Smash
An old car usually will be donated to a club by a
service station or a junk yard (or ask members of your
sponsoring Kiwanis club). After painting the name of
a rival school on the car and removing the glass, the
club can charge a fee for each swing at the car with a
sledgehammer. Publicity and active support of the
principal are extremely important.
Car Washes
Shopping centers or gas stations usually will provide a
place for this sure profit maker. Sell tickets in advance,
and promote the event heavily.
Carnival Night
A hall or auditorium can be decorated to suit the
theme of the carnival. You can offer a range of
activities, such as a cakewalk and weight guessing. Sell
refreshments and provide entertainment too.
Chili Cook-Off
These are very popular. Whether your club just
participates by being an entry in a cook-off or actually
organizes a contest, you can raise funds. Involve your
Kiwanis club in the planning of this type of event.
These can be fun but will require a lot of work and
planning.
Holiday Christmas Trees
The sale of Christmas trees involves a good deal of
money and a lot of planning. It is best when done
with the help of your sponsoring Kiwanis club.
Coat Checks
Have members of the club offer this service at high
school functions. This project offers 100 percent
profit, though one can't expect a huge amount of
money from any one function. Keep costs reasonable.
Concession Stands
Many clubs operate concession stands for parades,
fairs, festivals, athletic events, plays, or other school
functions. This activity can be very lucrative and
should be investigated as a possible project. You may
wish to divide your proceeds with the sponsor to
demonstrate your support and appreciation for
allowing you to be a part of its event.
Daffodils
Purchase daffodils from the American Cancer Society
in March, and then give them to teachers. Contact the
society to see if your club could "sell" the daffodils.
Dances
Your Key Club can sponsor a dance after a sporting
event. This is a good moneymaker if it's promoted
well.
Date-Match
During Valentine's Day week, pass out compatibility
surveys. Then sell the lists of compatible students for a
profit.
Desk Blotters
Many clubs make a considerable amount of money
from this project. Ads are sold to local merchants, the
school store, or even school organizations wishing to
advertise. The ads are printed on a standard-size
blotter, along with schedules of football and basketball
games, a calendar for the year, class officers, and
anything else you want. Ads should cover the cost plus
profit, and blotters can be sold at a minimum cost or
simply distributed to the students.
Donate Time to PTA
Help parent/teacher associations with projects, baby-
sitting, or fund-raising.
Donuts and Pizza
Through arrangements with donut shops and
pizzerias, food can be brought in at a relatively low
cost when bought in large numbers. Best results have
been achieved by selling donuts before classes or
during lunch. Pizzas sell well at evening event that
draw large crowds.
Holiday Easter Bunnies
Selling chocolate bunnies at Easter time can be a
successful project. Contact a local vendor. Selling with
a pre-order, pre-pay basis can cut down on surplus
bunnies.
Face Painting
Set up a face-painting booth at games, carnivals, etc.
Finals Survival Kits
"Sell" final exam survival kits for students by
advertising through student publications, radio, and
by direct mail, if possible. Target parents. The kits can
include a can of pop, candy bar, pens/pencils, gum,
jokes, inspirational messages, coupons, etc. Deliver
these in school via homeroom, lunch periods, or study
halls.
Flea Market
Collect "junk" from members, people in school, and
Kiwanians, and sell them at a flea market.
Florida Fling
Sponsor a Florida Fling -- a dance with a Sunshine
State theme. Write to cities in Florida and travel
agencies to get posters to decorate the gymnasium.
When students buy tickets to this event, they receive a
shirt with the Florida Fling logo on it. Participants
come to the dance ready for the beach. Similar themes
include Caribbean Cruise, Mexican Fiesta, and
Hawaiian Luau.
Hairy Leg Contest
Advertise the contest well ahead of time. Contestants'
legs are photographed, and the pictures are fastened to
glass jars. One vote costs a quarter, and the money is
placed right in the jar. The Key Club can arrange for
prizes to be donated by local merchants to ALL
entries.
Halloween Party
Sponsor a community Halloween arty for kids in a
local gymnasium. Urge parents to allow the kids to
attend the party, and provide an entertaining evening
for everyone, donating your collections to a UNICEF
fund.
Haunted House
Work with a mall to see if it has an open room.
Choose a theme. Work with your sponsoring Kiwanis
club to secure materials, assistance in building, and
working the event. This makes a great fund-raiser
around Halloween.
Holiday Bazaar
A holiday bazaar open to the public is a great fund-
raiser. Secure a location, sell spaces -- including
concessions area --, arrange for set-up and take down
helpers, decorations, and a radio announcement.
Local craftsmen count on the same date each year,
which seems to ensure a successful turnout. This
project has minimal costs to Key Club and is
financially beneficial.
Homecoming Flowers
Mums for football games or homecoming weekends
usually can be acquired for about $3.00 each and sold
for $3.50 or more. Contact a florist.
