Nonprofit organizations typically set fundraising goals for each of their special events, even before the planning committees are formed. These goals are needed so that budgets and plans for the future can be set. A significant amount of research and predictions can go into setting these goals to ensure they are challenging but achievable.

But I don’t believe these goals should be used to manage the charity walk event. I believe there are problems with giving the charity walk committee the fundraising goals.

You want the committee members to own the goals. They will be more motivated to achieve the goals. The best way to do this is for the committee to discuss and determine their own goals.

Also, the goals of the organization may not take into account the enthusiasm of the volunteers who lead the event. By allowing the committee to set their own goals, even higher goals might be set that will exceed all expectations. The walk committee could be held back from their potential if goals are imposed on them.

Empower your charity walk committee to set their destiny and be their best. The ultimate results may surprise you.

Thanks,

Photo credit: Bob Smith

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Who Sets Your Charity Walk Goals?

Technorati Tags: charity walk, charity walks, fundraising goals, planning committees, walk event

Have you ever been to a meeting that you didn’t know anyone in attendance? It can be very scary and awkward. For some, it can seem just as scary as going to the dentist!

The first charity walk committee meeting can be just as scary for new members.  It is important that there is a way for each member to quickly participate, have fun, and start building relationships with the other team members.

There are many ice breakers that can be used to get everyone having a great time and to encourage talking with each other.  One simple one is to have each member tell why he or she chose to be involved in this special event.  There are many possible reasons to participate. Here are just a few:

• Personal connection with the cause
• Wants to make a difference
• Asked by a friend
• Earn credits for school
• Learn and practice a new skill

As each person describes why they are involved, write it down. It is likely to provide important clues about the best role the person can contribute and how to best motivate and recognize the person.

Start the planning for your next charity walk off right. Find ways to help your committee members to work together as a team and be excited about their contributions. Make your next charity walk the best event ever!

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Ice Breaker for Your First Charity Walk Planning Meeting

Technorati Tags: building relationships, charity walk, ice breakers

Your volunteers and staff members need to be readily identified. There are a number of reasons why this is important. Here are just a few:

• Someone has a question about the charity walk
• A person is hurt and needs immediate attention
• A participant wants to become a volunteer for future events

Make sure your volunteers can be easily found. How can you make this happen? Here are a couple of ways:

• Have your volunteers wear unique hats, shirts, armbands or buttons that help distinguish them from other participants
• Establish a volunteer station that is staffed throughout the charity event and marked with large signs

Doing this at your next charity walk will help improve the experience of your walkers and let your volunteers know they are valued. This is a terrific combination.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Do Your Charity Walk Volunteers Stand Out In a Crowd?

Technorati Tags: arthritis walk, Charity Event, charity walk, charity walks, Volunteers, Walkers

Statistics show there is significant traffic and that those visitors spend significant time on this website. These are great indicators that the website is useful. However, most visitors are not engaged with this blog through comments and sharing blog posts with colleagues and friends. There is definitely room for improvement and I want you to help me discover the best ways I can make improvements.

Here is all that you need to do: Imagine you will be planning a walk in the next year and then fill out the short survey below. No experience necessary!

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

What Charity Walk Information Do You Want To See?

Technorati Tags: Blog, charity walk, charity walks, questionnaire, short survey

What Makes a Great Location for Charity Walks

This approach to choosing the location comes from the perspective of having the site made available to you as an “in-kind donation.” But what if you considered the possibility of a teaming or partnership relationship with site owners?

Hosting a charity walk can bring positive attention and new, potential customers to a business. The success of the charity walk will not only be important to the nonprofit organization, but to the site owner as well. The sharing of important contacts, ideas, and resources can significantly increase the promotion of the charity walk as well as make the charity event much better than if the nonprofit organization planned it on its own.

When considering a location for your next charity walk, don’t just make your decision based on the physical merits of the site itself. Consider whether this site owner would have an interest in helping you make your charity event the best ever.

What charity walk location criteria do you consider the most important?

