Soap Box Derby launches new effort

Jeans Day to raise money, profile of non-profits
Soap Box Derby launches new effort

July 21, 2008, CINCINNATI, Ohio – “Casual Friday” at the office can benefit good causes as it boosts employee morale. That’s the thinking behind a new, national effort called Jeans Day, being launched this week by a Cincinnati non-profit entrepreneur.

“A typical Jeans Day fundraiser can collect $100 to $200 in any one office,” said Doug Newberry, who runs the Cincinnati Soap Box Derby and other fundraisers through EventFund. “By adding all these offices together, we can make a real difference with cancer research, assisting in times of disaster, food and medicine for the poor and hungry or helping a youth development group.”

Jeans Day (www.jeansday.org) will encourage office workers across the country to donate $5 every time their employer allows a “Casual Friday” or other dress-down day at work. Participating companies will direct those contributions to a different charitable group each month, organized by EventFund.

The All-American Soap Box Derby will be the first Jeans Day recipient. This Friday, the cash-strapped Akron, Ohio-based organization will encourage its supporters in the corporate world and beyond to host Jeans Day events at their places of business, with proceeds benefiting SBD. The event will support this year’s All-American Soap Box Derby competition in Akron, the local Derby organizations and help mark the 75th anniversary of the first Soap Box Derby race in 1933.

“We’ll have three years of celebrations,” said Jeff Iula, general manager of the All-American Soap Box Derby. “2008 will be the 75th anniversary of the first Derby. 2009 will be the anniversary of the first All-American race and 2010 will commemorate the first race in Akron.”

On Saturday, six World Champions will be crowned at the All-American Soap Box Derby – an event that’s going off without a major sponsor for the first time in a number of years.

The Soap Box Derby was started by Dayton Daily News photographer Myron Scott in 1933. While out shooting photographs, he came across kids racing homemade racecars down a hill. He organized a small race a week afterward and later in the summer, with the help of his employer, he organized a much larger race that attracted kids from across the country. A year later, it became the All-American Soap Box Derby and has been run annually ever since.

Derby Chief Executive Officer Jim Huntsman jumped at the chance to inaugurate Jeans Day. “We are attempting to grow our sport and I appreciate EventFund’s efforts and dedication to our program,” he said.

EventFund hopes to raise $1 million for the Soap Box Derby. “That would mean getting 100 offices in 100 cities to each raise $100,” said Newberry. “I think it’s doable, if we can get the word out.”

Newberry has currently invited over 70 national charities to sign on as Jeans Day recipients. He welcomes others to contact him at 513-322-5135 or doug@eventfund.com.

“Jeans Day is a fun and easy way to donate to charities,” said Newberry. “Everybody enjoys Jeans Days at their office and pooling money from offices across the country can really add up.”