There are several ways you can help CAR raise money through the walk-a-thon. Beyond a direct donation of time or money, you or your business could sponsor the walk-a-thon. Sponsoring the walk-a-thon is not only a great way to help, but a great way to promote your business. For more information of sponsorships, click me.

Another way is to start a team to walk. Forming a team for the Hearts and Hands Walk for Autism and Family Fun Day is a great way for your family, friends and co-workers to show support for those living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  It is also a great way to help support the FREE services that Community Autism Resources provides to 2000 families in 85 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Being part of a Team can be a lot of fun and gives everyone an opportunity to work together in support such an important cause.Of course the most important reason to organize a team for the Hearts and Hands Walk for Autism is that you and your team members will feel terrific knowing that they are making an important difference in the lives of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families!!

IT'S EASY TO START A TEAM

• Designate a Team Leader (or captain) and select a team name. Community Autism Resources will provide you with as many brochures as you need.
• Get people involved! Ask your employers and co-workers and or family members to join your team.  Ask your company or office managers if you can send out an email to everyone at work.
• Encourage family members and friends to sign up others for your team.
• Set recruitment and fundraising goals for team.
• Have t-shirts or buttons for your team-that features the person you are walking for or your team’s name. T shirts are often on sale at places like Michaels, AC Moore, and Joanne Fabrics. You can have each member design their own with fabric markers or you can get computer designed iron on transfers that you can make and print at home. Team Buttons can be ordered very inexpensively at http://www.buttonsandmore.com
• Encourage the involvement of your team by having them feature your team on their FaceBook or MySpace pages, sharing your team’s information in newsletters, putting up posters, and handing out flyers.

THERE ARE TWO EXCELLENT WAYS TO RAISE MONEY

1. Create a Team Fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/communityautismresources. Just click on the Get Started button and follow instructions to create your own personalized fundraising web page for your family or for a Team. On your web page, you can share your family’s story, pictures and why you are walking to support local services for families of children and adults on the Autism Spectrum. The next step is to e-mail your page link to family members, friends, associates and other supporters. Firstgiving has also made it easier than ever for you to join an existing team. When you are on the site www.firstgiving.com/communityautismresources you will see a prompt to “join a team” this way each of your team members can set up their own page as part of your team. Please note that your team’s main page must be up for others to join your team. Firstgiving also provides an easy set of advertising pieces to put on website, blogs, MySpace, FaceBook, etc.
2. Another excellent way to raise funds is through a letter writing campaign. Write a letter explaining your involvement with Community Autism Resources and how the programs or support, that you have taken part in, have benefited your child and family. This is an easy way to raise funds and alleviates the uncomfortable face to face solicitation. Don’t like the cost of mailing letters… send out an email. You may be pleasantly surprised by the responses you receive!

ON WALK DAY

• Organize a meeting place for all your team members to meet at the walk
• Once everyone from your team has arrived, your team captain should go to the registration table to check in your team and turn in your all of team’s donations
• Remember that Community Autism Resources provides visual schedules of the day’s events and choice boards for anyone who needs them. They will be online before the walk and at the registration table
• As always we will have our Family Fun Day running both during and after the walk so that family members unable to walk the 2 miles can still have a great time. The family fun day includes: a bounce house, sensory treasure hunt, carnival type games, and free refreshments including popcorn and sno kones. There is also an awesome Autism Awareness store and terrific raffles. We are hoping to add one or two new activities this year so check often at  www.community-autism-resources.org  for more information
• And of course have fun and take plenty of pictures!

For more information about donations, sponsorships, or team building, please contact Jan Randall.