Help me organise a virtual leaving ‘do’

[lozster]

I’m hoping to benefit from some collective wisdom as I’m panicking a bit. I have a lovely member of staff leaving an enormous company (1000’s of people) after many decades of service. What’s more, she has always contributed/organised/gone above and beyond for other people’s babies, weddings, retirements, leaving. She has never done any of these thing s herself until now. In the time she’s served, she’s donated many times.

It’s up to me to organise her leaving and I’m panicking a bit. Does anyone have any advice on the follow?
(1) virtual cards - I would like virtual signing for an e and a real card . I can only See one company that does this and the choice of cards is tiny. Any recommendations?
(2) virtual collections - I’m looking at PayPal options but they need the person donating to have paypal too and I’m not sure if people will bother for a couple of quid even if they do have an account? I’ve also seen that a couple of virtual card sites offer this but the commission is high...
(3) the presentation; I’m thinking a zoom type arrangement, memories and photos sweating slightly less on this one but if anyone has any tips to share that would be great!

Thanks

Could you get hold of photos from earlier times? Staff magazine articles? Pics of a night out? This Is Your Life type thing?
Get people to hand write their messages and scan it in/take a photograph and email it to you, you can print it out and post it to her? To arrive the day before the presentation but with strict instructions not to open it until the time of the Zoom call?
Maybe get everyone on the call to pour a drink so people can do a virtual toast?

Thanks Clockety. I’m going to be asking for stories and photo’s but the actual card will be 150-200 people. I don’t think I can coordinate signatures from so many in to a card. I’m also wfh with no printer or scanner Actually my partner is a graphic designer but that is just the sort of job that would have him running for the hills 😂