Post-walk Update

Hello Firstgiving fundraisers! Our 17th Annual Support-A-Walk on Oct. 2nd was an amazing morning filled with celebration, support and inspiration. To those who attended, and those who donated, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are so grateful for all you've done!

We have some important news to share: Your Firstgiving page continues to accept donations through the end of this year! This means you can continue to request and receive contributions.

Here are some ideas:

• Did you meet your goal? Ask people to help you reach it!

• Were you at the walk? Tell people what an amazing morning it was, and why. If you took photos, put one on your fundraising page.

• Tribute donations: Inform people they can donate in honor or memory of someone in their life.

• Thank you's: Don't forget to thank those who donated. Tell them the impact they've had on thousands of people fighting breast & ovarian cancer, and ask them to forward your page to others who may want to help.

In all correspondence, let people know your page is still accepting donations and the sky's the limit!

Remember: Always include the link to your fundraising page. It's at the top of your page and starts with http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser.... (Find your page here by searching for your name.)

Thank you so much for your support and call us with any questions: 914-962-6402.

To see some photos from the Support-A-Walk, visit our Facebook page and "like" us!

Tip #8 - This is It!!!

Hello Firstgiving fundraisers! This is the final week before our Support-A-Walk on October 2nd. Now, more than ever, we need you to make the most of your online fundraising page! Your page continues accepting donations even after the Walk, so it's not too late!

Here's what your fundraising brings to women with breast & ovarian cancer:

• Personalized support & information from our professional Peer Counselors who are cancer survivors.
• Monthly support groups where women can share and help one another.
• Wellness programs (such as yoga & meditation) to enhance healing & well-being.
• Educational programs with various experts (doctors, nutritionists, etc.) offering up-to-the-minute information on cancer treatment and health.

We also help family members & friends, and educate the public. There is no other organization in the Hudson Valley offering this array of services, plus we help people across the country via our toll-free number. So, we need your support!

LAST MINUTE FUNDRAISING TIPS:

• DID YOU DONATE? We do not charge a registration fee but we rely on your donations. You can donate to your own fundraising page! For other ways to donate, click here.
• NOT SURE HOW TO FIND YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE? Click here and search for your name.
• SEND EMAILS: Use your email account (Outlook, AOL, etc.) to ask for donations. Tell people how to find your page. Give them your "page address" at the top of your own page ("http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser....")
• NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY? Click here for a sample email.
• SEND YOUR PAGE FROM FIRSTGIVING: On your fundraising page, click the email icon (the little envelope.) Type in email addresses and write a message asking for donations.
• ASK FOR DONATIONS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKED IN: On your fundraising page, click one of these icons. Follow the steps to log in and post your message.
• CASH AND/OR CHECKS: Send or bring them, with our Collection Form, to our office: Support Connection, 40 Triangle Center, Suite 100, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. You can list them as offline donations on your page; if we receive donations in our office that are not yet listed, we may add them for you.

Tip #7 - The Art of Gentle Reminders

As we get closer to the Support-A-Walk on October 2nd, it's time to remind family & friends about your fundraising.

Remember: The funds you raise enable our Peer Counselors to provide year-round support to those living with breast & ovarian cancer. We rely on your donations - we can't do it without you!

How long ago did you send your email asking for donations? Your contacts may have filed it in their "to do" folder and left it there! Give them a gentle reminder about the Walk and your fundraising efforts. Our most successful fundraisers give family & friends plenty of chances to donate. Here's an example of what you might say:

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a great summer. I want to give you a brief update on my efforts to raise funds for the Support-A-Walk. So far, I've raised $__ but I still have a ways to go to reach my goal of $___. I'm hoping you'll help by making a donation.

With our help, Support Connection can continue to change lives by providing FREE support services to those living with breast and ovarian cancer. They can't do it without us.

To donate, click on this link for my fundraising page:http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/etc... It really is quick and secure. Thank you in advance for your help!

Feel free to personalize this message. The point is: Remind people you need their help!

Didn't send any emails yet? This is a perfect time to start! For a sample email asking for donations, click here.

"Offline Donations": Some people may prefer to donate by cash or check. Let them know that's fine!! Use our collection form then bring or send to Support Connection, 40 Triangle Plaza, Suite 100, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Or tell people to send to us directly. You can add these funds to your Firstgiving page as "offline donations." Need help? Contact us: 914-962-6402 or walk2011@supportconnection.org

Have you come close to your fundraising goal? That's fantastic, THANK YOU! Consider increasing your goal. Whatever your goal, let everyone know you really want to reach or exceed it.

Tip #6 - There's Power in Numbers

It's hard to believe: In less than a month, our Annual Support-A-Walk on October 2nd will be here!

