Walk Date: - Autism Speaks Walk

AS_11 Walk Guide Covers Team Captn 01_06.pdf
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
1
1/6/11
11:20 AM
TEAM
CAPTAIN
GUIDE
RESEARCH | AWARENESS | COMPASSION
Welcome to Walk Now for Autism Speaks!
Autism Speaks is proud of our signature fundraising event which
brings together hundreds of thousands of participants annually
across the United States and Canada with a common goal of
supporting Autism Speaks.
Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism
spectrum, this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only
generates vital funds for autism research but also raises
awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to
combat this complex disorder.
Table of Contents:
This guide was designed to answer all your questions about fundraising for your team, recruiting
teammates, raising awareness in the community and much more about Walk Now for Autism Speaks!
1. Individual Walker Pages and Team Pages
- Register your Team
- Features of your Personal Headquarters
- Emails – Samples
- Sample Letters
2. Team Information
- Team Captain Checklist
- Team Tips
- Help Spread the Word
- Team T-Shirts & Team Signs (examples & ideas)
3. Fundraising Ideas
- What is a Wrap-Around Event?
- Puzzle Piece Campaign Information
- Tribute Signs
- Matching Gifts
- Grand Club – Are you a member?
- Health Community Charities
- Tips and Tools
4. Recruiting Tips
- Ideas for Recruiting your Team
- Social Networking – Facebook, Twitter and Boundless Fundraising
5. Our Mission
- Where do your Fundraising Dollars Go?
Register online for the Walk! It’s Easy!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Log on to www.walknowforautismspeaks.org
Search for your event by city or state and click on the map
Click on Register for This Walk
Choose Registration Options; Start a Team
5. Fill in your information and start fundraising**
**Returning Team Captain: Don’t forget to register with your username and password from
last year. If you do, you will have access to those who donated to you last year, your address
book, and past team walkers.
Personal Page and Team Page
Once you have registered at www.walknowforautismspeaks.org, you can set up your own personal
page and your team page with photos, text, and much more! You also have the option to send emails,
run reports of those who have donated to you, and access important information.
Your Personal Headquarters
My HQ:
- Supporter ID #
- Find Team and Email Statistics
My Webpage:
- View/Edit Personal Page
- Upload a Photo, or Use the Stock Photos
- Change Theme of your Webpage
Email:
- Send Custom (or Create your Own) Emails to Recruit
Teammates, Send Updates & Request Donations
- Email History Log
Reports:
- Donation Report - Shows who donated, the amount and when the donation was made for
current or past years
- General Team Donations Report - Shows general donations made to your team
- Team Participant Report – Shows current team and past team walker report
Tools:
- Print Donation Forms
- Edit Profile/Log In
- Assign Co-Captain
Gadgets:
- Add a Donation Thermometer to your Community Page
E-mails
Did you know that people who fundraise online raise 200% more
on average that those who do not? Additionally, the average
online donation is 40% higher than a check or cash donation.
Sending emails is easy to do right from your personal headquarters! If you don‟t want to create your
email, you can use one of the template messages already created.
Want to recruit, motivate, and inform your team but can't put it into words? Here are some quick
e-mails to send to your team to help motivate, thank and grow your team.
E-mails to Recruit Walkers
Join our (Family) Team (team name)! We‟re walking for our (son/daughter, name). You can
help Autism Speaks build a better future for families like mine that live with the challenges of
autism every day. Every 20 minutes, another child is diagnosed with autism -- that‟s 3 or 4 in
the time it will take us to walk on (date). To walk with us, contact (Team Captain name/e-mail
address/phone number) for more information or visit (URL) and sign up today!
Please join our Walk Now for Autism Speaks team! We‟re walking to celebrate our
(son/daughter) who has made incredible strides this year. We know that all families aren‟t as
fortunate as we are; they need our help as they continue to search for answers and hope.
Autism Speaks is investing millions of dollars to fund research into the causes, prevention,
treatments and cure. Contact (Team Captain name/e-mail address/phone number) for more
information or visit (URL) and sign up today!
Can you believe more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, pediatric
cancer and diabetes combined? Walk with me and help raise money and awareness to
support the work of Autism Speaks. I believe the day will come when no parent hears the
words “your child has autism”. Contact (insert Team Captain name/e-mail address/ phone
number) for more information or visit (URL) and sign up today!
