? for all 2005 WAT Coordinators

[rachel a]

How did you get sponsors? What was your approach? Any info you have will be great.

Seems the most daunting task for me was getting sponsors. I spent days and days on the telephone and then doing all of the following up. Is it better to make these requests in person?

Also, length of walk...Last year we did the whole 5K and it seemed that quite a few people got winded. Should we stick to the 5K?? I considered moving the walk to a track and letting people walk 5K around the track that way if they decided they couldn't hack it, they could always sit down and watch the rest of us.

Comments please!

[akemt]

The moderator in my just can't leave this hanging without a response...even though I have absolutely nothing to add of any help!

Though, there was a 5K race locally that also did a 1 mile walk at the same time. You just picked which you wanted to do when you registered, but everyone paid the same ammount and got a t-shirt. Maybe you could do something along those lines? The track idea could work, but I would imagine it wouldn't get the kidn of publicity and on-lookers that a walk through town would, kwim?

Best of luck this year!

[kdreher]

I wrote letters/emails to some companies explaining the cause and others I called. I asked for donations like food, water, gift certificates and freebies.

[rachel a]

Kris,

How effective was this technique for you? Do you happen to have copies of the letters for reference?

Maybe we could create a letter for all coordinators so that our efforts are combined and we can stop (cliche, sorry!) reinventing the wheel. Maybe even create WAT Coordinator packets! Okay, it's late and I'm dreaming outside my box!

Thanks!

[lorelei]

I would really like to get a walk going for our area, but having never done anything like this it just seems like such a daunting task~

I think coordinator packets w/a list of steps of what to do first, etc would help everyone out!

[rachel a]

Lori,

I totally agree! I did a walk last year and the task is still daunting, doable, but daunting. I tell you girl...I really did have a blast! If you plan every little thing so that you can enjoy the walk (delegate authority to multiple persons so you're not running around like a wild goose), then things are great!!!

I do agree, we should work on a packet! I'm sure Jaime will get back on this after the holiday!

You can do it girl! PROMISE!

[lorelei]

Thanks Rachel! I may give it a try. I am sure that I can find some people that would be willing to help...It may even be the I talk w/Meg and see if we would want to do one in the Upstate here..

I do think packets would be a great idea though. I am willing to give it a shot and see how it goes.

[molly419]

Rachel-
I agree, most most frustrating part of the walk was to get sponsors! We had a few that donated food/items, which was great, but I got zippo for monatary donations. An example letter or pointers from the more experinced would be great!
Also, newspapers/media coverage was also an area that I did not get too far in...any suggestions would be great also!

[rachel a]

Agree, agree! Monetary donations =headache + NO!

I too was able to get water, doughnuts, signs, and other similar items donated. Money was an absolute disaster. Except I had one bank send me a $20 check! I know every little bit counts, but c'mon!

Maybe we can get something worked out and we can better share ideas this year!

[aimeejane]

Rachel, sponsorship was horribly daunting for me, but so was finding walkers! I guess adding those 2 and 2, my 4 is MARKETING. That's my weakest point in any venture, and it held true for this one.

My sponsors were all personally known to me. The company that donated the money for our insurance cost, for instance, is a large firm, whose CEO is a friend of my Dad's. I didn't manage to get the in-kind donations of food and water that you did.

The other main source of sponsorship was from the cards my Mom mailed out to her holiday card list. We got hundreds of dollars from that campaign. They consisted of a picture of Nicky when he was still in the NICU, and a reminder of what we'd gone through. People I hadn't seen since I was in preschool sent checks for $100 or more. It was incredible.

I'm already getting started for next year. I have found the name of a marketing person at a local radio station whose main market is women between the ages of 18 and 35. I plan on getting together with him for coffee some time this fall, to see if we can work out some sponsorship. I'm also planning on getting an actual 5K walk site this year. Last year's was under a mile, and it didn't really give us a chance to talk much during the walk.

I'm looking forward to next year's walk, although I have a feeling it's going to creep up on us all too soon!