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Charity Walk Location Secrets

Technorati Tags: arthritis walk, Charity Event, charity walks, Hosting, Kind Donation, Location Criteria, Many Things, Merits, Nonprofit Organization, Optimal Location, Partnership Relationship, Perspective, Success, Walkers

Animated video can be fun to watch and be different enough to harness some of the needed attention. The tools to create these videos now make the creation of these videos easy. In the time you write a short article, you could have an animated video ready for distribution.

Today I created the movie below using the tools available at http://www.xtranormal.com. Let me know what you think of the movie and the use of these type of products for promoting charity walks.

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Promote Charity Walks with Xtranormal Animated Movies

Technorati Tags: Animated Movies, charity walk, charity walks, social networks, xtranormal, YouTube

Margo participating at Arthritis College in 2009

Arthritis doesn’t just touch the elderly. It reaches out and affects our youth as well. Rather than me telling you about juvenile arthritis, I want you to hear it directly from someone who lives it every day.

There is no one better to discuss the impact of juvenile arthritis than my friend Margo Deihl. She is an amazing high school senior. Although she has already had to live with the pain of arthritis for many years, she has not let it stop her from excelling in many ways.

I’ve asked Margo a few questions about her life with arthritis and her efforts to fight the disease. She was very open with her answers to make this a very interesting and informative interview.

Many people don’t realize kids are affected by arthritis. How big is juvenile arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis is so much larger than the average person would think. Arthritis in general affects 50 million Americans, which is about 1 in 5 people. Out of this group, approximately 300,000 arthritis patients are children! I believe that a very important part of advocacy with the National Arthritis Foundation is showing the legislators that this is more than an “old-person disease,” but affects the future of America. I think this misconception accounts for the fact that it took fourteen doctors to diagnose me with an overlap of scleroderma and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). Juvenile arthritis is definitely not the first thought that comes to mind when an eight year old girl’s hand is swollen and in pain!

I understand you have suffered from arthritis since a very young age. What was life like then and how were you able to cope?

I started showing symptoms of arthritis at age 8 and was diagnosed at age 9. Before being diagnosed with arthritis, I like to think of myself as a “champion” of the monkey bars in elementary school and I was even involved in gymnastics. I started playing the piano at age 3 and violin at age 5. What had been easy and fun tasks soon became very difficult, as I ran the mile for school one day and could not walk the next day.

I soon realized through involvement with the Arthritis Foundation that I needed to look beyond my disability and see my capabilities as a young girl as well as an aspiring musician. If I had given up the fight against my arthritis at a young age, I know I would not be where I am today! Through many prayers and the help of many medications, I have been able to cope very well with my arthritis!

How has your life with arthritis changed over the years since then?

I have been doing very well and am improving so much. I used to take 64 pills each week and now am taking less than 20 per week! I still go to hand therapy and have routine blood work done as well as routine doctor visits. I continue to play my instruments and am about to enter college!

I will be attending James Madison University (JMU) as a biology major and music minor. I have the goal to become a pediatric doctor and I know that I will be able to use my struggles with arthritis to relate to my young patients. I believe that arthritis will help me become a better professional in the field of medicine since I will so easily be able to relate to the children in my care.

Although I still have many rough days in between all of the good ones, I have come such a long way and I am so thankful that the Arthritis Foundation has been behind me and my family every step of the way!

You are a dedicated advocate and volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation. Why do you consider it important to support the Arthritis Foundation?

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading organization dedicated to the health and wellness of arthritis patients in the United States. The Arthritis Foundation gave my family information and direction after I was diagnosed and continually opens up opportunities to get involved in various fundraising activities.

It is so important to give back because of the hope that the Arthritis Foundation gave to my family when we were completely lost. I came to a turning point when I recognized that the big family known as the Arthritis Foundation needed help too, not just me and my family. I consider it a blessing and honor to be able to affiliate myself with such a caring organization that is truly there for every arthritis patient seeking direction and the comfort of knowing that you are not in this fight alone!

What are some of the ways you have been able to support the Arthritis Foundation and the cause to fight arthritis?

