This Week’s Fundraising Tip: Auction Off

‘One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.’ Why not use this to your advantage? Holding an auction featuring your gently-used items is a great way to get people together and raise a little money.

This week’s fundraising tip is to collect those treasures that you are ready to part with and put them up for bid! Here’s an example of how to do it: get your team mates to gather their gently-used purses, maybe grab a few decent cheap ones, and set the date for the auction. Invite co-workers, friends, family members, and neighbours, sell them tickets for a flat rate and let the bidding begin! Holding an auction is a great way to raise some funds as a team, spread the word about why you are walking, and get rid of those purses you never use!

It doesn’t have to be purses. Maybe you are handy at knitting, and can auction off some hand knit items, or perhaps you have some barely used tools. Just remember that the auction should cost extremely little, if anything at all.

An extra bonus: you get to practice your auctioneer voice and get your spring cleaning done early while fundraising for your MS Walk team!

Not yet registered? Click here to register for your local MS Walk.

Let us know on the MS Walk Facebook or the MS Walk Twitter page if you try this tip!

How to Double Your Fundraising Dollars Instantly!

Once you have asked all of your friends and family for donations, it may be hard to determine where to look next to raise additional funds. Or, maybe you've simply set a goal to challenge yourself this year, earning yourself an official MS Walk Tech Tee by raising a minimum of a $1000 and you are now asking yourself how you might be able to instantly double that amount and reach the $2000 level, where you'll receive an Elite Feet Club official MS Walk Vest!

Over the past few weeks, we have been posting various fundraising tips to help you meet or beat your goal. (see the end of this post for links to past tips) Today, we'd like to tell you about matching gifts.

You stand behind your company, now ask them to stand behind you and your cause! Contact your Human Resources department to find out if your company has a corporate matching gifts program. If they do, all that may be required from you is to secure and complete a form to turn in with your pledges – an easy way to double your total!

You can also then encourage your donors to ask their own companies for matching gift forms; many donors will not be aware of this as an option.

Remember that even if your company does not have a matching gift program, they may still be willing to financially support your efforts. Corporate donations are a great opportunity for any organization to show their support for their employees and their causes, such as the fight to end MS.

Ask your Human Resources department about your company’s matching gifts program today!

Not yet registered? Join us in the movement to end MS, register now for the 2011 MS Walk.   

You can also connect with us via Facebook and Twitter.

Click to view at past fundraising tip: Tip #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11

Fundraising Tip of the Week: Use the Snow Blues.

Now that winter has settled in, people tend to get tired of continually shoveling snow, so why not lend a hand? Shoveling driveways, sidewalks, or walk ways is a great way to help out people in your community as well as raise money for the MS Walk. Offer to assist, or even shovel your neighbours’ driveways for a donation to your MS Walk team and the MS Society of Canada. People may be very grateful for the offer, and will be more willing to make a donation to the MS Walk. Shoveling snow is a good excuse to get out there, meet your neighbors, lend a helpful hand and raise pledges!

Are you a snow fan? Why not get your team, community, friends or family together and have a snow art contest! You can host this contest however you wish, perhaps charging a contestant fee, an entrance fee, or even a voting fee on favorite sculptures. This could also be a nice opportunity to sell hot chocolate to keep your artists and patrons warm as they play. The snow is at your disposal, so go on out, and enjoy the blanket of white as you spread the word about the MS Walk!

Not yet registered? Click here to register for your local MS Walk.

Let us know on the MS Walk Facebook or the MSWalk Twitterpage if you try this tip!

All for One and One for All. We Walk to End MS!

 " I walk so I can make a difference, so I can be the change I wish to see in the world."

These are the inspiring words of Charlotte Crombeen, diagnosed with MS at the young age of 15. 

Please note that these are not the words of a young idealist, these are the words of a passionate and dedicated individual. Can you transcend just reading these words and actually feel the emotions expressed within them? 

If you’ve ever participated in an MS Walk than you most definitely are right now.

The essence of this quote has been expressed over & over through a beautiful diversity of individual thoughts, words and direct actions over the last 20 years, by thousands of participants who are never shy or hesitant to highlight their unflinching determination and deepest conviction that we will indeed end MS in our lifetime. 

 "Together we walk for all those who can't. Together we walk for those who aren't able to live their dreams. Together, we walk to end MS."  

- Nancy & Larry Lester (pictured right)
 
Although we’ve all made this a personal commitment, it is in fact a community affair. In essence, it is “all for one and one for all.”

Whether you’ve been participating since our inaugural MS Walk in 1991 or you are simply joining us for your first walk this spring, all participants come to realize the exhilaration of being a part of something bigger than themselves and playing a pivotal role in directing a meaningful course of change for tens of thousands of MS sufferers in Canada and millions globally.

It matters not if you walk in silence honouring  the memory of a loved one, or if you’re part of one of our more exuberant  TeamMS teams full of friends and supportive colleagues, we all come to realize that we are part of a much larger community, both literally and metaphorically. 