Jukebox
Work with your school administration on the plan of
buying a jukebox for the cafeteria. Not only does this
bring in money, but it also provides students with an
environment in which to enjoy lunch and socialize
with friends.
Junior High Fund-raiser
A noon dance is a favorite fund-raiser. Admission to
the dance is fifty cents. Work with the junior high
school's administration to organize this type of
function.
Just Like the Good Old Days
Homecoming week is a great time to sponsor a
community picnic. All school groups and clubs set up
booths to sell food or products (such as T-shirts). The
picnic is open to the entire community. It serves as a
kick-off for Homecoming, as well as a popular fund-
raiser.
Key Club/Faculty Sporting Events
Determine an event that would be most popular in
your school's community. Ask the most popular
teachers to participate, sell tickets, promote the event
heavily, and enjoy your success!
Kiss a Senior Good-bye
Take pre-orders and pre-payments for bags of
chocolate kisses and messages for graduating seniors.
These can be advertised and sold during lunch
periods and before and after school. Parents enjoy
sending these to their graduates, so find a way to
advertise to them as well.
Lights, Camera, Good-bye
Give each senior 45 seconds in front of a video
camera to say farewell. The tape can include shots of
the prom and graduation. Students can have their one
copy if they supply a blank tape. This is virtually a cost-
free fund-raiser.
Lock-In
Have an over-nighter at the local YMCA. Watch
movies, go swimming, have fun. This event takes a
great deal of planning and adult support, so make sure
you're organized.
Lost and Found Auction
Conduct an auction with the school's large number of
lost and found articles. In most cases fantastic deals
are available to students.
May Baskets
Accept pre-orders/pre-payment for delivery (in-school
or to area elementary and junior high schools) on May
Day. Decorate jumbo drinking cups and fill them with
candy (buy it in bulk or from a vendor), balloons,
coupons, gum. Try to get as much of the materials
donated as possible.
Miracle Mile of Quarters
This is an easy project to do on a daily basis in a high
school setting or for a district project/district
convention. Determine the charity or receiver of
funds and advertise this well. Make "paper quarters,"
and for every $.25 donated, post a paper quarter,
perhaps by beginning in the lunchroom or corridor.
Determine a goal and end date.
Movie Parties
Acquire recent, full-length motion pictures for
showing at the high schools. Charge prices for
admission and arrange the setting for the showing,
either a standard auditorium or a more informal
venue. Consult your Yellow Pages for motion picture
distributors.
Music Week
Take a week to celebrate different musical eras. One
day could be music from the 50s, the next day could
celebrate music from the 1800s. Students dress
according to that day's era. At the end of the week,
transform the school's tennis courts into a little
Hawaii. Games (pie throwing, dunking machine,
wheel of fortune) abound, flower leis are distributed,
and Hawaiian music is that day's theme.
Old Book and CDs Sale
Collect old books and CDs to be sold. Limit the
hours of the sale, and try to sell out during the allotted
time. Many clubs run a regular used bookstore and
exchange center for their school.
Pancake Breakfast
A pancake breakfast can be a high profit fund-raiser. It
also can be fun, easy to organize, and an excellent
joint Key Club-Kiwanis project. Don't overlook the
sale of placemat advertising. The income derived from
ad sales often exceeds the breakfast receipts.
Parking Cars
Park cars for school events. Check with your school's
administration on how to proceed with this project.
Peanut Day
Involve all club members by accepting donations on
street corners in exchange for a bag of peanuts. Some
clubs attach small handbills to the bag, explaining the
purpose of the club and how the money will be used.
For complete information on organizing such an
event, contact: Kiwanis Peanut Day Inc., 900 Jorie
Blvd., Oak Brook, IL 60521.
Powder Puff Football
The girls put on uniforms and play a football game,
after first modifying the rules. The boys lead the
cheers! The novelty of this idea, if well publicized, will
attract a large crowd. Money comes from gate receipts
and refreshment sales. This is an ideal homecoming
week activity.
Prom Flowers
Take orders for prom corsages and boutonnieres.
Work with a florist for a profitable situation.
Rummage Sale
This is a very popular sale of used odds and ends. The
collection of goods can be made door-to-door or
solicited through ads.
Save or Shave
Choose a willing faculty member, who is ready to
donate his beard for a fund-raiser. Students then vote
with money whether the beard should be saved or
shaved. It is hopefully shaved at a school assembly.
School Bazaar
This kind of activity can be a joint effort with all the
clubs in your school. The Key Club, along with other
interested clubs and homerooms, can operate various
booths throughout the day. All proceeds can go to a
charity or to a school improvement need.
School Dances
Take any opportunity to sponsor a dance on school
grounds with the school's permission. This can be an
easy way to make money. Hire an inexpensive deejay,
or produce your own music/dance tapes and find
someone with a great stereo system. Also, approach
area junior high principals to see if they would allow
you to sponsor a dance for junior high students.
