OK, so I haven’t raised a dime yet, but there are a couple things in the works. I contacted our local coffeehouse in town to see if they’d be interested in hosting a small benefit show. It will need to be small. The coffeehouse is about the size of my kitchen.

We haven’t hashed out all the details yet, but a couple friends and I would play some music for a few hours. I guess we’ll ask for a contribution at the door. We’ve played the coffeehouse before and they got my name wrong on their website. "Performing tonight! Mary Potash."

So, I think it’s only appropriate for us to go with it when promoting our fundraising show.

"Mary Potash Gives Back."

"Mary Potash and Friends Fight Diabetes."

"The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Presents ... Mary Potash and his orchestra." (Ooh, that one has a nice ring to it).

As I had mentioned before, there’s definitely some frustration and disappointment that comes with fundraising. This great pizza chain called Jules Thin Crust had agreed to collect money for JDRF in three locations here in Pennsylvania and one location in California. I was really excited to be branching out to California. I had all of the materials shipped out to them and we were all set to go and then I received an email saying that they can’t do it for a reason I still don’t quite understand. Big bummer.

We are, however, collecting donations at three supermarkets in my area. So, at least we have that.

I have an email in to the owners of a Halloween costume shop which will most likely be ignored.

I have another email in to a local golf course because I’m dying to have a "Longest Marshmallow Drive" fundraiser. Seems like it would be so much fun for golfers milling around or awaiting their tee time. Hit a marshmallow as far as you can with a golf club. What’s not to love? This email will also be ignored.

As you can see, I do everything I can to avoid the traditional method of asking friends and family. I really do despise doing that. Maybe not in year one or year two. But year seven? I can’t keep going there.

I wonder of we could do a fundraising experiment here with the readers of this blog. What if everyone who read this, made just a $2 contribution. If 250 people read this blog and everyone participated, we would raise ... uh, we would raise ... OK, I can’t do that kind of high-level math, but let’s just say it would be a lot of money.

Side note: In my junior high school yearbook there’s a comment from my algebra teacher.

"Carey, well it never really worked out mathematically, but you have great taste in music."

True story.

Facebook? I can’t try to raise money on Facebook. Let’s be honest. Most Facebook "friends" care more about the well-being of their virtual crops and livestock than they do the well-being of my diabetic son.

Just sayin’.