Dreams Do Come True

When Alexander and Tanner Begin from Swansea, Massachusetts, received the invitation to be Ambassadors to China with People to People Student Ambassador Programs, it was like a dream. When they learned the tuition required for each son, the dream suddenly seemed impossible. How was this family of seven going to send their two oldest boys to China? The Begin family—Dawn, Jeffrey, Alexander, Tanner, Ashton, Landon, and Hilton—had a family discussion. Jeffrey and Dawn already worked long hours to provide opportunities for their family. How could they possibly do more?

It wasn't easy. The family set a goal to raise $6,500 toward the boys’ tuition. Fundraising had to begin immediately after Alex (14) and Tanner (12) were interviewed by their primary leader Betsy Chipman and accepted into the program. Letters were sent to family, friends, and local businesses; tracking sheets were downloaded from the People to People fundraising site; and thank-you postcards were created for donations received… but the donations that came back were smaller than expected, causing Jeffrey and Dawn to question, Can this be done? Then the Begins set their minds to generating some creative and engaging ideas for community fundraisers. 

Fundraising event #1, Meat on a Stick (also known as a barbecue over an open fire pit) involved:

• Printing and selling advance tickets for dinner and a raffle
• Soliciting donations for the raffle items, like handmade crafts, restaurant and spa gift certificates, a Tiffany bracelet, cash prizes, and a TV

With over 160 attendants, Meat on a Stick proved to be a very successful event for the family.

Fundraising event #2, a golf tournament, was a natural choice for Alex and Tanner, both avid golfers. The Begins put a great twist on the traditional tournament with:

• Contests where players could challenge Alex and Tanner, and also get to know more about them and their desire to travel as Ambassadors
• Raffles of golf-themed items and sports memorabilia
• Golf goodie bags as thank-yous for each participant
• A Chinese buffet dinner, purchased at a discount from a local restaurant

The final result for the Begin family: Success! The brothers raised over $9,600! Now Alexander and Tanner are anxiously awaiting their trip to China. Alexander wants to climb the Great Wall and Tanner can’t wait to view the terra-cotta warriors. As Walt Disney once said, “Dreams really do come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.” This family did!