Pup Pack De tails 1
CONTENT: About the Walk 1, 2 Did you know? 3 Form a School Pup Pack 4, 5 Pack Leader responsibilities 6 Pack Important dates and locations 7 FAQ 8 Fundraising tips for Pack members 9, 10, 11, 12 Pack registration form 13 Pack De tails form 14 Pack members pledge form 15 Pack Check List 16 Sample Pack members recruitment letter 17 Sample Pack request for support letter 18 Sample Pack request for support to company employees 19 Contact Info 20 2
1 WALK FOR THE ANIMALS is our largest annual community fundraiser. More than 3,000 animal lovers will gather together on Saturday, February 28, 2015 for a morning filled with fun activities for dogs and the people they own! This year we will be adding an adoption center to the event where local rescue groups will bring their adoptables so many loving and permanent homes can be found. NBC6 meteorologist, Ryan Phillips, will emcee the event for the seventh year. Visit: www.walkfortheanimalsmiami.com to learn more.
2 WHEN: Saturday, February 28, 2015 WHERE: Bayfront Park (301 North Biscayne Boulevard) WHY: It is an exciting and worthwhile activity for the entire family--and, of course--dogs. The Walk is the Humane Society of Greater Miami s largest annual community event, attracting over 3,000 people. Every dollar raised from the Walk goes toward sheltering more than 300 homeless cats and dogs in our care every day. In addition, the funds help support our spay/neuter services, quality adoptions, humane education and pet therapy, said Laurie Hoffman, Executive Director. PROGRAM: Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and entertainment will be provided from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Our Adoption Arena, presented by Pet Supermarket, will host several rescue groups with a great number of adorable puppies, kittens, dogs and cats looking for a forever home. Sponsors will be offering music, games, prizes, product samples, and great food. There will be a special Bakery Tent filled with mouth-watering pastries to be enjoyed with a fabulous cup of Coffee Brake coffee. YUM! The one-mile stroll around the park (with or without a dog) begins at 10 a.m. PARTICIPATION: INDIVIDUAL: The minimum donation for an individual walker is $50 and includes a Walk t-shirt, a fabulous goodie bag and doggie bandana FAMILY: A minimum donation of $100 includes up to 2 adults+2 children. Create your family's page and invite all your friends and family to support you BIG DOG PACKS: are for walkers 18 years of age and older PROUD PUP PACKS: are walkers under 18 All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
3 EVERY STEP COUNTS! Whether you are walking in honor of your pet, in memory of a beloved four-legged friend, or to support the animals, every dollar you raise makes a difference! Plus - our Walk for the Animals is so much fun! DID YOU KNOW THAT: Every animal under our care is free from the threat of euthanasia for time, space and treatable medical issues Every animal at our facility is spayed or neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped All animals are on monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention We house an average of 400 animals on a daily basis in our shelter and through our foster care program Every adoption helps two animals - the adoptee and the space provided for us to save another animal We run two low cost clinics and perform more that 13,000 sterilization surgeries a year Our Humane Education staff visits and engages more than 13,000 people a year In 2013 we found loving homes for more than 3,200 wonderful dogs and cats Please join us and help the animals! WHERE DOES MY DONATION GO? All monies raised for the Walk for the Animals, help the Humane Society of Greater Miami provide care for the homeless and neglected animals brought to our shelter and provide them the food, shelter, and medical attention they deserve. Many dogs and cats come into our shelter each year and they all need your help. They need food, shelter, vaccinations, toys, love, and most importantly, they need us to find them a forever home. Humane Society of Greater Miami is awarded four stars by Charity Navigator for our financial responsibility, accountability, transparency and faithfulness to our mission. Thank you in advance for helping us do what we do!
