Reality

Who: Any youth ages 16 to 21, byFebruary 28, 2013, can compete in Reality. You can either put together your own team of no less than 4 and no more than 10 team members or individuals will be matched with other teams if possible. This event is being sponsored by the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments WIA Program Youth Council Committee for short UAYCC.

When: The official starting date isJanuary 27thand runs through February 28th. The winners will be announced at a dinner event on February 28th, place and time to be determined.

What: Each team will compete for cash prizes

1st Place = $5,000

2nd Place = $2,500

3rd Place = $1,250

The Task: Each team will pick a charity or organization for which they will plan and execute a fund raising event. There is a list of pre-approved charitable and non-profit organizations available to download at this link, (click on the Reality link). A team may also choose an organization of their own not on the list provided which will need to be pre-approved by the UAYCC. All net funds raised will be split 50/50 with 50% going to the organization and 50% going back into the youth council to fund further events. The 50% going back to the youth council is over and above any loans made as described below.

Each team will develop a fund raising event, business plan and marketing plan. There will also be extracurricular activities that can gain a team extra points.

Each team may borrow up to $500 from the Youth Council to help pay for items they might need for their event. However, this amount will be paid back right off the top of the funds raised before anything else is paid out to the organization or youth council and of course will not count in the net profit of the event. If a team does not raise $500.00, the youth council will write off the remaining debt and reserves the right to split the funds raised with the charity.

The following is the scoring rubric criteria for the Fund Raising Category and this will count for 50% of your overall score:

Tasks that will be scored for Fund Raising Category / Scoring % of each task = 100%
Total amount of money raised / 15%
Net profit of event / 30%
Creativity of fund raising event / 5%
Outside partnerships developed anddonations obtained / 10%
Efficiency of Cost outlay to gain X number of dollars raised - / 5%
Ability to work together as a team / 15%
Did your fund raising activity closely resemble your business plan? / 5%
Power Point Presentation ½ way through / 5%
Finale presentation / 10%

The following is the scoring rubric criteria for the Marketing Plan Category that will count for 20% of your overall score:

Tasks that will be scored for Marketing Plan Category / Scoring % of each task = 100%
Overall Creativity of Marketing Plan / 20%
Marketing Distribution – Identify Target Market and how you are going to reach them / 25%
Graphics and Designs / 20%
Leveraging of assets – more buy for the buck - BOGO’s / 25%
Identifying Competition / 10%

The following is the scoring rubric criteria for theBusiness Plan Category that willcount for 20% of your overall score:

Tasks that will be scored for Business Plan Category / Scoring % of each task = 100%
Overall Business Plan / 15%
Partnerships developed to leverage assets / 25%
Detailed road map to success / 10%
Ability to implement plan -Is it realistic? / 10%
Leadership and personnel outlined / 15%
Record Keeping / 10%
Budget and Financial Plan / 15%

The following is the scoring rubriccriteria for theExtra-Curricular Category that will count for 10% of your overall score:

Tasks that will be scored for Extra Curricular Category / Scoring % of each task = 100%
Team Attendance at Bullying & Sexting Workshop / 20%
Additional Peer Attendance attributed to your team at above Workshop / 10%
Attendance at Customer Service Workshop / 20%
Additional Peer Attendance attributed to your team at above Workshop / 10%
Team Registering on connectingcolorado.com – registrations prior to 9-30-13 do not count / 20%
Additional registrations attributed to your team. Registrations prior to 9-30-13 do not count connectingcolorado.com / 20%

Ideas and suggestions for fund raising events:

  1. Host a Valentine’s Dance maybe with the hospital heart dances
  2. Car Wash
  3. Chili Cook Off
  4. Dessert Bake Off
  5. Develop a product to sell
  6. Masquerade Ball
  7. Host a dinner and silent auction sell tables to the dinner
  8. See if you can obtain a larger sponsorship from a local business
  9. Raffles
  10. Live and Silent Auctions
  11. 5K Run/Walk
  12. Valentine’s Day Activity like a eligible bachelor or bachelorette auction

Suggestions for how to go about this:

