PROUD SUPPORTERS TOOLKIT 2014 NEW YORK CITY VETERANS DAY PARADE

PROUD SUPPORTERS TOOLKIT 2014 NEW YORK CITY VETERANS DAY PARADE

WELCOME MIKE DELANCEY WWP ALUMNUS MORE THAN A PROUD SUPPORTER: NOW YOU RE FAMILY. For the past decade, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has worked to honor and empower wounded veterans. We re thrilled you re taking action and hosting a community event or campaign that benefits Wounded Warrior Project by raising awareness, engaging your community, and raising funds to help provide lifesaving programs to warriors, their families, and caregivers. Proud Supporters are encouraged to develop their own dynamic campaigns. The enclosed materials will help you create a meaningful and unique initiative in support of WWP. To supplement this packet, please utilize the online Proud Supporter Community. You can access this through Rally the Troops. Please click on the link from your approval email and enter your login credentials to access Rally the Troops. You will then see the Proud Supporter Community tab in the top menu bar. The Proud Supporter Community provides helpful resources including templates to create your own event flyers and press releases. If you have any questions, please email events@woundedwarriorproject.org with your Event ID in the subject line, or call 855.252.4997. The WWP Community Events team welcomes you as a Proud Supporter of WWP!

ABOUT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT MISSION To honor and empower Wounded Warriors. VISION To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation s history. PURPOSE To raise awareness and enlist the public s aid for the needs of injured service members; to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. HISTORY WWP began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a desire to provide comfort items to wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has grown into a holistic, rehabilitative effort to assist warriors with visible and invisible wounds as they recover and transition back to civilian life. Tens of thousands of wounded service members, family members, and caregivers receive support each year through WWP programs and services. PROGRAMS Our 20 programs and services are designed to engage warriors, nurture their minds and bodies, and encourage their economic empowerment. Wounded service members, their families, and caregivers are provided comfort, care, and education. All programs are provided free of charge. WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT PROGRAMS: ENGAGEMENT ALUMNI INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT WWP PACKS WWP RESOURCE CENTER MIND COMBAT STRESS RECOVERY PROGRAM PROJECT ODYSSEY PEER SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM LONG-TERM SUPPORT TRUST BODY PHYSICAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SOLDIER RIDE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT BENEFITS SERVICE TRANSITION TRAINING ACADEMY WARRIORS TO WORK POLICY & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMUNITY INTEGRATION GRANTS Find out more about our programs and services at woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.

GETTING STARTED SET UP YOUR RALLY THE TROOPS PAGE Set up your Rally the Troops page by clicking on the link in your approval email. You will be prompted to set up an individual page. You then have the option to start a team or join another team if you wish. Team pages are designed to allow several individuals to fundraise through their own individual pages and have those funds tied to a team page. ACCESS THE PROUD SUPPORTER COMMUNITY The online site provides resources to customize your WWP event. Items include template flyers, press releases, and support documents helpful in planning and marketing your efforts. Once you are logged in to Rally the Troops, the Proud Supporter Community tab is located in the top menu bar. RALLY THE TROOPS Rally the Troops is your customizable fundraising page. You have the ability to create a page using your event name, time, date, and description rallying your supporters to donate online in one centralized location. All donations submitted through your Rally the Troops page go directly to WWP and will be reflected in your total donation. ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITY Now that you ve accessed the Proud Supporter Community and created your Rally the Troops page, it s time for you to start spreading the word about your event to your community. Remember to acknowledge potential supporters of your event: friends, family members, schools, co-workers, or local businesses. Life University WWP Student Ambassadors Norris Golberg, Ryan Klopfler, and Ty Carzoli celebrate a job well done after hosting their powerlifting event to benefit WWP.

Visit the Proud Supporter Community for access to exclusive templates and resources for hosting a successful fundraising campaign. FUNDRAISING & EVENT TIPS SET A GOAL Establish a fundraising goal for each person or team participating in your event. Once each team sets its goals, it s time to spread the word about your event. SPREAD THE WORD AND SHARE YOUR GOAL Engage community members, local media, friends, family, and co-workers with your campaign or event. Don t forget to include your Rally the Troops page link in your communications. Ask local businesses if they would like to donate to your auction or raffle, or through your Rally the Troops online fundraising page. UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook facebook.com/wwp Post a link to your Rally the Troops page on your social media pages. Utilize WWP social post templates and cover photos available in the Proud Supporter Community. Instagram instagram.com/wwp Ask your friends to donate a post about your event. Establish a catchy hashtag for your event. PICK UP THE PHONE Ask your friends, family, and local businesses the old-fashioned way.

HOST YOUR OWN RAFFLE OR AUCTION Before organizing your raffle or auction, be sure to check your state s local laws and regulations. Gather items to include in a silent auction or raffle to be held on-site at your event. POPULAR ITEMS TO RAFFLE: Memorabilia Gift cards Experiences WHERE TO GENERATE GEAR FOR YOUR AUCTION OR RAFFLE: Your job Local businesses Your garage, basement, or closet CREATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Local businesses likely want to support your efforts and raise awareness in the community. Offer incentives to local businesses in exchange for a donation. It is up to you to decide what each sponsorship level will look like. Be creative and have fun. IDEAS FOR SPONSORSHIP WOULD INCLUDE: Gift-in-kind opportunities Signage at your event Speaking opportunities On-site engagement at your event The Ponte Vedra Patriots are proud to support warriors through WWP Lacrosse.

BEST PRACTICES USE OF THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT LOGO Although we provide WWP-branded materials featuring our logo, available in the Proud Supporter Community, you may not create your own materials using WWP trademarks. SUBMITTING A DONATION BY CHECK TO WWP To submit a check donation to WWP, please download and print the Event Donation Tracking Form sent in your original approval email. Be sure to fill in the total event funds raised. When submitting offline donations, please: Mail all checks together in one envelope containing your Event Donation Tracking Form and your Event ID number. All checks should be made payable to Wounded Warrior Project and the envelope should be addressed to: Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758525 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8525 ATTN: Community Events REGISTRATION INFORMATION We encourage you to register your event with us each year so we can assist you with your efforts and provide updated materials. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions, please email events@woundedwarriorproject.org. Be sure to include your Event Name and Event ID # in the subject line. The World s Largest Golf Outing hosted by Billy Casper Golf is one of the most successful Proud Supporter events to date, unifying hundreds of golf properties and players around the WWP mission.