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Why Participate Participating in the Walk allows the local autism community to gather and connect in a positive and fun environment. It not only brings our closest family members together, but it also lets us celebrate what we have accomplished as a team. We look forward to the annual event and our team keeps growing every year! - Kerrie Johnson, Team Jayden, (Team Captain and Mom) Meet Joshua Joshua is now eight and a half years old and a boy very much like other boys. He loves to run, eat pancakes, wrestle, has an amazing sense of humor and loves to laugh with his little sister Taylor. He is happiest when his tablet is charged and in his hands! He uses his tablet to watch snippets of videos and music and loves to share them with us, often giving us a dance or echoing the words. Although Josh does have some words, he would be described as non-verbal. However, those who know Josh know that he communicates in a different way with determination and patience. Josh has a magnetic personality and anyone who meets him is immediately struck by his warmth, loving spirit and amazing eyes. Josh is an amazing person and has a lot to teach those of us not on the spectrum. His charming personality endears him to people quickly and we are often struck by how much impact this little boy has on anyone who comes into his life. 2
Autism Speaks Canada What is the Autism Speaks Canada Walk 2 4 Team Captains: Getting Started Register Your Team Recruit Your Team Email Fundraising Fundraising Fundraising Tools Additional Fundraising Ideas The Grand Club Adding Team Spirit Frequently Asked Questions Team Captain Checklist 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 3
The Autism Speaks Canada Walk events are the single most important annual fundraising initiative for Autism Speaks Canada to support our mission. Powered by Love, the Walks bring the community together while providing an opportunity to make connections and feel the support of donors, sponsors, local media, community partners, and corporate sponsors. Where Walk Dollars Go Your Walk dollars support... Access to Resources Inclusive Programming Services for Young Adults Community Grants World-Leading Research 4
Presented By: Become a Team Captain You will receive a special collectable Team Captain charm when you form a team and become a Team Captain. Your Online Fundraising Center We ve made registration simple! Find your Walk Create a Team Join / Restart a Team Register as an Individual Fundraising Badges: Show your achievements! 5
Log on to www.ascwalk.ca Choose Form a Team Returning Team Captains and participants can sign up using the same user name and password that they used last year. This will give access to your donor list, email addresses and past team list. Want to use the same email address when registering MULTIPLE PEOPLE on your team? You must add each individual before you log out of the system. Once you log out, you will NEED to use another email address or call 1-888-362-6227 for assistance. 6
Recruit Your Team 7
Emails and Online Fundraising Can Boost Your Results Online fundraising is one of the easiest and most effective ways to raise money. It is also cost effective and a great way to maximize the impact of dollars going to support our mission. It s SIMPLE to do, SAFE and SECURE. It s more convenient for donors because they automatically receive their tax receipts. Using email solicitation SAVES YOU TIME and allows you to KEEP TRACK of your outreach. TIPS: Aim high - Set your goal at $1,000 to achieve GRAND CLUB. Ask past donors to increase their support from last year. Remember to Personalize your message. Remember to say Thank You to your Team and your Donors. 8
Canada Walk T-Shirt: Week 1 Put in your own contribution of $15 $15 Week 2 $30 Week 3 Ask a friend for $15 $45 Week 4 Ask a neighbor for $15 $60 Week 5 Ask a relative for $15 $75 Week 6 Ask your boss or a coworker for $15 $90 Week 7 Ask your doctor for $15 $105 Week 8 Ask your hairstylist or barber for $15 $120 Week 9 Ask your local merchant for $15 $135 Week 10 Ask your dentist for $15 $150 Total We re proud to recognize our great fundraisers every step of the way! 9
Optional Question: Billing John Smith Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Credit Card# Billing 123 Main Street 1234 1234 1234 1234 E-mail: City: E-mail: City: E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: john.smith@domain.com Visa M/C Amex Expiry: Expiry: E-mail: Billing Canada its ent Parties ) relating to or arising from my participation in the Event, including but not limited to personal injury. I recognize the Event has inherent risk of injury and I hereby assume that risk. If I cause injury to any person or damage to any property while participating in the Event, I hereby indemnify and hold harmless the Event Parties from and against any and all claims, suits, actions, loses, damages and expenses related to or arising from such injury or damage.i hereby give my consent to Autism Speaks Canada and its ncluding but not limited to the Internet, without compensation. I agree that no advertising or other material need be submitted to me for approval. I agree that all Photos of owned by Autism Speaks Canada and they may copyright material containing same. I hereby release, discharge, and agree to save harmless the Event Parties from liability, including, without limitation, any claims for libel or invasion of publicity/privacy, by virtue of any use of my name and/or Photos. City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: City: Prov: Postal Code: Expiry: Billing : Prov: Prov: Name on Card: Phone: Postal Code: Phone: Postal Code: Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone: Phone: Total Cash$ Total Cheque$ Total Credit Card $ Total $ Raised 416-555-1212 A1B 2C3 John A. Smith Total From All Pledge Forms: Thermometer Poster Available on each Walk page under Fundraising Tools to download and print from home. Location: Email: City/Prov/Postal Code: Team Online Pledge Form Available on each Walk page under Fundraising Tools to download and print from home or contact 1-888-362-6227. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Do you know anyone with autism Team Captain: spectrum disorder? Privacy Statement for pledge form: No Yes Self Family Other Autism Speaks Canada respects your privacy. The information collected here will be used to process your gift, Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada is our and issue a tax receipt and provide you with additional SINGLE MOST POWERFUL EVENT to raise information about the activities of Autism Speaks Canada. critically needed funds for research, services, advocacy and awareness. Donations Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Cash Cheque $ Waiver: I hereby waive and release, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, any and all rights, claims, liabilities and causes of action whatsoever I may have against Autism Speaks Signature TOTAL PAGE Ideas to Support Your Online Fundraising Efforts Personalize your fundraising page in the Participant Center. Share why you are raising money for Autism Speaks Canada through social media and by using #ascwalk and #AutismSpeaksCanada. Add a photo of yourself or the person you are honouring. Share a video talking about why you are walking. Email friends and family to ask for donations. 10
