Ingenious ideas for charity events

10 original ideas for charity events organizers:

1. Organize a Mardi Gras night, no matter if it’s the season or not. Sell tickets for this event and inside the event sell Mardi Gras masks. Many people will want to buy something to remind them of this night.
2. Christmas is the best time for charity. Organize a walking charity event. Gather a few gifted persons for singing (grown-ups, children or a mixed group), have them wear Santa hats and start your journey. Sing for institutions and companies in your town. You can consider rewarding the generous ones with a gift basket full of goodies.
3. Casino Night. Book a casino room and announce through a banner that all the gains for that night are to be donated. You can reward the players with a gangster hat or a pair of Poker glasses.
4. Organize an auction with hand made jewelry made of candies or lollipops.
5. Organize a Hawaiian night. Serve food in plates with Tiki Island and other tropical patterns. Sell cocktails in tropical sun cups. You can also sell Luau slap bracelets.
6. Organize a Pirates party and of course a treasure hunt, only that this time, players will have to pay for the clues. Don’t ask very much for a clue, but make sure that they will want to buy many. Put inside the treasure chest a piece of paper offering details about the cause you raise money for and ask them to contribute. If they had fun during the game, they will contribute for sure.
7. Retro party is also a very nice idea for a charity event. All you need is some good music from the 60’s or 70’s and a dance floor. Sell, during the party, retro items like hippie beads, peace necklaces, Elvis or hippie wigs, Lenon glasses or hippie headbands.
8. Organize various sports games. Sell tickets to the basketball, baseball, football or soccer games you organize, explaining the public that it is for a good cause. Get a local or national star player to support your cause and sell also T-shirts or balls wearing his signature.
9. Organize paid golf lessons. All you need is a golf field and a coach to offer his services for free.
10. Organize a Karaoke night. Provide the participants with inflatable instruments, hats, wigs, boas, and party sunglasses, to have as much fun as possible. Then, during their performance, take photos of them and offer them for sale at the end of the party.

These ideas will help you reward your sponsors and donators with something more valuable than any product: good memories of some high quality time.

Everybody Can Turn Into a Monster

More and more frequently we hears about brutal violence towards defenceless and innocent persons. Who can act so violently? Who can be so sadic? “They are mentally ill persons, they’re disturbed… they are monsters!”: this is the most frequent expression pronounced by people who read and listen about these horrible deeds. We use to think that these horrible acts can be thought and realized only by monsters, and not by normal men. “I wouldn’t ever performed a so bloody and horrible act, I’m not a monster, I am a good and respectable citizen”: each of us is usually led to think in this way. It’s a spread conviction that the most atrocious, sadistic and violent acts are caused by madmen, psychiatric patients, or genetically-biologically violent people. According to this way of thinking, there is a fairly spread belief that the violent and sadistic deeds are caused only by specific personality (according to the theory of "violent personality"), or by neurological, biological or genetic problems: social psychology summarize all these beliefs under the so-called “dispositional theories of violence”. These kind of theories generally divide people between good citizens and bad ones. Dispositional perspective is still more spread: it is much easier and reassuring for the human soul think of a clear distinction between good or violent people rather than admit the presence of a permeable barrier between good and evil: it’s terrible for the human’s mind to think that there’s no a clear and strong distinction between the “Us - good” and “Them - evil”. 

Social psychology’s studies made during the Seventies have shown that there is no clear difference between good people and bad ones. Even the so-called good people, generally respectful of social and ethical standards, may become under certain circumstances a violent, criminal and sadic citizen. American psychologists Philip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram, Albert Bandura and Ervin Staub, thanks to numerous scientific experiments, have demonstrate as “good citizens” may become the protagonist of extremely violent behaviour. It’s the psychology of evil. According to Zimbardo’s theory, the particular situation and inputs become the cause of sadistic and violent behavior: hence, the name of “situational perspective”. Based on the results obtained from these studies, the psychology of evil shows that in everyday life there’re critical situations (“input variables”) that are able to implement some psychological processes that become responsible for the collapse of all. 

A basic responsible of the transformation from Dr. Jeckill to Mister Hide is the psychological phenomenon called deindividuation. In certain circumstances, the human being momentarily loses consciousness of its Self, and tends not to think about the negative consequences of its acts: it’s precisely in this moment that a man becomes ready to behave in an antisocial way. Another phenomenon that can turn good people into bad ones is the “living for the moment” or “Mardi Gras” effect: the deindividuated man completely forgets that the victim has a specific past and a future. He “lives for the present” (it’s the “expanded present” phenomenon) and therefore he does not questioned if his current aggressive impulses are to be condemned (and therefore inhibit), on the base of the teachings and social prohibitions learned in the past. He becomes literally kidnapped by the situation. Here are some conditions that can turn good people into evil: 1) “Dive” of the individual inside a mass of people, 2) Taking alcohol or drugs, 3) Anonymity, 4) The “physical involvement in the act”, that is the complete absorption of the man in the action, 5) Arousal, 6) Responsibility: given up, shared or diffused. 

