Published November 2005

Agency’s fund-raising
effort all fun and games

Photo courtesy of United Way of Snohomish County United Way’s Snohomish County-opoly game is a popular fund raiser funded by sponsors’ donations. Sales are expected to provide $80,000 to the agency to help support its human services programs.

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

United Way’s creative Snohomish County-opoly fund-raising game, unveiled in May, has already been sold to 924 buyers at $29.95 each, being marketed at the agency’s offices in south Everett and branches of BECU.

About two-thirds of the games remain to be sold. Sales are expected to pick up through the Christmas season. Altogether, United Way officials hope the games will earn about $80,000 for its human service programs in the county.

“We’ve not really done a push, so sales are just beginning to pick up. I expect they’ll go faster the closer we get to the holidays,” said Deborah Squires, vice president of marketing and communications for United Way.

The cost of developing and producing the game has already been covered by investments from community businesses during the spring and summer prior to putting the game on the market, so each sale is total profit for the agency.

Sponsors donated $2,500 to $5,000 to have their names on the game’s trading properties, with the higher prices going for the land with higher rents. Each property card includes a deed that describes the business as well.

The $5,000 level also included a customized pewter token playing piece. The next level included a picture in the middle of the game board.

Players start at the Sno-Isle Libraries square and move through familiar properties that include Boeing, Paine Field, Everett Community College and the Little Red School House. All of the “money” is imprinted with the Frontier Bank logo, another paid sponsorship.

Besides raising funds, the game also is a way of celebrating the Snohomish County community as a whole, Squires said. As people play the “personalized” game, they are reminded of the many businesses and agencies that work to maintain and improve the quality of life in the county.

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