Walk to create a world free of MS. Fundraising Guide and Toolkit Inside!

Walk to create a world free of MS. Fundraising Guide and Toolkit Inside!

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE MOVEMENT! On behalf of the more than 100,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming affected by MS, thank you for registering for the 2014 Wells Fargo Walk MS. Participating in Walk MS and fundraising is a great way for you to get involved and be a part of ending MS forever. We want you to succeed and we are here for you whether you want help starting a new team or increasing your fundraising. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like more information: CO: 303-698-7470 WY: 307-433-9590 Kind Regards, Amanda Peterson Walk MS Manager - Denver amanda.peterson@nmss.org Kaylin Daniels Fundraising & Teams Manager kaylin.daniels@nmss.org

Walk MS 2014 Your Walk MS Welcome Packet includes: 3 4 5-8 9 10 12 Walk MS 2014 Event Dates 2014 Colorado-Wyoming Chapter Events Fundraising Guide and Toolkit Competitions, Prizes and Fundraising Clubs NEW Donation Tracking Form Request Fundraising Materials STAY CONNECTED walkmscolorado.org walkmswyoming.org 2

Walk MS 2014 Event Dates TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A WORLD FREE OF MS. * New Location! New Route! See insert for details WYOMING Laramie Gillette Cheyenne Casper * Rock Springs Cody April 12 April 12 April 26 May 10 May 17 June 7 COLORADO Denver Grand Junction Northern Colorado Pueblo * Boulder County Colorado Springs Glenwood Springs May 3 May 3 May 10 May 10 May 17 May 17 May 17 3

2014 Colorado-Wyoming Chapter Events Bike MS: a two-day inspirational ride covering 150 miles through rolling hills and captivating scenery. Imagine the sense of accomplishment you ll feel as you cross the finish line. For more information visit: bikemscolorado.org bikemswyoming.org CO: June 28-29, 2014 WY: August 16-17, 2014 Hike MS: enjoy beautiful mountain scenery while making great strides towards a cure. Hike routes are designed for all skill levels to change your altitude about MS. Learn more at hikems.com July 26, 2014 MuckFest MS: a mucky romp through mud and obstacles in support of a world free of multiple sclerosis. This course features a gauntlet of muck-filled mazes, pits and craters with over twenty gigantic steel obstacles. Learn more at muckfestms.com September 13, 2014 MS on the Move Luncheon: Join the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society for an extraordinary fundraising event that funds critical research and programs and services for those affected by multiple sclerosis. September 9, 2014 4

Fundraising Guide and Toolkit anatomy of a Fundraising Letter 5 Use a letter to ask for support or as a follow-up after a face-to-face meeting. Following the anatomy here is sure to whip your letter into shape! Head Tell it like it is Make your letter personal by using first names, then briefly describe what you are trying to accomplish. No more than two sentences at most! Heart Where it s at Share your personal reasons for participating and your connection to multiple sclerosis. Your story is the best way to get people engaged and convince them to support you. Hands A hands on approach State your fundraising goal and ask for a specific donation. Make it easy for them to donate by directing them to your personal fundraising page. Don t forget to thank donors for past contributions and let them know that you appreciate them!

Some basic tips to get you started Eyes Hey Good Lookin Pictures speak a thousand words, so use a photo from a past event or just a headshot of yourself to break up the text and make the email more fun and personalized! Legs Go the Distance Sign the letter with your relation to the reader - Your Friend, Your Neighbor, Your Husband... you get the idea. Make sure to thank them for partnering with you to help to end MS forever! Visit walkmsco-wy.org and log in to your Participant Center where you can manage your account information, edit your personal fundraising page, e-mail donors, follow your team s progress and access more online tools. Stuck? Six Great Fundraising Ideas 1 2 3 Special Events: Ask guests to make a donation to the National MS Society in lieu of gifts at your next birthday party or anniversary. Matching Gifts: Many large companies have a matching gifts program just ask your HR department for an application and double the dollars you raise! Restaurant Night: Ask your favorite restaurant to donate a percentage of their sales for one day to your fundraising efforts. Invite everyone you to eat, drink and support your fundraising efforts. CONTINUED 6

Fundraising Guide and Toolkit 4 5 6 Cook Off: People love good food and healthy competition! Charge an entry fee and have attendees vote for their favorite chili, sliders or cookies! Reward cooks for best tasting, best-looking and most creative recipes. Game/Poker Night: Charge an entrance fee to raise money and give winners prizes donated by your favorite shops, restaurants and bars. Silent Auction: You and your guests can eat, drink and bid on awesome items you got donated from your favorite shops, restaurants and bars. Team Captain tips for Success 7 Customize your team page to keep your team organized and energized. Set a team goal to motivate your team and give you a benchmark for success. Invite people to visit your participant center where they can see why you walk and how they can participate. Get to know each other. Train together, grab coffee, eat dinner or host a fundraiser. Maximize corporate team success by recruiting co-captains from different departments. Mass e-mails rarely get attention. Personally ask people to join your team. Send team updates every couple of weeks. Use social media to your advantage! Use Facebook to organize fundraising events and Tweet about how awesome your team is. Change your profile picture to the event logo. Build excitement by making team T-shirts for event day and hosting a dinner before your event. Lead by example! Make a self-donation then set a fundraising goal and exceed it. Your teammates will follow your example.

