Find out everything you need to know about our exciting upcoming annual benefit!
01About this year's Benefit
We are celebrating as Forget Me Not Ministries “Turns 15” this year! FMN continues to work with Roma Gypsy families in Tinca, Romania, where we face the ever challenging task of educating, equipping and empowering the Roma families working to prevent abandonment, abuse, trafficking, and child marriages.. As God continues to provide through our faithful partners, our Roma families are empowered through employment, childcare, education, and Biblical studies to help in training to support and care for their families.
In light of the hardships of 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic, we were overjoyed with the success of our first ever “Virtual” Benefit. This year we are excited to introduce our first “Hybrid” event, which will feature a virtual auction as well as a live in-person event with auction. We are excited to be able to celebrate in person and online!
02Where & When?
As this year will be a hybrid benefit event, we will start by opening our online auction on Tuesday, September 21st, at 6:00pm. You can sign up for an account which will allow you to purchase tickets and bid on items when the auction launches. Closer to the date, you will be able to browse the exciting items we have up for auction! Make sure to watch out this year for some very special trips and memorabilia of your favourite sports and music stars just waiting to be won!
We will be serving some very special appetizers and desserts at this event that you will not want to miss!
The in-person part of this year’s benefit will be on Thursday, September 23rd, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at The Grand in New Albany, Indiana. Limited tickets available! To purchase tickets, read our letter or download the pledge sheet/tax form, click on the buttons below.
03FAQs
Where, When & How
This years benefit will be a hybrid online and in person event. The online auction will begin on Tuesday, 21st September at 6pm. You will be able to find it here:
We are excited to host the in person event, at the Grand (138 E Market St, New Albany, IN 47150) on Thursday, 23rd September. It will run from 6pm-8pm. For tickets go here
Our online auction and the in-person event will all come to an end at 8pm on Thursday 23rd September, so be sure to place your bids before then!
How Do I Register & Buy Tickets?
YOU MUST REGISTER WITH BIDPAL IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE AUCTION OR BUY TICKETS.
Visit bidpal.net/fmnbenefit to register to participate in this year’s auction! We’ll have some amazing items and you do not want to miss them!
Follow these instructions below to complete your registration (one account allows you to purchase tickets & bid in the benefit, etc):
- Click Sign-In in the upper right corner. You can sign in with an email address, your Facebook account, or a Google account.
- Once you are successfully signed in please, complete the required mobile number field to receive live updates and a text to login to BidPal!
- You will then be prompted to add a credit card to your profile. We HIGHLY recommend adding a credit card to expedite your check-out process.
- You’re all set! Thank you for supporting Forget Me Not Ministries & the Roma, happy shopping!
To Purchase Tickets:
- Make sure you have followed the process above, and are signed in to your bidpal account you created.
- Press the link on the left hand side, ‘Purchase Tickets’. There you will find tickets options for adults & children, select how many tickets you would like to purchase and follow the checkout process to complete your tickets purchase.
- You will receive an email from us confirming your tickets selection.
- Come to the event and have as much fun as you can!
If you run into any difficulties with signing up, buying tickets, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact Dave Truss here.
What's Different?
Last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our entire Benefit event for 2020 was held online. This year we will be running a hybrid event. We will begin with the online auction opening at 6pm on Tuesday, 21st September & end with an in-person event on Thursday 23rd September (6-8pm).
The evening event will be set up completely differently from previous years as well, with NO items being on display except for the “live” auction items and the “bakery” items (due to their nature, bakery items will only be available to be bid on in-person).
Like last years virtual auction, the bidding will all go through an online platform that will allow bidding, provide notices on items you are bidding on, as well as other notifications throughout the evening.
We very much look forward to seeing you at The Grand for the in-person event and look forward to celebrating 15 years with some great food, live music, a beautiful atmosphere and fun.
Who Do I Contact?
Early Bird Special
Tickets are now available for purchase for the in-person event being held at the Grand, New Albany on Thursday, 23rd September 2021.
Tickets are usually $20 for adults, $8 for children aged 6-12 (5yo & under are free but need a ticket still).
Our Early Bird special price of $15 per adult ticket is now available through July 31, 2021! Secure your place at our in-person event and note that we have a limited number of tickets available!
What is the Purpose of the 2021 Benefit
Your participation in this year’s event will help to ensure:
Employment opportunities created for both Roma adults, teens, and now the pre-teens as well.
Daily outreach meals that we provide for all who come to work and school each day.
Medical care provisions for Roma families and children.
Roma development through home repairs, hygienic improvements, etc.
Refuge center provisions for teens and others who stay temporarily or long-term for protection from abuse and vulnerability to trafficking.
Revamp and redesign of the FMN after-school program before relaunch this fall/winter.
Revamp and renovations to Katartizo (team house) before relaunch for teams.
Resources and materials for developing the next phase of the FMN teen program with marriage and parenting courses and training.
How Can I Donate?
We have been incredibly blessed with partners like you these past 15 years of ministry, and we are excited about growing and going forward with you!
You are a crucial part of the ministry and the Forget Me Not story!
If you would like to give towards the Benefit there 2 ways you can do that:
-
- Give a financial Gift by clicking on the button below:
- Give a donation or procure an item for bidding at the auction.
The sky is the limit as far as items for the auction you can donate. In previous years, we have received everything from vacation condos, Apple products and who could forget the bidding war last year on the Elvis records? We have listed below popular items that have been donated before:
- Designer jewelry
- Sports and collector items/memorabilia
- Antiques
- Timeshares/vacation packages
- Gift certificates
- Handmade wooden toys and furniture
- Toys and video games consoles
- Vintage/Retro Items (gaming, art, nostalgia, etc)
- Art
- Theme baskets
If you are an avid baker we also need donations of baked goods to be auctioned at the in person event.
To donate an item or baked good, please contact Sue Linn Ross here.
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
We are very thankful for our corporate donors! This year we have 3 main opportunities that you can be involved in as a corporate donor:
Level 1: Above and Beyond
Donor Involvement: Gift of $2000 or more
Thank You: We would like to thank you with acknowledgement of, and logo of your company in our event program and in our presentation that will be shown at the event and online. Your company logo will also be displayed prominently on our auction site for the duration of the online event. We will also provide you with 8 free tickets (1 table) for you and your guests.
Level 2: Chain of Hope
Donor Involvement: Gift of $1000-1999
Thank You: We would like to thank you with acknowledgement of, and logo of your company in our event program. Your company logo will also be displayed prominently on our auction site for the duration of the online event. We will also provide you with 4 free tickets for you and your guests.
Level 3: Chain of Compassion
Donor Involvement: Gift of $500-999
Thank You: We would like to thank you with acknowledgement of, and logo of your company in our event program. We will also provide you with 2 free tickets for you and your guests.
04Sign Up to Help
Thank you for reading all about the 2021 FMN Benefit! If you would like to sign up to volunteer to help at this years event, or commit to pray for it, please complete the form below and we will be in touch soon.