One can always find ways to get involved with the Arthritis Foundation. I have been an Arthritis Walk team captain for many years now and that fundraiser truly helps to get your community on-board with funding new arthritis research! I have been able to get my classmates at my school involved as well as neighbors, friends, church, and family. I have also visited Capitol Hill three times advocating for the cause, where I spoke directly to my Congressmen and their legislative staff. That way, my legislators can hear my personal story and put a new face to the disease and know that when they agree to support the arthritis legislation, they are helping my future! I was told by my Representative that I directly influenced his decision to cosponsor the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act. It is in moments like that that I realize that speaking out for the cause of arthritis is never in vain!

Is there something you would like to say to those who are thinking about supporting the Arthritis Foundation?

When I was first diagnosed with arthritis, my family did not know where to turn. It was the moment that my doctor showed us the Arthritis Foundation that my family was introduced to a much bigger family – The Arthritis Foundation. The Foundation immediately took us under their wing as we attended our first Juvenile Arthritis Conference the summer after my diagnosis. We have learned so much because of the Foundation and I have recognized a very important thing: I am not alone. The Foundation has offered me hope and has educated my family about the latest treatments and what we can do to make a difference for the lives of others suffering from the disease. I would say that it is such a worthy cause and is truly an investment in America’s today and America’s future.

Is there anything else you would like to say that I haven’t asked you about?

Well, one mindset that I have kept throughout the process of dealing with my arthritis on a daily basis is that arthritis is a blessing. Many people suffering from the debilitating disease may question that and disagree. But over the years, I have seen so many opportunities open up for me to share my personal story with arthritis and be an inspiration to others. I know that arthritis is more than a blessing than a hindrance to my abilities because I have had so many opportunities to travel to Arthritis Foundation events that have given me the chance to share my personal story!

When you support the Arthritis Foundation, you are helping millions of people of all ages. Please go to http://www.charitywalksblog.com/arthritiswalk and join me in supporting the Arthritis Foundation in their fight against arthritis.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Living a Life with Arthritis

Technorati Tags: Advocacy, arthritis foundation, Fundraising, Juvenile Arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Margo Deihl

This week the women of AOII Rho Beta Chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) stopped by the Arthritis Foundation’s Virginia office. They had a surprise to drop off. They donated an amazing quilt for us to use in support of the 2011 Arthritis Walk at Kings Dominion.

Recently we contacted AOII requesting volunteers to help on the day of the walk. They eagerly agreed! We were excited about their willingness to help. We didn’t expect their creativity to kick in to find other ways to support the event (but we are glad they did).

What would have happened if we didn’t contact AOII? Among other things, we would be short one fabulous quilt that we can now use to raise additional funds to support the Arthritis Foundation in their fight against arthritis.

It seems like there is at least one or more surprises every year from people and companies who find new ways to support our local Arthritis Walk.

Do your best to spread the word to everyone in your area about your charity walk. Don’t automatically limit the ways potential participants can support your event. You just might receive some surprises as well!

Thanks,

p.s. Please leave a comment about any surprises you have given or received in support of a charity walk.

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Spread the Word About Your Charity Walks and Be Surprised

Technorati Tags: Arthritis, arthritis foundation, charity walks, Creativity, kings dominion, rho beta chapter, vcu, Virginia Commonwealth University, Volunteers

I initially got involved with the Arthritis Foundation because my wife suffers from several forms of arthritis. Since that time, I have learned that kids get arthritis too. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation says there are nearly 300,000 children under the age of 18 affected by juvenile arthritis.

I am supporting the Arthritis Foundation in their fight against arthritis. Please consider being a part of my efforts at the Richmond Arthritis Walk through your donation at http://www.charitywalksblog.com/arthritiswalk/.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Arthritis Affects Kids Too!

Technorati Tags: Arthritis, arthritis foundation, arthritis walk, Juvenile Arthritis

This accident demonstrates there are situations that can make walking hazardous. You might not be able to stop your walkers from being distracted like the Fountain Lady. But there are many safety situations you do have influence over.

Make safety a top priority when you plan your charity walk.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Safety First at Charity Walks

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Embarrassing Moment, Texting, Walkers