Honey Money Day Host Information Booklet

About Animals Asia Animals Asia is devoted to ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam. We promote compassion and respect for all animals and work to bring about long-term change. Our work focuses on three major programmes: End Bear Bile Farming Animals Asia works to end the barbaric bear bile trade, which sees over 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears but also sun bears and brown bears – kept on bile farms in China, and around 2,400 in Vietnam. Cat and Dog Welfare Animals Asia works to end the trade in dogs and cats for food in China, and lobbies to improve the welfare of companion animals and promote humane population management. Zoos and Safari Parks Animals Asia campaigns for an end to abusive animal practices in zoos and safari parks in China, and works closely with governing authorities to improve animal management and increase awareness of the welfare needs of captive animals.

How your money helps

During Honey Money Days our goal is to raise funds to help bear recovery and rehabilitation at both of our bear sanctuaries. Our world-class bear rescue centres in Chengdu, China and Tam Dao, Vietnam provide the bears with comfortable dens and semi-natural enclosures where they are able to recover in safety and spend the remaining years of their lives in the company of other bears. To date, 500 farmed bears have been received into our care. Many of these bears lived on nothing but rice porridge when they were on bile farms – a diet completely unsuitable for an adult moon bear. Now they are in our care we make sure every bear is utterly spoilt. Their diets consist of fresh nutritious fruit and vegetables – carrots, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage and the occasional sweet treat that includes a bear’s favourite food HONEY which is used in enrichment smears around their enclosures and as a way of disguising nasty tasting medicines. With the right diet our lucky bears have a sweet future ahead.

Planning your event Setting a date You can hold your event any time in August – Animals Asia was founded on 8 August 1998 – just remember to let your guests know in advance so they can save the date in their diary. Choosing a venue Events can be hosted anywhere – at your home, your office or at school. You could also approach a local club, restaurant or coffee shop and ask them to sponsor your event by providing the venue and food. Whatever venue you choose, make sure that it is available on your chosen date before you send out your invites. Inviting the guests This is your event, so feel free to invite whoever you like – your family, sports team, work colleagues or neighbours – but make sure your guests know that it’s a fundraiser, so that they come along prepared to donate. The sooner you get your invitations out, the better. Raising money How you raise money is up to you. The simplest ways are to charge an entrance fee or participation fee, or to set up an Animals Asia donation box and let your guests donate as much as they like. If guests cannot attend the event, you can invite them to donate using a donation form.

Collecting donations If your guests make cheque or credit card donations, please make sure that they fill in donation forms. If your guests give you cash donations, please tally up the total at the end of your event and fill in the details on your host deposit form. Receipts If your guests require a receipt, please keep a record of their donations and full contact details on the donation receipt request form. You can send this to Animals Asia along with your host deposit form and we will send your guests their individual receipts. Capturing the fun Remember to take lots of photos of your guests having fun. We’d love to use them on our website – and you can send them to your guests after the event. Thanking your guests Don’t forget to thank your guests for attending your event and let them know how much you raised.

Fundraising ideas At work Bake cakes or savouries – sell them at work and donate the money to the bears. Coin donation – ask your colleagues to donate their spare change. Lunch donation – invite your colleagues to bring lunch to work and donate the money they saved to Animals Asia. After-work drinks – ask your friends to donate a small amount to attend. At school Mufti day – ask students to make a donation to participate. Lolly jar guessing competition – ask students to make a donation to enter the competition – the winner gets the jar of lollies! Sports Day for the bears – organise special races and encourage students to pay a fee to enter. Treasure Hunt – ask students to make a donation to enter. At home Dinner party – charge friends to sample your culinary delights. Garage sale – make some money while de-cluttering your life. Organise a movie night – sell tickets to your friends and family for a screening of “Cages of Shame” – contact Animals Asia for a copy.

In your local community Busk for the bears – ever fancied yourself as a star? Hit the streets and sing, dance or do your magic. Karaoke – hold a karaoke party and charge your friends for assaulting your eardrums! Barbecue – host a barbecue and invite your neighbours. Trivia night – host a moon bear trivia night at the local pub and charge a participation fee. Outdoors Sponsored walk, run or cycle – get fit and make the most of the freedom that so many bears are denied. Teddy bears’ picnic – invite friends and family to pack their favourite teddies, a soft blanket and plenty of yummy snacks and pass around a hat to collect some coins.

Fundraising tips Set a fundraising target – setting a goal will inspire you and your supporters to work to achieve it. Let your guests know that all the money raised at your Honey Money Day event will go towards the enrichment and rehabilitation of our rescued bears. Be organised – start planning early and give your guests plenty of notice. Preparing a simple budget will help your decision making and make it easier to achieve your fundraising target. Involve your local community – invite local businesses to be part of your Honey Money Day by: • • • •

making a donation to your event donating their venue for your event making a donation of goods and/or services that can be used as prizes displaying Honey Money Day posters on their premises for you

If you need posters to promote your event, we have an online poster that you can download and print. All you need to do is fill in the details. Ask friends and family for support – if you have friends, family and colleagues with special skills and talents, such as photography, cooking, singing or playing music, ask them to be part of your event. Promote your event using social media – if you have a Facebook or Twitter account, share your event online and invite your friends and followers.

Contact your local media – call your local newspaper and radio station and ask for assistance with promoting your event. Dollar matching – if you are holding your Honey Money Day fundraiser at work, encourage your employer to show their support by dollar matching the total funds raised. Have fun – be proud that you are supporting our work to end bear bile farming – and know that your efforts are hugely appreciated and make a real difference to our rescued bears.

Guidelines • •

Do not use sponsorship money or donations to fund your event, e.g. for buying food, alcohol, etc. Remember that Animals Asia can issue receipts for monetary donations only, not for goods or services.

Let’s be cruelty free: If your event involves food, please consider giving meat a miss and serving delicious animal-friendly vegetarian options instead. Keep prizes cruelty free too – avoid leather and fur, and cosmetics that have been tested on our animal friends.

Our ambassador Simon Bryant Our Australian Ambassador celebrity chef Simon Bryant is a well-known animal lover and has been actively involved with Animals Asia since 2008. Animals Asia founder and CEO, Jill Robinson, said: “We’re really excited to have Simon on board. It means so much to us that he’s taking the time to make life sweeter for bears from the bear farms. I’m sure Simon’s involvement will encourage our Aussie supporters to start planning some fantastic events.”

Getting the funds to us There are three ways for you to pass the cash donations received at your event on to us. Cheque/money order: Make a cheque out to Animals Asia Foundation for the cash amount raised and mail it with your completed host deposit form to your local Animals Asia office. Online payment: Make a payment to us online, by credit card or debit card, and send us your completed host deposit form. The money will be transferred from your account to ours. Bank: Deposit the money straight into our bank account and send us your completed host deposit form. Whichever method you choose, please remember to fill in and send us the host deposit form along with the donation forms (which should be filled in by your guests), and any cheques and bank deposit slips. Australia bank account details Account Number: 10163880 BSB code: 065 132 Bank Name: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Account name: Animals Asia Foundation Need help? Call us on 1800 666 004

New Zealand Bank Account details Account Number: 12-3099-0756484-00 Bank Address: 6-8 Rathbone Street, Whangarei, New Zealand Bank Name: ASB Bank Account name: Animals Asia Foundation

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