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Visionaries of the Year & Grand Finale
What is Visionaries of the Year?
Visionaries of the Year is a philanthropic competition for leaders in communities across the country. Every year, candidates embark on an exciting 10-week journey with a goal to create a world without blood cancers, striving to earn the Visionary of the Year title.
What will the Grand Finale program entail?
The event includes candidate introductions, a final opportunity to support your candidate, Mission Awards, team and top fundraiser recognition as well as the grand reveal of the cumulative mission impact this candidate class has made on blood cancers.
What awards and recognition will be given the night of the event?
The awards structure during the Visionaries of the Year Grand Finale Celebration has fundraising-based and as non-fundraising based awards. Our Mission Awards are based on candidate submissions and voted on by a volunteer committee. Blood Cancer United Hero & Impact Awards will be given to those candidates who achieve $50K or more as well as our Team Member of the Year awarded to the top local fundraising team member. Lastly, we'll recognize the local Visionary of the Year and Runner Up.
What are the Mission Awards?
The Mission Awards seek to recognize those candidates who have advanced the efforts to cure blood cancers by making significant contributions through their campaigns.- Mission Award: The Mission Award recognizes a candidate who most powerfully advances our core mission-funding lifesaving research and supporting patients and families. This award honors someone whose fundraising, storytelling, and advocacy clearly connect dollars raised to impact made. Their leadership keeps the mission front and center in everything they do.
- Community Award - The Community Award celebrates a candidate who activates and unites their network in an extraordinary way. This individual builds momentum by engaging others, inspiring participation, and expanding the reach of the campaign beyond themselves. Their impact is measured not just in dollars, but in the strength and breadth of the community they rally around the cause.
Will I be able to make a donation during the event?
Yes! We will have a mission-focused segment of the Grand Finale program that provides a final opportunity to make a direct gift in support of your candidate's campaign and/or support of our mission and campaign in general. Can I donate with Donor Advised Funds (DAF)?
Yes, please see a staff member and they can process your donation.
Credit Cards
Why do I need to enter my credit card?
There will be opportunities to support Blood Cancer United leading up to and during the Grand Finale that can be counted towards the candidates totals. In order to participate, you must pre-register and a credit card must be provided. The credit card you put on file will only be charged for purchases or donations that you actively make within the online system.
Auction
How does the auction work?
We will be using mobile bidding for our auction. After registering, you will receive a text with a link to view all items once the auction is ready for preview and/or bidding. You will be able to use your smartphone/tablet to keep up with the status of your bids and continue bidding until the auction closes or you can place bids directly on your desktop. You can be the winning bidder wherever you are in the world!How do I participate in the online bidding auction?
Get started online through this auction page. To expedite your registration, please register with the auction site prior to the online bidding time.How do I start bidding?
Browse the Auction from the Browse The Auction button, and start bidding on your favorite items! Place your bid on selected items, and set a maximum bid if desired, and Givesmart will continue to keep you in the running until you reach your maximum.Is there a minimum age to be able to bid?
By entering a bid, you are certifying you are age 18 or older or that you have the permission of a parent or guardian to bid.Is there a policy on items with alcohol?
When you bid on an item that includes alcohol, you are certifying you are age 21 or older.How do I know if I've been outbid?
You will be notified via text if you have been outbid. Keep an eye on your favorite items! If you are NOT receiving the text messages make sure you have the correct mobile number under your profile. The texts will continue to notify you when you have been outbid or reached your maximum bid. When the silent auction closes, you will also receive a text message if you won any items!I really want to win an item! How can I better my chances?
To keep you from being outbid too often, you can set an Auto Bid. The auction software will automatically raise your bid by a predetermined increment until your maximum bid has been met or the silent auction ends.How do I collect my winnings?
Auction winners are required to make payment the night of the event. Please note that you will have the choice to either pay credit card charges immediately or we will run all remaining balances on all cards on file shortly after the event closes. Most items will be available for pickup at the close of the Grand Finale; if you are not in attendance or are unable to retrieve your item at the event, you will be contacted via email or phone with instructions on how to access your item in the days following the silent auction's conclusion. Please note that items containing alcohol, items that are oversized, or items that are otherwise restricted cannot be shipped and must be picked up or delivered locally.Is Sales Tax charged on Auction items?
Each winning bidder will be charged sales tax on auction items where appropriate. Sales tax charged on auction items will not count toward a candidate's fundraising total. Candidate fundraising totals will be credited with the winning bid for items their team procured.
How To Bid
