WAVES Hits Vancouver, Canada - The Journey of a Fundraiser

17 Apr 2014by WAVES Volunteer

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. ~Margaret Mead

Tuesday, March 11 marked the pinnacle of the WAVES for Development fundraising campaign that began in Vancouver, Canada. At the outset, my goal was to reach $2000, which was not only met, but exceeded for a grand total of $3341! This was my first major fundraising experience and I am humbled by the generosity and support received from family, friends and colleagues. As well, the participation of a dozen local retailers culminated in an enviable selection of silent auction items that generated $1556!

I want to extend a huge thank you to all the people and retailers that not only donated to WAVES, but also supported and encouraged me to see the event to the end. We have all become partners with WAVES for Development to inspire and educate youth as well as bring hope and prosperity to the village of Lobitos, Peru. As well, I am proud to represent all of you, Vancouver and Canada when I travel to Peru and work to bring this donation to fruition.

Sincerely,

Ryan Libech

The Journey of a Fundraiser

Following a shift in my life combined with tales of adventure and natural beauty in South America, Peru became my next destination for an extended journey abroad. I decided my trip would combine my love of mountain biking and surfing with my aspiration to experience and connect with the Peruvian people, culture and lifestyle.

The mountain biking came easy with a highly recommended downhill riding experience among the stunning backdrop of the Andes mountain range.

Then, as I continued to plan my trip, I came across another perfect opportunity – I would be able to capture and share my surfing experience with like-minded people plus become part of a local Peruvian community dedicated to working together for a better future. This opportunity was WAVES for Development – they are creating Peruvian history and I was welcome to join!

After graciously being accepted to the WAVES team, a suggestion came via email to raise the funds required for volunteer participation. Fundraising = asking for donation = an uncomfortable challenge for my introverted personality. However, as I reflected on this feeling of discomfort, I realized it represented a created or imagined personal limitation – I was scared of something. As a result, to continue the personal journey inward, a fundraising campaign became the perfect opportunity for me to explore my character, challenge the status quo and contribute to a grassroots organization working to inspire change. The choice was mine to make and to take it one step further, I committed to holding a fundraising event.

Throughout the process, I had several ups and downs to the point of almost throwing in the towel on the event. After several days of pounding the pavement for donations, booking venues, figuring out logistics, and spreading the inspirational work of WAVES, the time commitment and dedication to the project started to become apparent and overwhelming, especially when donations did not come easily.

As expected, there were key moments and lessons that I was to learn along this journey. The first came in a discussion with the COO of my employer Blackcomb Aviation that began with my personal doubt for success – there are so many charities in this world, why would people choose this one? The answer – people choose their donations not entirely based on the charity, but moreso on the individuals raising the funds out of respect and trust for those individuals. With that, I realized the key to success would be a matter of believing in myself and the goal I had set forth – it would be self-confidence and conviction that would capture and inspire my audience. The second lesson came in the moments I felt like giving up from an overwhelming fear of failure. As I grappled with donations and organizational challenges, I felt like my ‘perfect’ event was going to be a disappointment for all attendees and I would simply feel embarrassed. It was in that moment of despair that it occurred to me – this entire fundraising venture was not about me or what impression it would create. This was for the people of Lobitos – the men, women and youth that have less opportunity than I do – they were my partners, my inspiration and my purpose. Regaining this perspective allowed me to let go of the outcome, reduce my expectations and dissociate my personal worth from the project. The result – an overwhelming outcome that exceeded all expectation!

In the end, my fundraising campaign brought me affirmation to the statement “a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world”. Further, the campaign also identified that understanding our fears can lead to positive results in personal growth, human connection and global outreach – and perhaps simply grant us the freedom to shine. As with most challenges in life, this one proved to be worthwhile and as much as I inspired others to donate, they inspired me with their support and generosity.

I look forward to the next stage of this journey in April 2014 when I join the WAVES team on the ground in Peru.

Sincerely,

Ryan Libech

In recognition of the retailers that donated silent auction items:

Blackcomb Aviation

Kevin Perra – Realtor

Outdoor Gear Canada

Rampion Enterprises

CARO Analytical Services

Different Bikes

Strub Activewear

The Naam Restaurant

Steamworks Pub

Darby’s Liquor Store

Matt Farrell – RMT

The Boardroom

Posted in: EventsNews

Tags: Blackcomb Aviation, Canada, CARO Analytical Services, Darby’s Liquor Store, Different Bikes, Kevin Perra, Matt Farrell - RMT, Outdoor Gear Canada, Rampion Enterprises, Ryan Libech, Steamworks Pub, Strub Activewear, The Boardroom, The Naam Restaurant, Vancouver