31 Aug 2009 No Comments
Fundraiser spotlight: Peter Ogle runs the Portland Marathon for the Acorn Foundation
Peter Ogle doesn’t think his story is a newsworthy one, but here at FirstGiving, we do! Peter is a marathon runner, a survivor of melanoma, and the founder of the Acorn Foundation. On October 4th, exactly one year after his last treatment, Peter will be running the Portland Marathon. In addition to a strenuous training regimen, Peter has set a fundraising goal of $5,000. He’s almost 75% of the way there already!
Peter was kind enough to share his story with us, and you can read more at his fundraising page. First diagnosed with melanoma in 2006, doctors found that the cancer had returned in 2008. At that time, Peter began several rounds of treatment, including surgery, radiation and immunotherapy.
He finished treatment last October, and the cancer has been in remission since then. Several years earlier, Peter and his wife had started the Acorn Foundation, so when Peter decided to take on the challenge of running 26.2 miles, he wanted to make it more meaningful by raising money for the foundation’s work.
We caught up with Peter to ask about his fundraising and what advice he can give to others:
Why does FirstGiving work for you? What do you like about it?
FirstGiving makes it easy for me to reach friends and family with a simple, easy-to-grasp message in an attractive format.
Why did you and your wife start the Acorn Foundation?
God had a plan, we had resources, and together we captured an opportunity. We started out in 2000 as general-purpose do-gooders, and then discovered some practical services we could provide to a mostly Latino population in our city.
By venturing into the neighborhood near our church and just being there, we quickly made friends and ultimately developed relationships that allowed us to identify classes and services that were of value. We started Acorn because, as a church, we wanted to be of service to others in obedience to God.
What will the money you raise be used for?
It’s not glamorous, but the money will go toward general operating expenses. We have a small budget and not much of a reserve fund. We need to raise funds to keep the organization out there serving the community.
Do you do other types of fundraising for the Acorn Foundation as well?
The marathon fundraising is a separate initiative from our regular fundraising, and I’ve publicized it with a blurb on my Facebook page and a post on my personal blog. We conduct smaller fundraising events for Acorn on an on-going basis.
What advice would you give other runners or fundraisers?
Be humble. Everyone suffers pain and loss at some point, and my experience doesn’t make me special. It’s just my story. And also be grateful. It’s a privilege to live with such material abundance that we can afford to give money away to others who need it more than we do. Raising money for a good cause is like finding manna from heaven. Asked properly, people want to help you. They will give generously when they believe you’re making a difference.
Well said, Peter, and good luck!
For more information about the Acorn Foundation, visit their website. To make a donation to Peter’s page, click here.
