Bracelet fundraisers are an effective way for charities to raise money and awareness for their cause. The concept gained popularity in 2004 with the release of the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet. Bracelets are usually made of silicone gel and are affordable to produce, making them an economic option. The color and design of the bracelet are often relevant to the charity’s cause. There have been rumors of charity bracelets being used as a sexual indicator, but there is little evidence to support this claim.
A bracelet fundraiser is a way that charities raise money by selling bracelets. It is generally considered an effective method because it not only raises cash but also raises awareness for a cause. Typically, a wristband fundraiser will involve a specific design or color associated with a cause.
Although the concept of a bracelet fundraiser seems to date back to at least the 1980s, it came to prominence in May 2004. The Lance Armstrong Foundation released a yellow bracelet branded with the LIVESTRONG logo. It commands attention when worn by a variety of celebrities and public figures, and an estimated 80 million have been sold.
Wristband fundraisers can be a particularly effective method from an economic point of view. For the charity, they are generally relatively cheap to produce or buy, meaning that a sale price of as little as a dollar will raise a lot of money. People who buy the bracelet won’t necessarily be concerned that there’s a high markup: if anything, the price allows them to donate an affordable amount while still feeling like they’ve received something in return.
A charity bracelet is most commonly made of silicone gel. This material has several advantages: it is flexible, which means it can be adjusted to fit wrists of different sizes; it is relatively strong, which means that it will not fall apart; and is comfortable to wear with little irritation. This is compared to the less popular materials used in some bracelets, such as ribbon.
Usually the color and/or design of a bracelet is relevant to the charity. For example, the LIVESTRONG bracelet was yellow, the color worn by race leader Lance Armstrong in the sport of cycling. Other examples include pink for beast cancer and red for AIDS, both of which were already established on awareness ribbons and other awareness items.
Arguably the best-known wristband fundraiser involves the white band used by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. It has been adapted several times for specific events and days, such as the Make Poverty History campaign in 2005. Unlike some charity bracelets, the white band is arguably worn more as a symbol of awareness than a fundraiser, with activists who encourage people in the poorest countries to make their own bracelet instead of buying one.
There have been long-running stories claiming that children have adapted the concept of charity bracelets not just as a fashion item, but as a sexual indicator. Repeated stories claim that wearing a particular color shows a willingness to engage in certain types of sexual activity. There is little to no evidence that this is the case and it appears to be largely an urban legend.
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