Important contributions to the psychology of evil has been given by Milgram, expecially through his studies on the obedience to authority and psychological eteronomic state. To get an idea of the importance and the outcry that generated the results of experiments of this psychologist, just think that he was defined “the man who shocked the world!”. Other decisive contributions were conferred by Albert Bandura on the the concept of self-regulation, moral disengagement and dehumanization. 

Zimbardo, Milgram and Bandura have demolished the common belief that good people do good deeds and bad people do evil deeds. The important lesson received from these studies is that man protagonist of horrible and violent acts is not pushed to behave in this way only by special mental illnesses, by “violent genes” or by specific conformations and neurological injuries, as suggested by the dispositional pshychologists of violence (Hess, Bucy, Delgado, MacLean, Jacobs, Rose, Gross, Barman, and more), but he is driven by the special situation and specific inputs. There are situations able to completely transform the way of thinking and acting of a person. In this case, the consciousness and rationality go sleep: human mind is captured by irrationality, instincts and impulses. Using the words of Nietzsche, we can say that the “Apollinean” side of a man (that is calculation, the ordered and rational thinking) is completely demolished and abandoned, to leave the place exclusive to the “Dionysian” side (that is, the instinct, chaos, the irrational thought). The fact that a man is “immersed” in a mass, the fact of being unrecognizable in the eyes of the victim, because he hides or disguises his identity (i.e.: wearing an uniform), the fact of taking drugs or alcohol, the fact that be in an eteronomic state, may promote development within the individual mind of a psychological state of deindividuation, and thus can cause fast and unthinkable traformation: from a good citizen and scrupulous person in a dangerous and violent one. 

We are all potential “monsters”.

50th Birthday Ideas - The Leading 5 Themes For a 50th Birthday Party

We only turn 50 as soon as so why not celebrate it in memorable fashion with one of these entertaining 50th birthday ideas. Here are the best most preferred 50th birthday party themes these days. These will be presented in reverse order.

Mexican Fiesta

At number 5 is the Mexican Fiesta theme. This can be a genuinely entertaining and colorful party with the ideal music, decorations and food. For decorations you will want to maintain in thoughts the Mexican flag colors: red, blue and green. You can decorate with sombreros, maracas, dried chili peppers, table cloths in vibrant colors, smaller white Christmas lights strung about, ponchos, cactus, and any Mexican posters you can get your hands on. A inventive thought for a game would have your guests involved in a timed nachos consuming contest. Line up the contestants and load up the plates with nachos chips, and all of the fixings! Tie the contestant's hands behind their backs and have them dig in! A self serve taco bar is a fun thought for food. Your guests can produce their personal concoction if the nacho eating contest didn't fill them up!

Mardi Gras

At quantity four in reputation for 50th birthday ideas is a Mardi Gras party total with beads, masks and Cajun food and decorations. Mardi Gras colors are blue, green and purple-use these colors in your decorating theme. Decorate with beads, photographs of New Orleans, jazz players, gold chocolate doubloons. Shrimp, crawfish and something with Cajun spice make great food suggestions. Be sure to give up "hurricane" cocktails for a real authentic flavor. Mardi Gras would not be Mardi Gras devoid of lots of diverse beads. You can organize games fashioned around winning or employing beads. Invite your guests to bring Mardi Gras masks and have a game involving the masks.

Globe Beer Party

Coming in at quantity 3 on our list may possibly seem a surprise, but it is becoming more and a lot more well-liked. An About the Globe Beer Party can be really fun and inventive if you're 50 year old is a connoisseur of beer. Naturally this party will involve varieties of beers from around the globe-so you will have to locate a very good shop that specializes in this location to aid you with your selections. You can decorate in an international theme with flags from diverse nations. The shop you acquire the beer from could have samples of posters, coasters or even the situations the beer comes in to be employed as decorations. Constantly fun at this sort of party will be a time for a beer tasting-just as one particular might do at a wine tasting. Present some of the background and details on every beer so your guests will have enjoyable tasting and studying at the very same time. Food of the appetizer kind would lend itself nicely for this sort of 50th birthday party.

have tropical clothing so it is enjoyable to dress the part for this theme. Hold the tropical theme in thoughts for decorations with tiki torches, shells, palm trees, lots of leis, surf boards, coconuts, pineapples, grass skirts, hula dancers, and citronella candles to ward off the bugs if outside. Pina coladas and mai tais make excellent drinks and if attainable roasted pork for the meal. A tropical fruit salad with pineapple, mango, papaya served in a hollowed out watermelon works well and haupia, a traditional coconut pudding, for a desert thought. Games involving the limbo and hula hoops are enjoyable for any age even at 50, in particular if accompanied with music by Don Ho.