E-mail to Motivate/Update Walkers on your Team
Walk Day is almost here, but there‟s still time to raise money to fund research, raise
awareness, and bring hope to all who live with the challenges of autism. 67 children are
diagnosed every day – that means between now and (Saturday/Sunday), (# days x 67)
families will get the devastating news that their child has autism. By walking and raising
money, you can help us get one step closer to the world we dream of – the one free of autism.
E-mail about Autism Speaks Mission
Every 20 minutes, a child is diagnosed with autism. The goal of Autism Speaks is to change
the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. Walk Now for Autism Speaks
raises the dollars necessary to support research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and
cure; raise public awareness and its effects on individuals, families and society; and bring
hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder.
Does a written letter work better for you? Here are some samples.
Hello -- I am writing to you today on behalf of my son, Johnny Fiore. Johnny is a non-verbal, autistic
young man who blesses our family each day and has opened our eyes & our hearts to the need for
answers to the puzzle of autism. Since Johnny‟s autism leaves him unable to communicate, please
accept my voice on my dear son‟s behalf.
For the past several years, The Fiore Family has
proudly participated in Pittsburgh‟s Annual Walk Now
for Autism Speaks benefiting AUTISM SPEAKS. I
proudly serve as team captain of “Johnny‟s Angels”.
Each year, our team hits the pavement hoping and
praying that each step brings us closer to solving the
puzzle of autism. It‟s truly been such a blessing each
year to watch our team grow in size and “fundraising
thunder”. I‟m elated to report that thanks to a true
team effort, “Johnny‟s Angels” raised $26,000 for
AUTISM SPEAKS last year. But believe me, with no
known cause or cure for autism, there‟s no stopping
now!
Johnny Fiore and Elmo at the Walk at Heinz Field
AUTISM SPEAKS is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the
causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its
effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of
this disorder. Autism is estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 110 births.
I hope you will seriously consider sponsoring “Johnny‟s Angels” as our team, led by jumping Johnny
himself, proudly walks on June 2 at Heinz Field. Contributions in any denomination are gladly
accepted and can be mailed to the Fiore Family‟s home address. Please make your check payable to
AUTISM SPEAKS and list “Johnny‟s Angels” in the check‟s memo line. Upon receipt, I will proudly
deliver your donation to Greater Pittsburgh Regional Office for AUTISM SPEAKS earmarked as
fundraising funds collected by “Johnny‟s Angels” for the June 2nd event.
Please remember contributions made to AUTISM SPEAKS are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
For more information, please visit www.autismspeaks.org or call the Pittsburgh office directly at
412-367-4571.
I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my letter and for your
consideration and support. Every dollar truly does make a difference! Your generosity will not only
positively affect the life of Johnny (and other autistic individuals), but also help to put an end to autism
for generations to come – which would be an answer to so very, very many prayers!
With kindest regards and sincere gratitude,
Kim Fiore
Team Captain of “Johnny‟s Angels”
Team Logan Goes Walking: Year 4
I Walk because you are my tweedlebug, my oldest son…the first grandchild, the 3rd grandchild, the
13th great grandchild. I walk because you are mine.
I walk because I am an occupational therapist. I did my thesis on autism. Little did I know, I would be
writing about you. I walk because I am your mother.
I walk because every day you make me proud. You face your fears and don‟t even know it. You
encounter sounds, smells and sights that make your body uncomfortable, yet you continue on. I walk
because you are brave.
I walk because people still look at us when we are out in public. They do not understand the narrating,
the finger flapping, the loud voice, the tantrums that are nowhere near what they were. I walk
because you are strong.
I walk because you are a gift. You have made me a better mother, a better therapist, a better person.
You look at things from another perspective and give me insight, and never cease to amaze me. I
walk because you are smart.
I walk in support of other families who do not have the support that we are blessed with. There are
families who do not know the signs, who do not know where to go, who think there child is just
naughty. I walk because that was once me; huddled in a ball on the kitchen floor, sobbing as you
melted down in my arms, and thinking I can‟t do this anymore. I walk for information.
I walk because I do not know why. I am afraid to have another child because I‟m not sure if autism is
because of your traumatic birth, our genes, the environment. I walk in search of knowledge.
I walk because one day people will tell you that you are different, you are not typical, and they will not
do it nicely. I hope that day never comes because people will be educated on your strengths instead
of your non-strengths. I walk for understanding.
I walk because there are 1 in 110 families who are dealing with what we do every day. It is not an over
diagnosis….it is real and it is now. I walk for research.
