Every year, several of our offices participate in their local Relay for Life (for more information about this great charity, please go here). We always have a group of ten to fifteen that participate in the actual relay, but we also have several charity events in our office to help raise money. One of those events is called Penny War. It’s an epic department versus department struggle, one that I’ve participated in for the last three years. Now I’ve decided to pull the curtain back and share some of my team’s tried and true strategies for fighting the good fight.
What’s a ‘Penny War’?
Great question. Penny War is based on a point system. Every team, which is usually comprised of two to three departments, has a bucket. Teams can place coins in their own or other team’s buckets. Pennies are worth one point, while silver coins are worth negative points, based on the coin’s value. For example, a nickel is worth -5 points. At the end of the war, the team with the most points wins. It’s a great way to raise money for Relay for Life! Here are three strategies we used to be successful.
Strategy 1: Plan of Attack
Essentially, you can be a kingdom- or king-maker in this war. If you’re looking to fortify your defenses, focus all of your funds on pennies. The penny is the only coin with a positive point value in this war, so if you’re looking to reign supreme, fill up your bucket with as many pennies as possible. Most teams at least in some way attempt to accomplish this goal. Another strategy is to play king-maker. Let’s say your department can raise $100, and you’ve noticed that some other departments’ buckets are brimming with pennies. You could decide to focus on silver coins, which have a negative value. Afterall, you can help swing the balance of power with some strategically placed quarters (-25 value).
Strategy 2: Raise Funds (AKA Shock and Awe)
Fun fact: banks actually have a small supply of coinage. Let’s face it, most people don’t go to their bank drive through and ask for $100 in nickels. It’s just not that common. So plan ahead. Call your local branch at least two days ahead of time to determine if they’ll have the coins you need in stock. Many banks order their coins a week in advance, so the sooner you start to plan, the better. Also, keep in mind that your colleagues are fighting the good fight too, so there’s a good chance they may have already been to the same bank looking for coin. This last challenge, I had to drive over 20 miles to get coins, due to lack of supply in our immediate area.
Strategy 3: Have Fun!
After you have your plan of attack and funds, it’s all about having a good time. This contest is a great way to meet and interact with coworkers you might not have worked with previously. It’s also for a great cause. So remember not to go crazy; simply enjoy the game and raise money.
So that’s how we play the game of Penny War. I really enjoyed this year’s fundraising event and look forward to next years!
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