" We walk because it is a very special experience to be a part of. Surrounded by friends and family, supporting one another you realize you are not alone. We realize we are not the only ones living with this disease and that together we will find a cure."

-          Jim & Melissa Pourgoutzidis

We therefore cordially invite you all, newcomers and seasoned soles/souls alike, to experience the power of coming together with friends and family, with your community and leaving your footprints on the pavement, transforming and repositioning MS into a simple shadow of our collective past, a historical footnote.

We invite you to join the 2011 MS Walk because it is about much, much more than simply raising money. It is about raising the spirits of each and every person who has ever had to hear those three words: “You have MS.”

In the near horizon we will one day respond together in unison, with unwavering confidence, our own three words: “We’ve ended MS!”

All for one. One for all. We walk…

This Week's Fundraising Tip: Play Games

Sometimes the best way to raise a little money is to play a little game, such as the ole Guessing Game. It’s simple yet effective. All you need to do is a get a jar and fill it with something, anything, as long as it requires a large number to fill the whole jar. A popular and delicious option is jelly beans! Place your jar in a conspicuous location such as a display case at a school or a lunch room at work so everyone can see. Place a sign in front (and in other areas you can think of) encouraging people to guess the number of whatever is in the jar and stating that the proceeds are going towards the MS Walk. Then choose an amount to charge people per guess, and devise a system to keep track of who guessed what. After your allotted time frame (i.e. a week) everyone gets to eat the contents (if it is candy), or you can give the jar to whoever had the closest guess. It’s easy and when there’s candy to share in the end, everyone wins!

Not yet registered? Click here to register for your local MS Walk!

Let us know on the MS Walk Facebook page and the MSWalk Twitter page if you try this tip!

This Week’s Fundraising Tip: Start Your Own Team

If you’re a seasoned walker, or even a new walker, why not try starting your own team! It’s easy to get started. Just gather three or more friends, family members, or co-workers and start fundraising. Team members are eligible for special offers and prizes! Plus individuals on a team tend to raise more then those who are not. Click here to register your team today!

Here are a few tips for a creating a successful team:
• Build a network. Ask your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers to join the team
• Keep your team informed. Pass on newsletters and emails to keep your members motivated and inspire them to recruit others
• Create a fun atmosphere for your team before and after the event
• Do fundraisers as a team
• Come up with a team name, and wear team hats or shirts to identify yourselves

Not yet registered? Click here to register for your local Walk.

Let us know on the MS Walk Facebook page or the MS Walk twitter page if you try this tip!

Register a Team for a Chance to Win!

January 10-14, 2011 is Team Captain Registration Week! This means we’re offering a great incentive to register a full team of four before January 15: team captains are automatically entered win a $200 gift certificate for a spa of your choice.

Having a tough time figuring out how to recruit team members? Here are a few ideas:

• Let people know you are participating in an MS Walk by indicating so on your email signature and adding a ‘Join Me’ link so they too can sign up.

• Host an MS Walk registration day at your office or a registration event at your house.

• Invite your friends and family members on Facebook.

• Have information about the MS Walk with you when you go out so you can ask friends and acquaintances you meet to join you.

For more tips and tools to help build and fundraise as a team, contact Maygan Motley at maygan.motley@mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 ext. 3150.

Register by January 31 for your Chance to Win!

Anyone who registers for the 2011 MS Walk in Ontario by January 31 is entered to win one of two awesome prizes:

A pair of airline tickets to anywhere in continental North America! Take that trip you’ve been dreaming about.

One of ten iPod nanos! Now you can have your favourite music at your fingertips with a nano!

 Visit our website for full contest details and don’t forget to tell your friends!

This Week’s Fundraising Tip: How to Raise $500 in 9 Days

With the New Year now upon us, why not make this year’s resolution to reach your fundraising goal? Aim to raise $500 dollars for the MS Walk within the next two weeks! By raising $500 dollars you receive $40 in gift cards and an official MS Walk t-shirt for your fundraising. Click here to check out all the great prizes you can earn!

This may seem like an ambitious goal, however, it is quite simple!

Here is a quick way to earn $500 dollars in just 9 days!

Day 1: Sponsor yourself $25
Day 2: Ask two family members to sponsor you $25 each: $75
Day 3: Ask five friends to contribute $20 each: $175
Day 4: Ask five co-workers to contribute $10 each: $225
Day 5: Ask five neighbours to contribute $10 each: $275
Day 6: Ask five people from you social or sports group to contribute $10 each: $325
Day 7: Ask your boss for a company contribution of $25 each: $350
Day 8: Ask five local merchants to sponsor you $20 each: $450
Day 9: Ask two businesses you frequent (doctor, health club) for $25 each: $500

Not yet registered? Click here to register for your local MS Walk.

Let us know on the MS Walk Facebook page and the MSWalk Twitter page if you try this tip!