ITS A SICK SICK WORLD

Your cause is just and you goal is firm.

Your website looks nice and professional you have a sincere presentation.

Have you tried looking to local groups or companies for support? (probably a stupid question considering your drive shown here).

I would target ALL local businesses, the smaller the better in your case, there is less red tape and fewer board meetings and more direct ownership decisions madeon the spot.

For example, I often volounteer to market groups that are running in a childrens hospital relay each year. These groups do a 24 hour run (one member/lap an hour) to raise money for the childrens summer camps, new machines for the hospital etc.

They have a team t-shirt competition but most cannot fork out the money for shirts, I find local businesses to sponsor the various teams and support the costs, for a little logo placement of course. Once the costs are covered, I will volounteerto take care of graphic design and printing for the teams as I work with many different screen printers and get a fair price, some even donate THOSE services.

Find sponsors:
It is really easy if you go after smaller businesses though, Bob's car wash can shell out $300 for a tax rceipt and a little promo with no notice needed.

Just food for thought, even though you seem to be aggressively trying to tackle these hurdles already.

So sorry I don't have a printer for you but best of luck to you and your cause.

where are you located?

PM me if you are in Canada.

Unless you didn't read the initial post.

The links provided in the original post would answer that question for you.

"Students for Troops Overseas Aid " is a organization at New Hartford High School which was founded by David Sperling. "

New Hatford, Ontario?

But hey, you imply that your company doesn't bat an eye at IT spending as long as it is needed, well is it not fair to just assume that would include a generous donation to those IN need as well and not just YOUR company's needs? Students helping soldiers? That sounds like a pretty nice effort on your part and one that the company can write off anyway. Not to mention the generous support shown toward our neighbours to the south.

If I was you and worked for such a massive organization that gets huge breaks from MS on operating costs; I would be the first to confront the boss with a proposal of how the company can use it's might to help those who fight for the freedoms or others.

American schools don't have/provide funding for such things. Certainly a large Canadian firm can play nice and donate a few hundred dollars worth of equipment to students trying to help make the world a better place. Talk to your boss, he/she sounds more than happy to spend for the right cause.
:D

ok .. thanks i will try that. I am not a ONLY HP guy, anything is better than nothing. I will try "Kyocera Mita " or however you spell it, Okidata, RICHO, Xerox, Lexmark ect.. i don?t need anything new, it would be nice, but its not that essential. But thanks for you suggestions, i will give em a try and post back some results.

Jeremy

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Compile a list of about six to twelve local companies, maybe the community's largest employers, and simply write a letter asking one of them to buy a printer "for the cause". Get the name of the company president or CEO, and send the letter directly to him or her.

Dear Ms. CEO,

My name is blah-blah-blah, and I am one of several students who have formed a group called, "students for troops overseas aid". We have collected various donated items locally and have sent them to our troops serving overseas. (Or briefly describe what it is you do.) The outpouring of support from our community is incredible, and our little group is actually having a hard time keeping up with the demand placed on our limited resources.

We are in desperate need of a high-output printer to help with the demand, but find ourselves in a position without one. It is my hope that you can find a way to help with our very small need. We are looking for a local business to donate such a printer, or perhaps find a way to help us buy a new one. The cost of a new printer with the necessary capacity shouldn't exceed four or five hundred dollars, and it will help immensely in our efforts to give our troops overseas the clear message that the folks at home are behind them 100 percent.

If you would like, we would welcome you to come and see our organization for yourself, and, of course, would be open to any suggestions you might heve to make it work even better.

I appreciate your consideration of this request.

Warmest Regards,

bla-blah-blah

----------

There ya' go. Write six of those letters (even if it takes twelve letters), and I'll bet you get a brand new printer.

By the way, on the ebay deal. Can you post a link to that auction page? I'd be interested in seeing what they "advertised".

If writing to individual businesses doesn't appeal to you, perhaps a single letter to the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce might produce some results.

Or include a "twist" on the letter to businesses. For example, Holland Farms Bakery & Deli in Yorkville was just named the business of the year by the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce. Including a sentence of congratulations and acknowledgement in your letter might be well received.

Get names of people and companies in the region.

http://www.utica.org/

Suzanne P. Fiore and Marolyn P. Wilson, daughters of the founders currently own and manage Holland Farms Bakery and Deli which has grown to include.....

http://www.hollandfarms.com/contact.html

Perhaps the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce will consider a piece written by you guys to include in their next newsletter.

http://www.mvchamber.org/contact_us.html

Ideas for businesses to contact:

Real Estate Offices
Insurance Companies
Restaurants
Hotels
Law Firms
etc.
etc.
etc.

But I think you'll have better luck staying local.

Does your area have a local television and/or radio stations? They love public service type things.

Good luck...