The Many Arms That Wear Rubber Bracelets
January 8th, 2008
The writer of the following article associates rubber bracelets with a special game, a game the writer once designed to encourage development of reading skills. The writer of the following article once distributed red rubber bracelets at her sons’ school. The day of the distribution, the writer also took time to present a new game in one of the Resource classes. The writer had conceived of a game in which the students were expected to find the word “red” among a list of words, words that had “r” as the first letter and a long vowel after that “r.”
Grant writers understand the value of providing a donor with proof that the recipient of donated money has received recognition from the community. Such proof helps to insure the continuation of financial support from the generous backer of a non-profit agency. Rubber bracelets give non-profit groups an additional way to produce proof that their organization has received wide-ranging, community recognition.
How can bracelets made with silconized rubber serve as evidence that any organization has received a sizable amount of community recognition? The answer to that question becomes clear, if one realizes that such bracelets can be used as a fundraising tool. A group can arrange for a large group of bracelets to bear a particular slogan, usually a slogan that underscores the focus of a specific organization. The organization that receives mention on the rubber bracelets then sells those same bracelets.
Now if an organization can show that it has sold a large number of rubber bracelets, bracelets bearing a selected slogan, then it can better convince any donors that the same organization has achieved name recognition. Once an organization can produce figures about the sale of fundraising items (such as bracelets), then that organization can include those figures in a grant request.
Of course non-profit groups do not have a monopoly on the use of bracelets made with siliconized rubber. Sports teams like to promote the wearing of such bracelets. Team members like to see their team’s bracelet on the arms of many game-goers. That sight motivates team members to produce a top-rated performance.
Some teachers also look to a rubber bracelet for help. A Resource teacher might promise to award a rubber bracelet to a student who has completed a certain task. Resource teachers know that their students must put-forth extra effort. By awarding a rubber bracelet, a resource teacher can give a nod to those efforts.
A number of schools in the U.S. purchase red bracelets each October. The last week in October has been designated “Red Ribbon Week.” Yet not every school elects to have its students wear red ribbons during that week. Some schools hand out bracelets instead of ribbons.
Even those in the city government might decide to purchase and wear some rubber bracelets. Suppose, for example, that the employees in a city’s animal control division want to publicize a new city ordinance. Suppose that that ordinance relates to the placement of collars on dogs or cats. City workers might want to call attention to that ordinance by wearing rubber bracelets, bracelets bearing a gentle reminder about the value of putting a collar on a pet.
The rubber bracelet is no longer just a piece of jewelry worn by little girls. The rubber bracelet has now become both a fundraising tool and a public relations device.
Entry Filed under: Bracelets Jewerly