Want more fundraising tips, tricks and ideas? Download our Fundraising Guide and Toolkit at walkmsco-wy.org or e-mail coloradowalkms@nmss.org or wyomingwalkms@nmss.org to request a copy. 8

Competitions, Prizes and Fundraising Clubs Get rewarded for your hard work. See what prizes you can earn and determine your fundraising goal. Shoot for the Top 100 or Peak Feet clubs! Walk MS T-shirt: All Walk MS fundraisers who turn in at least $100 by Walk Day will receive an official T-shirt. Walk MS Fundraising Prizes: Reach the following fundraising totals by August 9, 2014 to qualify for a gift certificate to the Walk MS Store; you can also choose to donate your prize back to the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter and become a Mission First Member instead. If you raise $250 you will have the option to select a $25 gift certificate If you raise $500 you will have the option to select a $50 gift certificate If you raise $750 you will have the option to select a $75 gift certificate If you raise $1,000 you will have the option to select a $100 gift certificate 9

NEW! Donation Tracking Form Use this form to track your donations. Fill out all information completely and return the enclosed donation envelope with your donations. Donations can be turned in on event day at the registration tent or mailed to: National MS Society, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, PO Box 172685, Denver, CO 80217-2685. My fundraising goal is _ Participant Name Address City State Zip Phone ( ) E-mail walkmscolorado.org walkmswyoming.org Team Name I m walking in (event location)

Donation Name Address & Phone Number Total Deposit: FUNDRAISER To properly credit your account, please include a completed Donation Form with each donation deposit made by mail to the P.O. Box or physically turn in at the Colorado-Wyoming office of the National MS Society. For all donations submitted the day of event, complete the information on the donation envelope, place donations inside the envelope, seal and turn in to the appropriate table at registration. Mail donations to: Walk MS National MS Society P.O. Box 172685 Denver, CO 80217. DONORS All donations are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Canceled checks are sufficient IRS proof for donations less than $250. For donations over $250, a tax receipt will be mailed to the donor. Please make checks payable to National MS Society and include the participant s name and Walk MS site in the memo section of each check. Questions? CO: 303-698-7470 ext. 2 WY: 307-433-9590

Request Fundraising Materials We have tools available to help you reach your Walk MS fundraising goal. Materials Available: Registration Forms Donation Forms Donation Receipts Event Posters Business Cards Fundraising Guide and Toolkit We have included a business card to get you started. walk to create a world free of MS. walk to create a world free of MS. Email materials request and questions to coloradowalkms@nmss.org: Please include your full name, mailing address, walk site, and the quantities of each item you d like to receive. 12

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter MS Navigators are available for personalized assistance through our Information Resource Center Monday- Friday 7AM-5PM (MST) Information. Education. Support. Any stage. Any need. Any time. What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system by disrupting the flow of information from the brain to the body. It has no known cause and no known cure. Symptoms vary from person to person, making it hard to diagnose. MS generally strikes in the prime of life ages 20-50 and women are diagnosed with MS two to three times more often than men. Colorado and Wyoming have one of the highest incidences of MS in the nation. About the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter We are a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. Every year we help more than 100,000 people affected by MS in Colorado and Wyoming move their lives forward. We raise funds locally to support the Society s cutting-edge research and to provide comprehensive programs and support services for people living with MS, their family members, friends, employers, caregivers and health care professionals. MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn t.

Chances are you know someone living with multiple sclerosis. Get Connected We are here to help everyone affected by MS. Education We offer a variety of programs to inform, educate and empower you. Our Experts Answers, solutions, resources and referrals for people living with MS. Resources Access to professional staff to help you along the way. Connect Social programs and support groups exploring issues that shape your world. Research STOP disease progression, RESTORE function, and END MS forever. Advocacy Creating policy changes that benefit people affected by MS. Volunteer Opportunities that meet your schedule, skills and interests. curemsco-wy.org 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867)

We have offices across Colorado and Wyoming with professional staff who know your community. Get connected today. Denver Metro Office 900 S Broadway, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80209 Western Colorado Office 521 Rood Ave, Suite B Grand Junction, CO 81501 Northern Colorado Office 1525 Riverside Ave, Suite A Fort Collins, CO 80524 Southern Colorado Office 611 N Weber, Suite 101 Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Cheyenne Wyoming Office 2112 Evans Ave Cheyenne, WY 82001 Casper Wyoming Office Petroleum Bldg, Suite 103 111 West 2nd St Casper, WY 82601 STAY CONNECTED facebook.com/nmssco.wy twitter.com/nmsscowy follow us on Instagram @NMSScowy youtube.com/nmsscoloradowyoming curemsco-wy.org 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867) flickr.com/nmss_co-wy MSconnection.org