Support Connection is self-reliant. We aren't part of any national organization. The donations YOU collect enable us to provide critically needed support services to women with breast and ovarian cancer and their families - all FREE of charge.

Fundraising is easy when you REACH OUT to others. There's power in numbers! Here are a few tips to help you gain support for your fundraising efforts:

• Send emails seeking donations: Email everyone in your address book and ask them to donate to your page. Don't know what to say? Click here for a sample you can copy-and-paste. Remember to include the link to your fundraising page (http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/etc.....).
• Ask people to Join Your Team: Ask friends, family, co-workers to "join your team" and start their own fundraising pages. It's easy! They can go to YOUR page, select "Team" on the blue bar, and click the blue "Get Started" button. The fundraising page they create will have your team name on it! For more team info, click here for a 1-page guide.
• Share on social networking sites: Use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to tell your people about your fundraising. Sign in to your Firstgiving account to find easy buttons to publish your page to your profile. Then...update your status or tweet on a regular basis to seek donations.
• Use your email signature: Add your fundraising page address under your name in your email signature with a message like "I'm raising funds for breast & ovarian cancer - please donate!" It's one more way to reach out!

Did you donate yet? Don't forget to donate to your own page!

Tip #5 - Beating the Summertime Blues

It's hard to believe, but summer is almost over, and in a little more than a month, our Annual Support-A-Walk on October 2nd will be here!

Asking for donations in the summer can be challenging. You may find that your family & friends are away on vacation enjoying a break from work and school.

Here are 3 activities you can do now to take advantage of the summertime lull:

• Personalize your fundraising page: Add a picture. Write a personal message explaining why you're raising money for Support Connection. Remember, the funds you raise help women with breast & ovarian cancer and their families receive support and services from our Peer Counselors all year round. Support Connection relies on these donations - they enable us to do what we do!
• Draft a reminder email: Reminders are important! We all put things off, and need a "nudge" now and then. So, draft an email now reminding friends & family about your fundraising mission. Then, send it right after Labor Day when everyone is back and ready to start anew.
• Adjust your fundraising goal: Are you close to your original goal, or have you already surpassed it? That's awesome! It means people are eager to support you. So, consider changing your goal and revising your message to let people know how happy you are to receive such a great response.

We hope you find these hints & ideas helpful!

A couple of important reminders:

• Anyone who plans to attend the Support-A-Walk needs to register. When you created a Firstgiving page, you also registered for the Walk, so you're done! Do you know others who want to attend? They have two options: Register online at www.firstgiving.com/supportconnection/walk2011; or mail or fax a paper registration form. For a form, click here. (If they donated to your Firstgiving page, have them write "Firstgiving" in the donation space on this form.)
• Did you donate yet? Don't forget to donate to your own page!

Tip #4 - Spreading the word

Have you asked people to donate to your page yet? It's never too early to start! We rely on these donations as we receive them, to sustain our free services.

Need tips about asking for donations? Here are just a few:

Ask everyone you know: Email all the people in your address book and ask them to support your fundraising. For a basic email sample, click here. Remember to include the link to your fundraising page. ("http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/etc....")

Tell people why you care: One person wrote "Please contribute to Support Connection to help families like my own deal with the devastation that follows a cancer diagnosis." She explained her personal connection to our cause. Maybe you or someone you know has been affected by breast or ovarian cancer. Maybe you've volunteered for us. Or maybe you just want to make a difference in the lives of the people we help. Share your commitment, your passion!

Set a goal: Choose a fundraising goal (you can post it on your page) then ask people to help you meet it. Set a goal you think you can reach. As you get close, update friends and family, and ask them to help you reach or surpass it! And if you do reach your goal, you can easily raise it and continue fundraising against your new goal.

ALSO: Did you donate yet? Don't forget to donate to your own page!

Tip #3 - Let's spread the word....

Thank you again for deciding to raise funds online for the 17th Annual Support-A-Walk on October 2, 2011! Your contributions enable us to help women with breast and ovarian cancer and their families, through our unique model of free, confidential programs that are created and provided by fellow survivors.

It's never too early to start fundraising! Your donations are put to use as soon as we receive them to sustain our programs all year long. To support your efforts, here are some tips about spreading the word:

Use your own email account: Such as Outlook, AOL, Gmail, etc. Email everyone in your address book. Write a note about why you're fundraising. "Copy & paste" the URL or page address of your Firstgiving page. (It's at the TOP of your page, and looks like this: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/YourPageName.) Your friends and family can click the link, see your page and donate. Don't know what to say? Click here for some ideas.

