PARTICIPANT GUIDE 2020

For Questions & Support Contact: Samantha “Sam” Schreiber, Walk Events Manager 312.602.9425 | [email protected] walkrunwish.org

About Us

Mission Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Give with Confidence Make-A-Wish consistently meets and exceeds standards set by assessment organizations, with 77% or more dedicated to granting wishes. Wish Impact We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because wishes are an important part of a child’s treatment journey. Wishes provide kids hope when they need it most, and research shows they have effects on children’s overall well-being and health outcomes.

In fact, wishes have proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope.

2020 Virtual Walkers, you have joined an incredible group of people committed to granting the wishes of children facing critical illnesses. Fall is a season of rich traditions with family fun. This year is different and Make-A-Wish Illinois is here to help you, your friends, family and organizations have fun, be safe and make wishes come true for children with critical illness.

EVENT DETAILS Anyone can join! Wish children and their families, volunteers, Friday, October 16th friends of Make-A-Wish, and people of any age can participate to Sunday, October 25th in any way that feels comfortable to help make wishes come

WALK WHERE YOU ARE true for Illinois children coping with critical illnesses. Walk wherever you would like! Get creative and celebrate the power of a Wishes Are Waiting wish! Due to the global pandemic, more than 300 travel-related wishes have been postponed. However, there are many other WALK WHEN YOU WANT wishes that bring hope and joy to children with critical Walk every day or Walk 40 illnesses. We are still granting all the wishes we can right now, minutes in honor of our 40th ensuring that every possible wish can come true. Additionally, Anniversary. every day new children are receiving diagnoses that will qualify AT YOUR OWN PACE them for Make-A-Wish. Take a long walk or just Community events like Walk for Wishes play a critical role in around the block. Walk as raising funds to grant wishes. Wish kids are counting on your far as you are comfortable. support so that once these circumstances have passed, all their

wishes can be quickly and efficiently granted. WELCOME PACKAGE Sign up and receive a packet including a Make-A-Wish How Can I Help? star pin and a Walk Star sign, everything you need to have The options are limitless, and everyone can help grant wishes a successful walk! in their own way! Use this guide to spark ideas for creative ways to do your virtual Walk for Wishes. INCENTIVES Raise $100 or more and receive a Walk for Wishes Wishes need stars like you, because when we t-shirt! come together, anything is possible.

WEELKLY CHALLENGES

Be a Walk Star for Make-A-Wish this fall! Below are the weekly engaging challenges to kick-start your , help you recruit new team members and spread awareness. Each has an opportunity to win prizes! Prizes will be released prior to the weekly challenge.

Thursday, September 24

Recruit five new people to join the Virtual Walk for WEEK Wishes and be entered to win this week’s prize! ONE

Thursday, October 1

Take a look at Make-A-Wish Illinois on Facebook! Share, comment and like today’s Walk for Wishes WEEK post and be entered in a drawing to win this week’s TWO prize!

Thursday, October 8

The walk team that accumulates the most steps through Boundless Motion today will win this week’s WEEK prize! THREE

Thursday, October 15

The individual participant who raises the most dollars WEEK today will receive this week’s prize! FOUR

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Register at www.walkrunwish.org

Step 2: Set a Goal Remember, the average walker raises $100. How many people can you recruit?

Step 3: Go First Make a to your personal fundraising page. The size doesn’t matter, but your willingness to donate confirms for friends and family that you are committed to our mission.

Step 4: Personalize Your Team and Individual Fundraising Page Share your personal story about why Make-A-Wish is important to you. Don’t forget to include a photo!

Step 5: Recruit Virtual Walkers Invite co-workers and your family to join you in this important cause. Use all the communication methods at your disposal including email, social media, text and (safely distanced) face-to-face conversations.

Step 6: Ask Family and Friends to Donate Sending emails is the single most important action you can take to raise money! Send requests for to family and friends and enjoy watching how they respond. Don’t forget to follow-up.

Step 7: Encourage and Motivate Your Team Touch base with team members regularly to keep them excited about the Walk for Wishes event. Provide fundraising tips, host contests to create enthusiasm and say thank you often. RAISE MONEY, RECEIVE PRIZES

The best $100 you’ll ever earn! Individually raise at least $100 for wish children and receive the official Walk for Wishes t-shirt.

