She Turned a Calendar into Over $10,000 for Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine
At PrintingCenterUSA, we are continually inspired by customers who use print to create real world impact. For Ashley Duffany, what began as a simple idea during a time of global crisis turned into an ongoing fundraising effort that has raised more than $10,000 to support civilians affected by the war in Ukraine.
Through thoughtfully designed wall calendars, Ashley found a way to transform awareness into action and give supporters a meaningful way to contribute.
About Ashley Duffany
Ashley Duffany is a public high school history teacher who wanted to help in a tangible way when the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. As the holidays approached that year, she began thinking about how she could raise funds to support civilians impacted by the conflict.
Rather than launching a traditional donation drive, Ashley chose a creative approach that combined storytelling, print, and purpose.
The Inspiration
The idea for the calendars came from a desire to help civilians and infrastructure affected by the war in Ukraine. Ashley designed a wall calendar for the New Year and began selling it independently through Etsy, while promoting it on social media platforms like Twitter and X.
The project quickly gained traction and even caught the attention of United24, the Ukrainian government’s official fundraising platform. Every dollar of profit from the calendars was donated directly to United24 to support humanitarian aid.
The Challenge
Launching the first calendar came with uncertainty. Ashley invested more than $1,500 of her own money upfront, unsure how the calendars would sell or whether the quality would meet expectations.
As a solo creator handling design, marketing, and fulfillment, she needed a printing partner she could trust to deliver professional quality, fair pricing, and fast turnaround.
The Printing Solution
Ashley partnered with PrintingCenterUSA to produce two versions of her 2026 wall calendars, each designed to clearly communicate the cause while delivering a polished, professional finish.
Calendar Print Specs
Size: 11 x 8.5 inches
Calendar Type: Wall calendar
Binding: Saddle stitch
Pages: 28
Cover Paper: 80-pound gloss cardstock
Inside Paper: 100-pound gloss text
Ink: Full color throughout
Cover Finish: High gloss UV
The gloss paper enhances image clarity and color, while saddle stitch binding keeps production affordable and easy to ship. These choices made the calendars ideal for fundraising, gifting, and mailing to supporters.
The Impact
The first year of the project raised a couple thousand dollars for humanitarian aid. Due to continued demand, Ashley has printed and sold calendars each year since. To date, she has donated just over $10,000 to United24 to benefit civilians and rebuild infrastructure damaged in the war.
Everyone who purchased these calendars was thrilled, Ashley shared. I could not do this without the great print quality, fast shipping, and fair prices at PrintingCenterUSA.
What began as a scary leap of faith has become an ongoing tradition that continues to make a difference year after year!
Thinking About Creating a Fundraising Calendar for a Cause You Care About?
Calendars are one of the most effective fundraising tools because they offer something tangible, practical, and meaningful. Supporters receive a product they use all year long, while causes receive sustained visibility and financial support.
How to Create a Fundraising Calendar That Makes an Impact
A successful fundraising calendar starts with a clear mission and thoughtful execution. With the right tools and planning, anyone can turn an idea into meaningful results.
- Choose a cause you care deeply about: Your passion will come through in the design and storytelling.
- Create a clear message: Let supporters know exactly who they are helping and why it matters.
- Design with purpose: Use strong visuals and simple layouts that keep the focus on the cause.
- Use our free design tools: Our free Online Design Tool and Adobe templates make it easy to create a professional calendar, even without design experience.
- Print in bulk: Bulk printing keeps costs down and maximizes the funds you can donate.
Pro Tip: Calendars work especially well for fundraising because they stay visible all year long, reminding supporters of the impact they helped create. Not only that but, they inspire through imagery and help bring a new experience to your audience.
Looking Ahead
Ashley plans to continue producing calendars as long as there is a need and a community willing to support the cause. What started as a single idea has grown into a powerful example of how creativity and print can make a lasting difference.
At PrintingCenterUSA, we are proud to support customers who use print to fundraise, advocate, and create positive change. Start your custom fundraising calendar project at PrintingCenterUSA.