Casino Party

At number a single for 50th birthday ideas, in terms of reputation right now, is the Casino party theme. This is exactly where you turn your property into an exciting casino for the evening. For this party you will want to decorate as a lot as attainable so that you resemble a casino. Lots of vivid and colored lights, music by Las Vegas headliners playing in the background, take diverse size boxes and paint to look like dice and spot about the area, decorate with playing cards strung out or on tables. This is a theme where you will most likely be finest served by calling a business that rents the gaming tables. You can just rent the tables or many providers also contain the people to run the tables. Blackjack, craps and roulette are very common games at these types of parties. You can also have a table for poker playing Texas Hold-em. Have a no limit game that is timed, last for 30-45 minutes so anything moves fast. For those guests not into gaming, karaoke can be a lot of entertaining. A buffet with lots of varieties of salads and finger foods work well-just like a common Las Vegas buffet. A martini bar would be best for this theme. At the finish of the evening you can auction off prizes with the funds your guests have won.

If this was useful and you want extra details you can take a appear right here for more terrific 50th birthday party concepts

Got the Snow Shovel Blues in New England? Think 'Big Easy' and Learn How to Host an Authentic Mardi Gras Themed Party

The relentless Northeast has given us dozens of inches of snow lately - so much so that we barely know what to do and where to put it. It can be depressing. But you know what would cheer you up, at home or at work? Yes, a Mardi Gras party!

The infamous New Orleans season will be going strong this February, so why don't bring a bit of it here to New England! Take what you need from the suggestions below, throw yourself a really authentic Mardi Gras themed celebration, and begin parading in the streets...

Invitations: These could be store-bought or created out of construction paper cut into mask shapes. The three Mardi Gras core colors are gold, green and purple. Of course, if you're into the digital, there are plenty of quality themed e-vites, and a customized Facebook event page always works too.

Decorations: Stick with the same trio of colors used in the invitations. Grab yourself some beads, balloons, streamers, and glow sticks. For larger items, check your local supermarket or pharmacy, and for bulk, always check out Oriental Trading.

Food: When in Rome...or N'awlins, rather...A Mardi Gras party menu might feature small sausages, Cajun chicken, shrimp of various styles, red beans and rice, Jambalaya, Po'Boy sandwiches, fresh or canned oysters, and crepes. (Also, fried alligator...Yum!) You can cook yourself, host a potluck, or hire a caterer.

Drinks: Washing down your scrumptious food with equally delicious drinks is imperative. Try serving sweet tea, red fruit punch, and the Mardi Grad staple, the Hurricane. You can create these concoctions with or without alcohol. Use colored plastic hurricane cups and fill them to the brim.

Costumes: Mardi Gras is all about the masks - bold, creative, feathery masks. You can encourage your guests to come in full costume, or in the case of a company party, you may just go with masks and/or beads. If you're at home, you can do an arts and crafts area with where guests can design their very own facial facades.

Music: A key of piece of any Mardi Gras party. If you want to be authentic, think blues and jazz. Though, just like New Orleans life reflects a mixture of various, rich cultural backgrounds, don't be afraid to spice it up with other local selections and your favorite dance music. If you're feeling especially spirited, maybe you'll even consider throwing a mini-parade at your party.

Action: At the party, you can play games or just eat and enjoy one another's company. You may even consider working in a family-friendly version of the Mardi Gras tradition of collecting sets of beads, by coming up with your own appropriate alternative to body exposure - perhaps mini-scavenger hunts, or exposing something else like your age or weight.

Dessert: Be sure to finish off the eating with a traditional King Cake. This is Mardi Gras treat decorated in gold, green and purple, with stars, sprinkles, and a plastic infant inside (if you're bored, Google the King Cake for an interesting read!). You can bake one or buy one. The person who gets the toy gets to be King or Queen of your party and/or win a special prize. For parties with a number of kid guests (or immature, whiny adults), procure several cakes and multiple toys for more happy winners.

