As we approach the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to present a few interesting and fun opportunities for charitable support in the Dallas area. Sure, we can all give cash contributions to our favorite nonprofits and, if we’re feeling crazy, adopt a water buffalo from Heifer International during this season of giving. And we should, especially the water buffalo part. But some organizations go to great lengths to devise unique development strategies that provide donors with an unconventional vehicle (pun intended) for support. The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas’s Trains at Northpark exhibit is one such opportunity.
For more than 30 years the Trains at Northpark exhibit has been a mainstay for North Texas families. Visiting the holiday trains has always been a tradition for my family, and it was years before I realized that Trains was a Ronald McDonald House of Dallas fundraising event. It’s easy to get swept into the amazingly detailed scenery and holiday chaos of the space and forget that the work is done in support of an amazing local nonprofit providing a much-needed service to kids and their families.
The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas provides families with a home away from home. Their 62,000 square foot facility includes nearly 60 rooms and transplant apartments where patients and their families can live, play, and relax while undergoing medical treatment at one of Dallas’s elite pediatric medical facilities. The staff and volunteers at RHMD are extremely dedicated to the experience they provide clients, and the House is warm and inviting for kids and their grownups. Shiloh, the precious House therapy dog and Chief Cheer Officer, is a personal friend of mine and often visits my classes. (www.rmhdallas.org for more information)
The Trains at Northpark exhibit has raised over $13 million for RHMD, and it raised (net) more than $300,000 last year alone. The event is a tremendous undertaking for the organization as it requires coordination of artists, engineers, and volunteers during an otherwise very active season. The cost of the custom locomotives varies with the entry-level train car starting at $175. So, for a relatively small gift amount, you get to support a deserving organization and you get an awesome, display-worthy memento to show for it.
The best thing is that you can direct the artists to paint whatever messages or images you want on the cars. And they’re beyond talented. I’ve seen cars with Disney characters, elaborate holiday images, and intricate logos so you can be creative with your design and vision (they have started limiting the number of alphanumeric characters though, so no crazy, long messages allowed). Many local businesses purchase trains for display and some even send them as holiday gifts to clients and customers (maybe we need a Being Bon Mot car next year!). Did someone say corporate philanthropy? A RHMD train also makes a great holiday gift for those impossible-to-buy-for people in your life. We all have one – I know you’re trying not to think of them right now. And the brilliant thing about getting a train, especially as a gift, is that they make fun decorations in subsequent years. If you’re really dedicated, you could get an engine and a few cars over a period of time then build an actual train track around your Christmas tree.
If you purchase a train before October 15, it will be ready to ride the rails when the exhibit opens this November. Seeing our trains at the exhibit is always a holiday highlight for the kids. If you plan ahead and ask nicely, you can often get the engineers to put your train car on the tracks for your visit. And soon after the Trains at Northpark close for the season in January, your personalized car magically appears at your house (or other designated address) for safe keeping. Our RMHD trains always serve as a reminder of our love for holiday traditions and our support for the community. If you’d like to learn more or order a custom railcar, visit http://www.thetrainsatnorthpark.com. All aboard!
Obviously these ideas are relatively unhelpful for folks outside of North Texas, but I submit that similar opportunities exist around the country. I hope that you’ll seek out those opportunities in your community. And when you find them, please share information about what you’ve