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Fundraising Tips

How to Raise Funds Ask Everyone Ask Confidently

The number one reason why people There is no such thing as a list that is too big. You are not asking for money for give is simply because they were Close friends and family are the obvious yourself: you are asking for asked. Don’t be shy – ask everyone choice, but don’t forget co-workers, your support of Make-A-Wish you know. child’s baseball coach and businesses you because wishes change lives.

frequent.

1 2 3 4 5

Make it Personal Use Online Tools

Share your own story if you have one. Did your The online tools are designed to make fundraising simple child (or another family member or friend) for you and for your donors. In addition, it is the most benefit from a wish? What is their story? Maybe effective way to raise money. Online average more your story is about gratitude for your healthy than $50 per , and participants who send emails children. Whatever your reasons for participation generally find that they receive a higher positive response with Make-A-Wish, share them. rate than those that ask for check or cash donations.

Social Fundraising Facebook Instagram

Update your status at least once a week with information about why you are walking and Follow Make-A-Wish Illinois on what they can do to support you! Instagram at @wishillinois Always include the link to your Walk for Post about your fundraising progress, let Wishes Personal Fundraising Page to make followers know you are seeking donations. donating simple! Always include the link to your Walk for Update your cover photo with the Wishes Personal Fundraising Page in Posts. official Walk for Wishes graphic Be sure to tag us at @wishillinois and use Be sure to tag Make-A-Wish Illinois and the hashtag #Walk Star #WalkStar TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Virtual Fundraising Ideas

Fall is a season of rich traditions with family fun. Make-A-Wish Illinois is here to help you, your friends, family and organizations have fun, be safe and make wishes come true for children with critical illness. Wishes need stars like you raising money with your family and friends so that children with critical illnesses can experience the hope and strength of a wish journey. Wish kids are waiting even longer for their wishes. We walk today, so they can have hope for a better tomorrow. Here are a few ideas to spark your walk fundraising.

• Share your story in writing or on video along with your fundraising link on social media. Don’t forget to tag @wishillinois, use #WalkStar and make your post public so we can see it! • Snap and post a picture while out on a walk – don’t forget your blue star pin • Record a video telling people why you are walking • Post often throughout the campaign and show your progress • Keep track of your progress! Download the Walk for Wishes app in your mobile app store and take fundraising with you on the go! • Reach out to your local Panera Bread restaurant to host a fundraiser for your team. • Reach out to your local pumpkin patch or apple picking farm to host a fun and safe socially distant activity. • Through our new Boundless Motion application, you can now see where you and your team fall in the virtual leader board for steps taken. • Create drawings, paintings, jewelry, or tie dye shirts to sell online for donations. • Offer to share your favorite seasonal family recipes for a donation. • Have a talent? Facebook live stream a talent show from your living room and sell tickets. • Be specific. Use your birthday or other milestones to add a personal twist to your ask, such as $40 for your 40th birthday or $15 for your 15th wedding anniversary

• Attempt a Guinness World record. Ask for donations to help motivate you!

@wishillinois | walkrunwish.org

Raise Some Dough for Make-A-Wish With Panera Bread Fundraise for your Walk for Wishes Team with Make-A-Wish partner Panera Bread!

Schedule and host a Fundraising Event for your Walk Team at participating Panera Breads and they will donate 20% of qualified sales received from

your event to your Make-A-Wish team!

Register online to host your fundraiser at a select participating Panera Bread. Select the Panera Bread you want and choose the date you prefer. Panera will email you with a confir- mation of your event and send you the fundraising flyer to share with your supporters. They can they show a copy of the flyer to dine-in or Thru* the day of the event or enter a special code when they order online for Panera Bread Delivery*, Rapid Pick-Up or Curbside* and 20% of qualified sales from their order will be donated to your walk team! Learn more at https://mawfi.formstack.com/forms/panera_fundraising_nights

The fundraising team with the largest Win single day fundraiser in 2020 benefiting Make-A-Wish Illinois at “Free Bread one of the participating locations will win a ‘Bread For A Year’ certificate for a Year”! redeemable for one free loaf of bread per month in 2021!

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