July 26, 2011 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Add this to the annals of extreme fund raising: jumping off a 41-story building to raise money for charity.
Endurance events, such as marathons and bike cross-country expeditions, have long held appeal for participants who ask their friends and relatives to “sponsor” them by making donations. But another type of event has entered the extreme fund-raising circuit—and is raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.
More than 100 rappelling events have occurred since 2008, when Over the Edge, a Canadian company, brought the concept to the United States.
In 2009 it had 18 charity clients; a year later, it had 42. For 2011 it has 62 nonprofit organizations including Boy Scouts of America, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Special Olympics. The organizations have raised more than $10-million since 2009, with the average event raising more than $60,000 after expenses, the company says. Most groups ask each participant to raise a minimum of $1,000.
A few weeks ago, a rappelling event in Denver produced $250,000 in pledges for the Cancer League of Colorado, shattering the previous record of $186,000 by Special Olympics Washington, in Seattle. And the cancer charity is still receiving donations; it will probably end up with a total of $230,000 after expenses, says Gary Reece, its president.
“It’s something a lot of charities aren’t going to do because it’s way out there,” says Mr. Reece.
Now, Special Olympics Washington is trying to break the record set by the Colorado organization. So far, the organization has raised about $142,000 in pledges before expenses, with a month to go before its own event takes place.
“There are so many endurance, half marathon, and 5K walks,” says Ashley Stanfield, development director of Special Olympics Washington. “But this is something that’s unique.” (See video below of the event last year, in which 120 people rappelled down the building. This year, it plans to persuade 200 people to join the event.)
Over the Edge charges at least $29,500 for each event, which includes experts who train and help guide some 80 to 90 participants in the rappelling process, according to Ben Hazlehurst, the company’s business development manager. The fee also covers insurance. It takes about six to nine months to plan each event, which includes getting the cooperation of building owners, he says.
