GRMC Auxiliary Tag Day Leaps to Social Media

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary will launch its Tag Day fundraising event with a new approach. Traditionally, GRMC Auxiliary members have hosted tables for Tag Day at many area and downtown businesses, asking for donations for the projects it supports. This year though, the Auxiliary is going techy with Tag Day.

“Social media giving campaigns have documented success, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is one many are familiar with.  For many, giving online is the most convenient way to show support,” says Meg Jones Bair, Tag Day Committee co-chair.

GRMC Auxiliary will be launching a “Tag, You’re It” Facebook, Twitter, and email campaign on August 10. We are asking for a minimum donation of $5, to support the Auxiliary’s $100,000 commitment to the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite. When a person makes a donation, the auxiliary is hoping people will share and change their profile picture to show their support of the GRMC Auxiliary.

The Tag, You’re It campaign will last 10 days, ending on August 20 with an appreciation celebration at Music in the Park, in downtown Grinnell.

“Our goal for this new campaign is $2,000 for the GRMC Auxiliary,” says Kama Small, Tag Day Committee co-chair.

Tag Day was initiated in the 1920s and was originally referred to as “Balloon Day” with a brightly colored balloon given to each contributor. Downtown businesses were generous donors resulting in not one, but many balloons decorating their windows. Hospital archives note that on the day of the annual event, the city was “blooming with balloons”. During World War II and the shortage of rubber, the paper tags replaced the colorful balloons.

“We are now moving this long standing fundraising tradition to the 21^stcentury and hope those that are using this technology will participate! However, if you would like to make a donation the ‘old fashioned’ way, tags will be available in The Glass Gift Box,” Small says.  

Donations may also be sent to GRMC Auxiliary – c/o Tag Day, 210 4^th Avenue, Grinnell IA 50112. For more information, call Meg Jones Bair, at 641-236-0428. 

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