  1. Partner with a local business
  2. Work with your organization – they may have resources available
  3. Look for businesses willing to donate items
  4. Look outside the community for other sources of donations
  5. Kids and animals sell
  6. Pick an event that is fun
  7. Get as much donated as possible as that will help your bottom line
  8. The internet will be a great resource for the planning and implementation of your business plans, marketing plans, fund raising ideas and potential donors.
  9. Ask your organization what they have done to successfully raise funds in the past

Additional Rules and Regulations:

  1. There must be a minimum of 5 teams participating for this event to take place. If less than 5 teams are signed up by the deadlinethe event will be postponed, changed or cancelled. UAYCC reserves the right to change the parameters of this event to meet the applicants. As an example if only 3 teams apply then maybe only 1st prize will be awarded.
  2. Any team not adhering to the rules and regulations may be disqualified or be assessed penalty points depending on the severity of the transgression.
  3. Each team will be assigned at least 1 adult who will act in the capacity of an advisor for the team. The adult advisor will not participate in the event creation, planning or implementation in any way. The advisor is only there to answer questions and give advice.
  4. All activities must be legal and generally thought of as being acceptable in society. If you have any questions, ask your advisor.
  5. There will be three mandatory meetings to attend during this event. All team members are encouraged to attend these meetings. These meetings are on the following dates and times:
  6. Monday, January 27, 2014 -Event Kick-Off All team members must attend this meeting or be excused prior to by the UAYCC. This meetingwill tentatively be at the Holy Cross Abbey Gym. Dinner will be provided at no cost and is being catered by Pizza Madness. Parents are encouraged to attend with the youth. You must RSVP for this event no later than Friday, January 10, 2014 by 5:00 PM. Call 275-7408 Ext 104 or 120 to RSVP with your total number attending including parents.
  7. Wednesday, February 12, 2014 – ½ way through

A minimum of one team member mustbe present to make a Power Point Presentation on what has been done to date. Time and location will be announced at the Kick-Off Meeting. Out of town teams will have the option to SKYPE into the meeting to make their presentation.

  1. Friday, February 28, 2014 – All team members must be present unless excused prior to by the UAYCC as this is the awards ceremony. Time and location will be announced at the Kick-Off Meeting.
  1. Team Applications must be turned in to the UAACOG Offices, 3224 Independence Rd, Cañon City no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, December 13, 2013. They can also be scanned and Emailed to or faxed to 719-275-8189 Attention: UAYCC
  2. All team members must sign a photo release and those members who are under 18 years of age will be required to have their parents sign a release on their behalf due to media coverage of this event.
  3. Parts of this event may be video-taped for distribution to media and media sources.
  4. Team members, if in school, must maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in this activity and at any time may be removed from their team and this competition if their GPA falls below a 2.0. The remaining team members may finish the event without the removed team member.
  5. Any team member who is removed from a team will not be eligible for any prize money.
  6. UAYCC Members will be the judges for this event along with 5 additional members from the community. The judge’s decision is final.
  7. All events must be completed by 5:00 PM on February 26, 2014. By this date and time all project materials and money will be turned in to begin being judged. At the awards dinner each team will make a presentation to the audience of their event which will be the final criteria for the judges.

The purpose of this event is to teach the youth in our community a little bit about life in general, how business works, the importance of volunteerism and citizenship.

What will I learn?

To work as part of a team

That life is not fair

Sometimes you can do everything right and still not win

Sometimes you can do everything wrong and still come out on top

That things are not generally given in life they are earned by hard work and sweat

About actions and consequences

How to sell

How to organize a project from beginning to end

How to communicate

About the community and community service

How to incorporate what you are learning in school into everyday life

A life lesson about poverty and what that encompasses

Leadership as you help manage a project

Compassion for others includingteam members

About what employers are looking for and what they want

About life in general; spending, budgets, working, deadlines, balancing school with projects with sports and all other aspects of your lives. You will learn about life in Reality.

If you have any questions, you can contact the following people:

Jennifer Pierceall-Herman – Boys and Girls Club

719-345-4038 or Email at

Peggy Gair – Royal Gorge Bridge

719-275-7507 Ext 6197 or Email at

John Warnock – Canon City Workforce Center

719-275-7408 Ext 102 or Email at

Vicky Casey - Canon City Workforce Center

719-275-7408 Ext 104 or Email at

Paula Proud – Canon City Workforce Center

719-275-7408 Ext 120 or Email at