I walk for the future to see who you will become. I look at people like Bill Gates, John Robison and
think what if. I may not have the star power of Jenny McCarthy, Holly Robinson Peete, Doug Flutie or
John Travolta, but I hope that I can make a difference. I walk for hope.
I walk because I do not know what typical is. Your stimming, your honesty, your perfectionism is now
a part of me. I must think ahead and always think “what if”….I have become a planner, a dietician, a
researcher, an emergency dispatcher, an advocate, an
educator and an author of social stories. I walk because
this is my life.
I walk because you are a sibling, an older brother. You
are a model for another person and he looks up to you,
no matter what. I walk because autism has affected
ALL of us.
I walk because you are my hero and I love you!
“Pooh,” said Christopher Robin, “always remember that
you are smarter than you think, braver than you believe
and stronger than you seem.” This is our motto and we
live it every day.
Love,
Mommy
Team Captain Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure that you have completed all of the steps
necessary to have a successful Walk Now for Autism Speaks team this year.
________ Register as a Team Captain at www.walknowforautismspeaks.org
________ Set a fundraising goal and “people” goal for your team
________ Make sure all team members have registered themselves on-line
________ Involve your company/employer
- Did you email your co-workers to join the team?
- Did you involve your boss to rally your company team?
________ Encourage all team members to be active fundraisers for autism research, awareness
and advocacy
________ Email or call team members regularly to answer questions and check on their progress
________ Create team t-shirts, buttons or a banner to increase your visibility on Walk Day
________ Thank everyone who has made a donation to your team
________ Attend the Walk Now for Autism Speaks Events!
Team Tips
1. Attend the KICK OFF event and get all the information, materials, and motivation you need to
organize a team of walkers!
2. Stay in touch with your local staff person! Feel free to call or email with questions about the
Walk and the team-building/walker recruitment/walker fundraising process if there is anything
you don‟t understand about it. Check out your Walk home page regularly for updates,
incentives and more!
3. Highlight your team building progress through regular articles in your company newsletter,
community newsletter, email alerts, or in memos to employees and managers. Add your
Team Page link to your email signature.
4. Stress the importance of fundraising throughout the pre-Walk period. The purpose of this Walk
is to raise money for autism research, family services, awareness and advocacy.
5. Create your own Team T-Shirt or button, Team Banner or Team Sign for Walk day!
6. Set a fundraising GOAL and team member GOAL for your team.
7. Make sure all team members have registered ONLINE before Walk day so they can move
through the line quickly. Remember: If they have registered online, they do NOT have to reregister on Walk day.
8. Make it a point to involve your company/employer and those who help your family member
affected by autism! Did you email your co-workers to join the team? Did you involve your boss
to rally your company? Does your company have a matching gifts program?
9. Make sure everyone on your team has individually raised $150 to receive an official 2011 Walk
Now for Autism Speaks T-Shirt!
Raising Awareness in your Community
There are many ways team captains and participants can help publicize the Walk in the local
community. Here are 6 ways you can help spread the word about Autism Speaks and the Walk Now
for Autism Speaks event! If you need additional information or materials, contact your local office.
1. Become a neighborhood leader! Ask your staff person for a supply of posters and brochures to
distribute to businesses around your community.
2. Take a team photo and write a short article for your local paper! Community papers love
stories about their local residents, especially when community events are highlighted. If you
need ideas or sample stories, please contact your local staff person.
3. Ask local groups to support you! Ask for time at your local Rotary, Chamber of Commerce,
Kiwanis Club, Lions Club or other service organization to talk about why you are participating
in Walk Now for Autism Speaks and how they can get involved.
4. Share information about the Walk, and your Walk team on local community calendars. Go to
your local newspaper, radio station or news station website to submit your event!
5. Ask your company or employer to sponsor the Walk, your team, or form their own team. Ask
to send out an email to all the employees to share your story and enlist other participants. If
your company would like to hold a “Lunch and Learn” about autism and Autism Speaks,
please contact your local staff person.
6. Host the Puzzle Piece promotion to raise money and awareness in your community.
Team T-Shirts
As you know, anyone who raises $150 or more will receive a Walk Now for Autism Speaks T-shirt on
Walk Day, printed with the Walk Now for Autism Speaks logo on the front and the Walk corporate
sponsor names and logos on the back. Many teams still decide though to print their own t-shirts, in
matching colors with clever names to wear to the Walk. Team T-shirts help build enthusiasm for the
Walk during the weeks leading up to the event, and unite a team on the day of the Walk.
