Events

Government ministers have been asked to donate an hour's salary to five children's charities as part of a Millennium fundraising scheme. Peter Mandelson asked ministers to give their income for the last hour of 1999 as part of the Children's Promise campaign. Tony Blair was the first to agree, it appears. He will be donating a reported £52.50, and other ministers at least about £46.

Millions 2000 the biggest world-wide prize draw ever, was announced at the Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on 8th April.

Freecare are running an online auction for three football-related prizes. You can bid for a signed team photograph of Arsenal Football club, a signed team penant of Coventry City Football club, and a signed photogaph from Tottenham Hotspur's manager Gerry Francis.

Canadian fundraising expert Ken Wyman recently sent his thoughts on two current fundraising trends to selected fundraisers via e-mail. He reported on charities which had run fundraising events to tie in with Titanic-mania and the final episode of TV comedy "Seinfeld." If you want to receive future fundraising commentary and thoughts from Ken, you can contact him directly.

After four years in the development stage, the new Certificate in Fundraising Management was formally launched at a reception at Charityfair on Tuesday 21 April. The reception, hosted by the Institute of Fundraising Managers (ICFM) and the Open University Business School, attracted over 60 Chief Executives and Senior Fundraisers from across the sector.

Comic Relief announced their total income from last year's fundraising telethon. The nationwide event raised £27,001,269, the most they have ever raised. Plans are already underway for next year's event, scheduled to take place on 12th March 1999. More details from red@comicrelief.org.uk.

ICFM will launch its professional qualification, the Certificate in Fundraising Management, at Charityfair on 21 April at the Business Design Centre, Upper Street, London N1. Six years in development, the Certificate in Fundraising Management will be open to all fundraisers, paid or unpaid, and will recognise for the first time, the attainment of an accepted standard of fundraising competence.

The secret is out!

The first consumer product to carry the logo of the Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Fund is a tub of margarine. Flora has teamed up with the charity as part of the Flora London Marathon, and hopes to raise £250,000 for the Fund. The logo appears with the word "Thanks" on the side of the tubs, which went on sale nationwide on 23rd March.

A special fundraising service in a Bradford church has raised £600,000 in two hours. One third was given in cash and the remainder pledged from sales of shares, cars, jewellery and other valuables.