Send emails through Firstgiving: Firstgiving has an easy email tool:

1. Sign in to your account and click edit.
2. Then click the green "Email your page" button.
3. Add up to 50 email addresses, separated by commas. If you used Firstgiving last year, your donors' email addresses are already in your "Firstgiving address book."
4. Make sure you personalize the standard message in the "message" box - explain to your contacts why you're fundraising for Support Connection.
5. Click "Send." Firstgiving will send the emails for you. You'll also receive a confirmation email for your records.

When your family, friends, and coworkers receive the email, it will come from support@firstgiving.com and depending on their email system, it may or may not have your name in the FROM.

Share on social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. You'll find easy buttons for these on your Firstgiving account page as well. For more Facebook tips, click here.

Your email signature: Add your fundraising page address under your name in your email signature along with a message (e.g. "I'm raising funds for breast and ovarian cancer support - please donate!") Your message is now in every email you send. One fundraiser last year exceeded her goal with this simple step!

Did you donate yet? Don't forget to donate to your own page!

Tip #2 - Important How-To's about Firstgiving and the Support-A-Walk

Once you've created your Firstgiving page (need help? see Tip #1 in this blog), here are some important how-to's about Firstgiving and our 17th Annual Support-A-Walk on October 2, 2011:

DID YOU MAKE A WALK DONATION? We do not charge a registration fee but we do rely on your donations. You can donate to your own fundraising page - it's a great way to get your page started! For other ways to donate, click here.

ASK FOR DONATIONS: Send emails to everyone in your address book. Include the "link" to your Firstgiving page. (To get your page "link": open your own page and copy the address at the top. For example: http://firstgiving.com/fundraiser/YourPageName.) OR... Send your page directly from Firstgiving: once you've signed in to your page, click "email your page" (the little envelope.) Don't know how to ask for donations? Click here for a sample email.

YOUR PAGE NAME: You can make the URL or "link" for your fundraising page shorter and simpler if you'd like. For simple instructions, click here.

DID YOU REGISTER OTHER PEOPLE? Please encourage them to make a donation. You are our only direct connection to them, and we rely on donations from all participants to fund our year-round services. They can donate to your fundraising page, or at this link. You can also forward this email to them!

FORM A TEAM: It's easy to "team up" on Firstgiving! To learn about forming fundraising teams to increase your donation, plus other valuable "Team How-To's," download a Team Info Guide. Were you part of a Team last year? Teams start over on Firstgiving each year. If you didn't add your Team Name when you created your new page this year, click here for simple instructions on how to "add or join a team."

OFFLINE DONATIONS: For cash and/or checks: Send or bring them, with our Collection Form, to our office: Support Connection, 40 Triangle Center, Suite 100, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.

WALK REGISTRATION: Anyone who plans to attend the Support-A-Walk needs to register. When you created a Firstgiving page, you also registered for the Walk, so you're done! Do you know others who want to attend? They have 2 options:

• Register online at www.firstgiving.com/supportconnection/Walk2011. Have them create a fundraising page too!
• Mail or fax a paper registration form. Click here to download a form you can pass along to them.

MATCHING GIFTS: Many companies will match your donation. This increases your total contribution to our walk. Ask your Human Resources Dept. for details. Support Connection, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

TEE SHIRTS: If you've earned a Walk Tee-Shirt ($50 donation, $25 for each additional shirt) you need to pick it up at our office BEFORE the Walk.

QUESTIONS? Call us at 914-962-6402 or email walk2011@supportconnection.org.

Tip #1 - Let's get started

Just a quick note to everyone who helped raise funds for our Walk last year. Whether you were a Team Captain, raised funds online with a Firstgiving fundraising page, or BOTH: the donations you obtained made a tremendous difference! We rely on your donations to fund our free services that support people living with breast and ovarian cancer - you should be so proud of your contributions!

We invite you to help again by creating a Firstgiving page for our 17th Annual Support-A-Walk on October 2, 2011. Our 2011 Firstgiving start page is ready to go. If you're one of the "earlybirds" and have already started gathering donations, thank you! If not, it's not too early to start!

Just go to our Firstgiving Support-A-Walk page. Click "Join Now." At Firstgiving this year, you can register online for the Walk and create a new fundraising page for 2011. Then, you're ready to start fundraising!

SOME TIPS:

• Teams are "new" each year on Firstgiving. As you register and set up your fundraising page, check to see if your team has been started yet for 2011 by selecting “Show All Teams.” If your team isn’t listed, “Add a New Team” by typing in your team name.

• If you had a fundraising page last year and want to COPY the text and photos from that page: Sign into Firstgiving, then click on "Your Fundraising" at the top of the screen. You'll see a link to any previous pages you created. Open the page you want to copy, then "copy and paste" any info you'd like to use again this year.

QUESTIONS? Call us at 914-962-6402 or email walk2011@supportconnection.org.