Team T-Shirts and Banner Samples
Use this Logo for your
Shirts and Banners
Here are some tips on creating a team t-shirt:
1. Be creative! The more unique your shirt, the
more your team will wear it year-round.
2. Stand out! The best shirts are bright and
colorful.
3. Tell your story! Include the name or photo
of the person/child for whom your team is
walking in your design.
4. Ask local companies to „sponsor‟ your team
shirt. If they pick up the cost of the shirts,
you can put their logo or name on it!
Fundraising Ideas
What is a Wrap-Around Event?
A Wrap-Around event is any fundraiser that your team organizes
to raise funds for the Walk. Wrap-Arounds provide additional and
fun ways to increase awareness and fundraising. All expenses
for wrap-arounds are incurred by the sponsor team.
Successful Ideas for Wrap-Around events:
Raffles: Will your company allow you to hold a pay-day 50/50?
Sell tickets for $1, $5, or $10. The winner receives 50% of the pot and your team receives the other.
Potluck Lunch: Solicit volunteers to cook up their favorite dishes and bring to the office. Sell tickets
to lunch and show a video or tell people WHY you are walking and raising money!
Casual for A Cause: With the endorsement of your company‟s management, hold a „dress down for
Autism Speaks‟ day. Allow individuals the opportunity to wear jeans for a donation.
Visit the “Fundraising Tools” tab at www.walknowforautismspeaks.org for more great ideas!
Tribute Signs
Show your support for a loved one with autism,
a walker, or a team – and pay tribute to their
commitment to Autism Speaks. Don‟t know anyone?
Honor one of the 1 in 110 individuals who have autism.
Be a part of “Tribute Trail”, located along the route and
throughout the registration area.
Contact your local staff person for more information.
The Puzzle Piece Promotion
The Puzzle Piece promotion is a point of purchase program that can be a
great fundraiser for your team. This highly visible fundraising campaign can
be implemented into your local community.
How do puzzle pieces work? Employees/staff ask customers at the point
of purchase to buy a paper puzzle piece for a minimum of $1.00 (they can
donate more) to help the store support Autism Speaks. The customer signs
his/her name or the name of a loved one on the puzzle pieces. Store
employees post the puzzle pieces throughout the store.
WHERE: Banks, gas stations, grocery stores, fast food outlets, convenience
stores, warehouse stores, large retail outlets, restaurants, schools, etc..,!
What’s in it for your company and your stores?
 The Puzzle Piece promotion can be used to build a strong Walk team, enhance employee
morale and contribute to how much the company can raise for autism research.
 Customers will feel good about patronizing a store that gives back to its community.
 The Puzzle Piece promotion is a natural public relations tool. Once the puzzle pieces begin to
“take over” your store‟s walls, call the media. Puzzle piece sales are a great way to build your
company‟s visibility in the community. Best of all, you can raise a substantial amount of
money for Autism Speaks at no financial cost to you!
Matching Gifts – Double Your Donations
Matching Gifts are a great way to increase your total fundraising dollars for Autism Speaks.
Find out if your employer has a matching gifts program. For a list of companies with matching
gifts programs you can visit www.matchinggifts.com/autism.
Some companies don‟t just match gifts made by employees – but gifts made by spouses and/or
retirees. Some companies provide donations to „match‟ the volunteer hours you have spent on
your efforts for Walk Now for Autism Speaks. So, take a few minutes to find out if you can double
your donations today! If your employer doesn‟t have an „official‟ matching gifts program there are
creative ways to double your impact as well…
Ask your boss if s/he will “match” what your team or department raises for Walk Now for
Autism Speaks.
Ask your company to „sponsor‟ each walker for $25, $50 or $100 for their efforts.
Ask your boss for a „challenge grant‟ – that if your team raises its goal – the company
will make a donation to Autism Speaks in honor of the team.
The Grand Club
What is the Grand Club?
The Grand Club is special membership for participants of Walk Now for Autism Speaks who raise at
least $1,000 for Autism Speaks.
Membership Benefits:
Names listed on Walk Website
Commemorative Grand Club Pin
Special Recognition at Walk and Awards Reception
And many more benefits!
Community Health Charities
Many Americans choose to give through workplace giving programs
by directing a portion of their paycheck to Autism Speaks, making it
one of the most effective and efficient form of fund raising with
advantages for employees and the corporations that conduct a
workplace campaign.
Autism Speaks is proud to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) through Community
Health Charities (CHC). In partnership with CHC, we work with public and private sector employers to
make it easy for you to support our mission with a contribution through payroll deduction at work.