Check for you're your school's rules in regard to
dances.
Scooping for Money
Host a 'Make Your Own Sundae' event. Schedule
this project during lunch.
Senior Auction
Auction off your seniors. Sell them to anyone who has
a job for them! The money raised from this sale can go
toward a deserving graduating senior's college
expenses.
Singing Christmas Cards
Set up a booth at a fall parent-teacher conference,
sporting events, or after church services to sell "Singing
Christmas Cards." People pay a fee to have carolers go
to someone's home and sing Christmas carols. A card
would be given to the recipient with the giver's name.
Spice Up Your Dances
A good way to add fun to your dances is to use an
overhead projector. For 25 cents, students send
messages, which are projected onto a wall. For
example, one message might read: "Mary, will you
dance with me?--John." "John, yes, I've been waiting all
night for you to ask. -- Mary" It's suggested that a
faculty member proofread the messages to prevent
hurt feelings or improper language.
Spirit Sweats
Sell sweatshirts and pants -- printed with the school
name, logo, and colors -- to students. Work with a
local vendor to ensure the best price.
Sports Programs
Publish basketball game programs for your varsity
team. Sell ads to local merchants, and have the
programs printed in the school's commercial office.
Distribute the programs at the door free of charge.
Sport Tournaments
Host a sports tournament in conjunction with
homecoming, spring flings, etc. Many sport
tournaments make money, and they can be a lot of
fun at the same time. Some suggestions are basketball,
baseball, table tennis, golf, and pool.
Spring Sales
A successful springtime fund-raiser is a garage sale.
Collect items door-to-door for the sale. Also make
advertisements and hand them out at grocery stores.
Students and Faculty Arrested
"Jail and Bail" is a popular fund-raiser. Build the jail
out of any available materials like cardboard. Hold
students, teachers, and administrators during two days
of "arrests." Sell arrest warrants for one dollar. Charges
can range from skipping class to imitating a student.
On the third day, warrants are served during
homeroom. "Criminals" must raise $5 bail or spend
their free period in the jail, which can be located in
the cafeteria.
Sweetheart Ball
Host a sweetheart ball around Valentine's Day. Rent
the ballroom of a local hotel. Make sure the event
receives adequate publicity, decoration planning, and
pre-event ticket sales.
Talent Shows
Host a talent show in conjunction with Key Club
Week, homecoming, spring fling, etc. With good
promotion throughout the school, a successful show
can be organized. Have a Key Club emcee introduce
several acts from the school, including Key Club skits,
for a successful variety night. Key Clubbers usher,
serve as doormen, and sell refreshments.
Thons
Sponsor a dance ' a ' thon, rock ' a ' thon, bowl ' a
' thon, game ' a ' thon, swing ' a ' thon, teeter
totter ' a ' thon, etc. Donate the proceeds to a
charity.
Traffic Safety Week
Sponsor a Traffic Safety Week in your school and
town. Arrange for a speaker from the police force at
the first of the week. After the kick-off, he can show a
movie. The rest of the week can be filled with a 'driver
road-eo.' Sell back seat drivers' licenses, and arrange a
contest for safety posters.
Turkey Grams/Ghoul Grams/Bunny Grams
For a small fee, sell "grams" during various holidays.
These grams can be a card with some candy or
something similar. Singing telegrams also can be used
for a fun project.
Turkey Teacher Competition
For teachers who are willing to participate, students
bring in money or canned food and place it under the
name of their favorite teacher. The teacher with the
most money and ounces of food wins. That teacher
either wears a turkey costume or carries a stuffed toy
turkey all day. He or she also wins a turkey dinner.
The canned food and money is donated to the
Salvation Army.
Ugly Teacher Contest
Display pre-approved photos of faculty members
during the lunch hour. Students could vote for the
cutest, funniest, or ugliest photo. Stuffing the ballot
boxes IS permitted. Donations are sent to the Heart
Fund, Cancer Society, or some other worthy cause.
Ushers
Some organizations will pay very well for ushers at ball
games, plays, and other events.
Valentine's Day Kisses, Flowers, Cookies
This holiday provides many opportunities for fund-
raising. Selling bags of chocolate kisses (and delivering
them in school) is an easy project. Also, taking orders
for red, pink, or white carnations with delivery (in-
school) on Valentine's Day can be a successful project.
Selling Valentine cookies during a lunch period or
before or after school also can raise funds.
Download the
Children's Specialized Hospital Guidebook (PDF).Shelby Frank (District Project Chairperson)
Namir Shah (Service Chairperson)
Alyssa Keenan (Fundraising Chairperson)
Mrs. Celeste Werfel (Committee advisor)
Also, please visit the CSH website at http://www.childrens-specialized.org/