THE HEARTS & HANDS WALK-A-THON & FAMILY FUN DAY 2011 FUNDRAISING TIPS

First and most importantly, designate a Team Leader (or captain) and select a team name. Have each family or adult team member register to walk. Community Autism Resources will provide you with as many brochures as you need.

Online
The easiest way to raise money for your team is to create a fund raising page at www.firstgiving.com/communityautismresources Click on “Get Started” and make sure to choose The Hears & Hands Walk for Autism” as your event. On your fundraising page, make sure to share your story and why you’re walking. It can be as simple as “I want to help other families with autism.” Don’t forget to add photos and videos too!

Firstgiving’s website also gives you options to add a donation box to your social networks.  (Facebook, Twitter) Ask all of your social contacts to donate $5.00 to your cause! Encourage your family and friends to e-mail the link to your Firstgiving page to their family and friends to ask for their support.

At Home
Get together with your friends, family and neighbors and host a yard sale with all of the proceeds going towards your teams fundraising goal. Kids love to help too! Help them set up their very own lemonade, or juice stand.  Or just ask them for their fundraising ideas. Kids are often very creative and will come up with some terrific ways to help.

If you have a birthday coming up, instead of receiving gifts ask that people donate $5 or $10 dollars in your honor. Place a message on your answering machine encouraging others to join you in the walk OR to make a small donation to your team on Firstgiving. Have a Game or Poker Night! Charge at the door & be sure to include some door prizes for winners. Sell all those old books that have been gathering dust to a local used book store. Use the money towards your team’s goal.

Family & Friends
Ask friends, relatives, or even people who provide services to your child if they will place loose change in a jar for your team. Collect the jars a week before the walk and add it to your total!

In the Neighborhood
Ask your place of worship if they can mention your team and why you are walking in your church’s newsletter or bulletin. Be sure to ask your local grocery store, coffee shops, barber shops, or your favorite restaurants if they will allow you to place jars for change. Ask your favorite restaurant to host a fundraising dinner. Places like Papa Gino's often hold these types of fundraising events. Host a bake sale or pot luck at a local store, church or, school. Ask your local fire station or VFW to have a car wash to help your cause. Or hold your own car wash asking for a minimum donation of $4.00 per car

Offer an incentive for others to get involved. For example: Ask your office, sorority, fraternity, club or bowling team to have a fundraising challenge! Whoever raises the most for the cause gets free movie passes or a gift certificate to a restaurant.

At Work
Ask if you can promote your team in your company’s newsletter and encourage other employees to email you for more information. See if your company would allow you to have a dress down day for a donation of $5 or $10 per person to go towards your team.

There are many other fabulous fundraising ideas listed on: http://www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com/
        
Don’t hesitate to contact Community Autism Resources with questions or if you need brochures about the services we offer!

All of the money donated to the Hearts & Hands Walk for Autism and Family Fun Day is absolutely VITAL to Community Autism Resources! The funds raised support the FREE services we provide to over 2000 families who have sons & daughters on the autism spectrum disorder. We serve over 85 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts.

We deeply appreciate your support. Remember all donations are tax deductible