The national designation number for Autism Speaks is #12413. If you are interested implementing
Workplace Giving program at your place of employment, please contact your local Autism Speaks
staff.
Recruiting Tips
Send „Save the Date‟ postcards to all the teachers, providers and doctors your child,
grandchild, sibling, etc.., sees!
Put Walk posters up at the local grocery store, gas station, gym, doctor‟s office, lunch room,
conference room, teachers lounge, park, community center, etc!
Become a FAN of your Walk FACEBOOK page and recruit ALL your friends to become FANS!
Ask your company to set up a “Lunch & Learn” in the cafeteria to recruit employees for the
Walk.
Visit local department stores and give the manager the „Save the Date‟ postcards, posters or
brochures, and ask them to create a company Walk team. They can wear their company shirts
on Walk day and promote their charitable giving.
Are you a member of the VFW, Elks Lodge, Rotary Club, Junior League, or any other service
organization that needs community service hours? If so, recruit your fellow members to come
out and start a team or volunteer on Walk day.
Hand out brochures or postcards to families waiting in a car line to pick up their children after
school.
Enlist the help of your church, synagogue, etc..; ask them to add an announcement in the
weekly bulletin or newsletter about the Walk and services of Autism Speaks.
Ask your local pizza delivery person if they will add „pizza box toppers‟ with Walk information.
Ask the local library if you can put out posters, brochures, postcards, etc.
Ask the PTA if you can address the attendees at the next meeting.
Social Networking
Reaching out and asking for donations is easier than ever before with the growing popularity of social
networking sites! Who follows you on Twitter? Who are your Facebook friends? Who are you
“LinkedIn” with? Are they supporting your efforts yet? Be sure to take advantage of these exciting
new ways to raise awareness and money.
Let friends and family know you are participating in a Walk Now for Autism Speaks event by becoming
a fan of your local Walk, chapter or community page. Encourage your donors to forward your page to
people in their networks. Networking in today‟s world is completely different than just five years ago.
Try it – it‟s highly effective, and fun too!
Boundless Fundraising with Facebook. What is Boundless Fundraising and how does it
work?
Boundless Fundraising™ is a Facebook application that enables you to extend your fundraising
beyond “My HQ”. Once you register for an event you are given the option to add the Boundless
Fundraising Facebook application with a few simple clicks.
Once you have added the application to Facebook, your fundraising progress is displayed where your
friends can check your progress and donate to your efforts. Your friends can click a link to make a
donation towards your participation with Walk Now for Autism Speaks. It‟s that easy!
Your Dollars at Work
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness, research, advocacy and family services for all
who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. Where do your dollars go?
Family Services
Dental Toolkit - will provide information to dentists about how to effectively treat individuals
with autism; as well as information for families about home dental care and how to prepare
their child for a dental visit.
100-Day Kit for Newly Diagnosed Families -- this free kit provides helpful, personalized
information which includes local resources, support groups, where and how to find services,
local conferences and recreational activities (also available in Spanish).
Haircutting Training Guide --.this haircutting training guide was developed to provide
information to families and stylists as to how to make the haircutting experience more positive
for children with autism.
Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit -- a tool kit to assist families in
getting the critical information they need in the first 100 days after an Asperger Syndrome or
High Functioning Autism diagnosis.
School Community Toolkit -- available online to assist members of the school community in
understanding and supporting students with autism.
Science
Autism Speaks is dedicated to facilitating global research into the causes, treatments and an eventual
cure for autism by:
Promoting cross-disciplinary cooperation
Funding research
Organizing research summit meetings
Establishing standards for data collection and management to benefit the scientific community
Since inception, Autism Speaks has committed $131 million to support scientific research, which
includes over 780 grants and fellowships into the causes and treatments of autism. These grant
monies are designed to produce significant findings that will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and
lead to additional research support from government or other funding agencies.
Advocacy
Nationwide, few private insurance companies or other employee benefit plans cover autism therapies.
In fact, most insurance companies designate autism as a diagnostic exclusion, meaning that no
autism-specific services are covered. Autism Votes, an initiative of Autism Speaks, is working to
change state insurance laws to require private health insurance policies to cover the diagnosis and
treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Sign up to receive updates at www.autismvotes.org.
Awareness
As a result of the award-winning Autism Speaks 'Odds' campaign in partnership with the Ad
Council, there has been a 43 percentage point increase in public awareness of ASDs.
In December 2007, the United Nations declared April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day.