Whether for a themed private/family or corporate/staff party, you're sure to enjoy the warm, festive feel of New Orleans' Mardi Gras in spite of the frigid, snowy weather outside your doors.

My Mardi Gras Traditions

What a great season to be in New Orleans. If you have never lived here for the weeks prior to Mardi Gras, you have no idea what I mean. Mardi Gras is not a day, Carnival is a season.

When the rest of the country is having overcast, post-winter holiday blues, we are replenishing our costume closets for some good old fashioned reveling.

Last year I moved to New Orleans just in time to see the Saints win the Superbowl, and then to roll right into the two weeks prior to Mardi Gras. Last year I was green– this year I am purple, gold, AND green. Last year I was a newbie, this year it's on.

This year I'm cementing some Mardi Gras traditions. Here are my top 3:

Twelfth Night

Carnival season started when I ate my first piece of king cake at d.b.a on Frenchmen Street on January 6th, or Twelfth Night. I've never celebrated Twelfth Night before. Documenting the night was Dear New Orleans, a couple of young hot shots who run around New Orleans with Sharpies, writing short quips on body parts and documenting it with a fancy-pants camera and slightly wrinkled backdrop. You make a donation to their cause, part of which goes to evacuteer.org, and see your photos online in a couple day. I love that my Twelfth Night experience was documented by Dear New Orleans.

Redbeans Parade

Starting even earlier than Twelfth Night, I started beaning. Yes, beaning. I crafted myRedbeans Parade suit from all types of beans, transforming coyly into Beanjamin Franklin. And, to pat myself quite loudly on the back, last Tuesday night yours truly was elected to be Queen! Royalty is elected based on quality of the suits. With all the hot glue blisters and hours spent sweeping bean and glitter off the floor, Queen feels regal.

M.O.M.'s Ball

In addition to my bean costume, I've voyaged to Jefferson Variety for feathers, fabric and sequins, the costume trinity, preparing for M.O.M.'s Ball. The Krewe of Mystic Orphans and Misfits has been around since the 70s, forcing costuming on the terminally hip who were too cool for costuming school. Now M.O.M.'s Ball is a huge, invite-only, costume-centric extravaganza held at Mardi Gras World where the floats of Mardi Gras past are stored.

I've filled up the pre-MG weekend with some serious events, and we haven't even gotten to Mardi Gras Day yet, nor do I want to. I like these days to drag. No need to rush in the Big Easy.

8 Mardi Gras Quotes for One of the Most Exciting Celebrations of the Year

After Hurricane Katrina hit we all wondered if we'd see another Mardi Gras like those we used to know, but these Mardi Gras quotes should have given us some foresight. New Orleans is a town unlike any other, with a spirit that is impossible to keep down. Mother Nature did her worst, but Mardi Gras would not die quietly into the night. Let these eight Mardi Gras quotes remind us why...

1. "Mardi Gras is in our soul." ~ Kim Priez

2. "Mardi Gras will tell America that New Orleans is open for business." ~ Brian Kern

3. "If no tourists came, we'd still have Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a state of mind." ~ Ed Muniz

4. "I started making calls a week after Katrina. The captains all said the same thing: you can take away our homes, but you can't take away our Mardi Gras." ~ Arthur Hardy

5. "New Orleans is my essence, my soul, my muse, and I can only dream that one day she will recapture her glory. I will do everything within my power to make that happen and to help in any way I can to ease the suffering of my city, my people!" ~ Harry Connick, Jr.

6. "There's a thing I've dreamed of all my life, and I'll be damned if it don't look like it's about to come true--to be King of the Zulu's parade. After that, I'll be ready to die." ~ Louis Armstrong

 people they've never met. But I guess it's an opportunity for everybody to play Santa Claus. That's at the heart of it." ~ Arthur Hardy

8. "And the glorious Night is approaching--this quaint, old-time night, star-jeweled, fantastically robed; and the blue river is bearing us fleets of white boats thronged with strangers who doubtless are dreaming of lights and music, the tepid, perfumed air of Rex's palace, and the motley route of merry ghosts, droll goblins, and sweet fairies, who will dance the dance of Carnival until blue day puts out at once the trembling tapers of the stars and the lights of the great ball." ~ Lafcadio Hearn

And there you have it - the celebration that defines the soul of a city. Some wondered if we'd ever live to see another New Orleans Mardi Gras. Some doubted if the tradition would continue to thrive. Let these eight Mardi Gras quotes remind us that you can't kill the spirit of Carnival - you can't take away something that lives in the heart of people, no matter what trials and tribulations you throw at them.