Treasured Time is a relatively new non-profit organization in Seymour that helps people with life-threatening illnesses make lasting memories with their families.
“We’re here to give memories to families who can’t afford to do it on their own,” Suzanne Major, the founder and CEO of Treasured Time, said. “We want to be able to give them that time together with their family and away from trying to run their household.”
Between band nights at Molto Bene, a murder mystery costume party, and a Mohegan Sun bus trip coming up soon, Treasured Time is constantly fundraising for their organization.
In the non-profit world, raising money is always a struggle, especially for fledgling groups.
Charitable donations were relatively flat in 2006 and 2007, then fell sharply during the national recession starting in 2008, according to the Atlas of Giving, a report that tracks charitable donations. Click here to download the report.
The donations have started to pick up again nationally, and Treasured Time has managed to thrive, raising about $80,000 in 2014 alone and helping four families in just two years.
Non-stop marketing efforts have played a key role in its success.
When Major first started the organization, she worked hard to spread the word. “The advice I would give to other non-profit organizations who are trying to get the word out there is to use social media,” Major said.
Old-fashioned networking was important, too.
“Just attending other events in the community is what I’ve found helpful. A lot of people meet us at other events,” she said.
Jenn Moffat, Treasured Time’s events committee chair person, said most of their fundraising events are put on Facebook to get the word out to the public.
“All of our events are on an online calendar so people can see them,” Moffat said. “We also use flyers to spread the word, but Facebook is the best way for people to be updated.”
Treasured Time recently held a Murder Mystery Cocktail Party on Saturday, Feb. 21 in which they sold out of tickets.
Moffat said they have events once a month to raise money and get people to find out more about their organization.
The next event is a Mohegan Sun Bus Trip, on Saturday, March 21.
“We haven’t sold any tickets yet,” Moffat said. “We tend to have everyone sign up between one and two weeks out. It’s a real nail-biter.”
People can reserve tickets on Treasured Time’s home page.
Right now the organization is raising money for Debra Ouellette and her family. They live in Watertown.
Ouellette was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. She has six children and a new grandbaby.
Moffat said Ouellette’s wish is to have her whole family go on a cruise.
Click here to learn how to support the family.
Major said one of her touchstone moments with the organization was when they were able to send Heather Bruno, the very first person they helped, on a trip to Disney World with her three children.
Bruno passed away in October 2014.
“We were standing outside her house and she was about to leave for her trip,” Major said. “When the limousine pulled up, she started crying. She had never been in a limo before.”
“That’s an emotion you can’t explain,” Major continued. Cassandra O’Hara is the vice chairman for Treasured Time.
Any family with a life threatening illness can fill out an application to be considered.