Corporate Matching Gift Ask your company to match the amount of pledges you receive from your co-workers. Garage Sale Spring and Fall are great times to clean out all those unwanted items and host a garage sale for your Walk team. Bake Sale - Host a bake sale with your friends or at your child s school. Keep the Change Turn your small change into additional dollars for your fundraising efforts. colleagues to raise funds for your team. Hand out fundraising envelopes and provide an award or incentive to the top fundraiser. Return Address Labels or Email Signature Print return address labels for your outgoing mail or add a tagline to your personal email with I m Walking for Autism Speaks Canada: Join or Donate Today and include your team link. Business Support Ask local restaurants or other local businesses to place a money jar at the front of their establishment. Happy Hour Party Invite all your friends (and their friends) to a happy hour and charge a small cover fee. Invite them to join your team or give additional donations. Birthday for a Cause Instead of gifts have your friends and family write a cheque to Autism Speaks Canada on your behalf. The Bill Collectors Ask your doctor, dentist, insurance agents, hair stylist, etc to write a cheque for you instead of the other way around! Gym Ask your gym to place a pledge jar at the front desk! Neighbourly Love explaining why you re raising money and ask them to donate. Karaoke Night Host a Karaoke night at your local bar and have people give donations to sing. PTO Days Ask your HR Dept. if you can donate your PTO time to your fundraising efforts and consider providing an company match! Ask a local store manager what the hot-selling item is and then ask if he or she would be willing to donate a percent of the sales from that particular item to your team. Curse Jar Always a favorite! Place a curse jar in the have to open up their wallet, grab a Loonie and put it in the jar. Company Grants Find out if your company offers grants to employees who volunteer their time for chariany volunteer activities, which we would be happy to provide. Community Bulletin Place an advertisement in your community newsletter letting teveryone know what you re up to! Or better yet, invite them to join you at the Walk. Schools Get your child s classroom or school to help you fundraise. Alumni Organizations Ask your own college or universityto make a donation or place an ad in their alumni newsletter about your philanthropic efforts. Ask for the Right Amount Don t miss the opportunity to increase your "ask" to a larger pledge when you think it is doable. Clubs and Organizations Send a solicitation letter to your local Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, etc. They support individuals in their communities. Get an article in your local paper Contact your local media outlet to share your human interest story about why you are walking. You can put in information about how people can contribute. And have a photo ready to go! *Be sure to obtain necessary approvals prior to implementation when appropriate. 11
What is the Grand Club The Grand Club is a special level of recognition for participants of Autism Speaks Canada Walk who raise $1,000 or more. How Can You Become a GRAND CLUB Member? 1. Show your commitment and contribute $100 2. Ask spouse/friend to match your donation $100 3. Ask your boss $100 4. Ask vendors/suppliers $100 5. Ask someone who has been affected by autism $50 6. Ask someone who has asked you for support $50 7. Ask everyone in a club or organization to donate (10 x $20 each) $200 8. Send a letter to your holiday card mailing list inviting friends to contribute $200 9. $100 Total $1,000 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 12
Team T-shirts and Signs Plan ahead! Order matching shirts from the Autism Speaks Canada Merchandise store at www.autismspeaks.ca/get-involved/merchandise/ Be creative! The more unique your shirt, the more your team will wear it year round. Stand Out! The best shirts are bright and colourful. Tell your story! Include the name or photo of the person or child for whom your team is walking in your design. Ask local companies to sponsor your team shirt! If they pick up the costs of the shirts, you can put their logo or name on it! 13
Q: Do I have to send in my donations? Can I bring them with me to the Walk? A: You can always bring your donations to the Walk, or you can mail them to: Autism Speaks Canada 2450 Victoria Avenue, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2J 4A2 Please submit the pledge forms with corresponding cheques to ensure proper credit. Q: Where do I get pledge forms? A: Pledge forms can be printed from each Walk page under Fundraising Tools. Q: Who should cheques be made payable to? A: Please ask your supporters to make cheques payable to Autism Speaks Canada. Q: What if my donors don t want to donate online? A: We can accept cash and cheques using a pledge form. Q: Will the money turned in before the Walk, at the Walk and after the Walk, show up on my webpage and my donation report? How long will it take? A: Absolutely. The corresponding pledge forms submitted along with your donations should Q: Is there a fee to participate? A: Autism Speaks Canada does not charge a registration fee to participate. However, all participants are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $150. Q: What happens if it rains on the day of the Walk? A: All Walks will be held on the date scheduled rain or shine. Q: What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? A: Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours. Q: What if people want to give me cash? A: Please use a pledge form to record cash donations. Pledge forms and cash can be turned in on Walk day at Registration. 14
1 month to walk 1 week to walk After the walk 15
People with autism may experience autism affects an estimated 1 66 in CHILDREN LIGHT COLOUR SOUND more intensely than everyone else. When in danger, nearly one third of people with autism may not be able to say: No two people with autism are the same.........not even twins! Their Name Phone Number Ask for Help