We started Orange Effect Foundation not only because of our own personal family experience, but because we worked in marketing, so communication was the core of our universe. Sounds dramatic but it’s true. Where would we be if we couldn’t communicate? Is there any other way businesses can get their message across without written or verbal communication? I can’t think of any.
Could you even imagine if a CEO had to play charades or create an entire video using poster boards you flip with the words on them? Or if they had to do charades like the old silent movies?
Have you ever played a game where you can’t talk?
I, for one, stink at drawing games. My cows look like cars and my trees look like skeletons. It’s awful. I know this about myself so I work with what I have.
I’m fairly good at telephone. If you don’t know this one – you sit in a line or circle. One person has the starting sentence. They whisper it to the next person and so on, but in the end it usually is so garbled because people are so worried about saying it to the next person they don’t really hear what is said to them. I feel like I’m pretty good at this game (to compensate for my inability above).
Another one that had my entire family in stitches is called Watch Ya’ Mouth. You put this awful oversized retainer looking thing in your mouth and try to get your partner to understand what you are saying. Google videos on it. By the way this was way more popular pre covid.
Fundraising is important for all non-profits
Like any non-profit organization, fundraising is important. We can’t do what we do without the support of others. This includes our friends and board members, as well as great organizations who support our mission.
For the third year in a row, one of our fundraisers is called Silence for Speech. We ask people not to talk for a day and raise money for their efforts. The first year I did it, a lot of people wanted to see me quiet for a day, so they were very generous. LOL
I learned it takes a lot of planning. I had note cards on me and used my phone a lot to type messages. It really opened my eyes to how much I take talking for granted.
This year, one of our participants summed it up nicely.
JK Kalinowski, a supporter since day one of our efforts said of his silent day:
“Today was very interesting and eye opening for me. From the hours of 7am until 7pm, I didn’t speak a word. I took part in The Orange Effect’s “Silence for Speech Therapy” fundraiser to support children in need of speech services and technology. I conversed with Kristin and Ella (wife and daughter) via notes on a notepad. I went grocery shopping and thanked people using ASL. It was hard for me to not talk to our dogs, and not hoot and holler during the Steelers game. What a day.”
We are so fortunate to have people like JK and the many others who participate in the day both to support the cause, and try to comprehend what it would be like to have to do this everyday. For more insights, check out what some elementary kids said last year about their experiences.