FORM A PACK! Team Building Opportunities: Are you looking for a team building experience for your school? How about combining that with a chance for them to give back to the community? Now add in the health and wellness aspect, and the unconditional love your young ones receive from their animals. What you get is the perfect team building experience! We want to harness the power of pet lovers to form teams for the Humane Society of Greater Miami s 2015 Walk for the Animals. Benefits to your students include: Team building through friendly competition with students who have a common passion A sense of accomplishment as they raise funding to help homeless animals A unique and enjoyable event the day of the Walk, Saturday, February 28, 2015 8:30am-12:00am at Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami Plus they represent your school as a caring organization that gives back to its community! What is a Pup Pack? A Pup Pack is a team of people who raise at least $500 per Pack and walk together with or without their pets (each member must raise a minimum of $50 to receive the Pack perks). Why Become Part of a Pack? Packs are better than one! Receive t-shirts, a water bottle and a goodie bag Carry personalized signs with your Pack name or logo Raise the most money and win a fabulous prize! Who Can Be in a Pup Pack? Anyone under the age of $18 who cares about animals Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, classmates, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Boy Scouts, etc. Simply someone who wants to have fun! 4
Who Can Be a Pack Sponsor? Anyone who is willing to donate $1, $5, $25, $50, $150, $300 any amount to help the animals. Friends, family, neighbors, hairdressers, employers, veterinarians, customers, and business associates just about anyone you know. A great opportunity to involve your school students and parents to participate in your fundraiser: Create a activity to support the homeless animals Create awareness and a buzz around your school s involvement Pup Pack Registration We encourage all Pup Packs to register quickly by completing the Pack registration form online, or by e-mail by sending the scan of the form filled in on page 14 to walk@humanesocietymiami.org. Create your own company Fun raising Webpage We ve made fundraising simple! Start today by visiting www.firstgiving.com/hsgm. Create your very own fundraising webpage. Enter the e-mail addresses of all your family, friends, customers, co-workers etc., and invite them to visit your web page and make a donation online. This is credited to the individual Pack member s fundraising total and to your overall Pack total. If you need help, call us and we ll help you set-up your webpage. Want to be a Pack Leader? With your help and the help of your fellow Pack members, this year s Walk for the Animals is sure to be our best ever!!! The following information will list important dates, procedures and forms that you will need as a Pack leader. Turn in your Pack Dollars Individual Pack members must turn in their pledge forms to their Pack leaders. Each Pack member must raise a minimum of $50 in order to receive their t-shirt and goodie bag. 5
6 PACK LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: BEFORE THE WALK: Create a name or logo for your Pack Register your Pack - send in the Pack registration form along with the name and logo to walk@humanesocietymiami.org. We will make sure your Pack name is available Organize your students, friends, family, co-workers for your Pack Start fundraising with our user-friendly Internet fundraising tool: www.firstgiving.com/hsgm or simply have your Pack members use their individual pledge forms (included in this package) Encourage each Pack member to get sponsors to help them raise money for the animals (See sample letters included in this package) Remember that sponsors can ask if their company offers a matching gift program (matching gifts will count towards the Pack and individual totals) MONIES: Verify that by February 18th your Kids Pup Pack raised the $500 minimum Turn in all monies and complete registration forms by 6:00 pm February 18, 2015 at the.soffer and Fine Adoption Center, 16101 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, FL. Complete the My Pack De"Tails Form (included in package) and submit with money on the due date Pick up Pack goodies at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center either Thursday, February 26 th or Friday, February 27 th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm - both days WALK DAY Set a specific area and time for your team to meet in the morning Get your photo taken at the Pack Photo Booth/Pack Registration Booth Turn in any additional money collected between Money due date (Feb. 18th) and Walk Day at the Pack Registration Booth Enjoy the Walk! POST- WALK Receive and share your Pack photo via e-mail!
7 IMPORTANT PACK DATES TIMES AND LOCATIONS PACK LEADER TRAINING (OPTIONAL) 30 minute Pack prep class at the Humane Society of Greater Miami Adopt-A-Pet Soffer and Fine Adoption Center 16101 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida Saturday, December 06, 2014 Saturday, January 10, 2015 Please reserve your place 3 days in advance by calling 305-749-1825 or reserve via e-mail at walk@humanesocietymiami.org. PACK PRE-REGISTRATION Pack leaders must submit all Pack members forms and monies by Wednesday, February 18, 2015 by 6:00 pm at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center. No exceptions. PACK GOODIE BAG PICK UP Pack leaders need to pick up all goodie bags for their Packs on Thursday, February 26 th from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm or Friday, February 27 th from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center located at 16101 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160. Tel: 305-749-1825. If items are not picked up before the day of the Walk, please pick up Pack items at the Pack Registration tent on the day of the Walk. Pack leaders then are in charge of distributing all goodie bags to their group members.
8 FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. Can we still be a Pack if we don t reach $500? A. $500 is the minimum for Kids Pup Packs to receive Pack perks such as photos, signs, t-shirts, pack photo and prize eligibility. If you cannot raise the Pack minimum you can still apply each $50 raised as one registration fee. You can still participate as individuals and be eligible to win an individual top fundraiser prize but you will not qualify as a Pack. Q. When can I distribute Pack goodies to my group? A. Your Pack Leader will pick up your goodies at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center either on Thursday, February 26 th or Friday, February 27 th. To allow time for you to deliver the goodies to your Pack team we suggest hosting a pre-walk meeting or party. This will also build enthusiasm for the event. Q. What if my Pack members keep collecting money after the registration deadline? A. After the money due date of February 18, 2015, members can submit any additional forms and monies on the day of the Walk. But this will not count towards determining the amount of goodies prepared to collect before the day of the event. Submit any additional monies collected on the day of the Walk at the Pack Registration Tent.
9 FUNDRAISING TIPS FOR PUP PACK MEMBERS QUICK TIPS FOR RAISING $500 OR MORE Most importantly, don t hesitate to ask more than once. Then, ask again. Let your supporters decide how much they wish to give on behalf of the animals. Or you may try the below method many people have used to quickly raise funds: DAY WHO TO ASK TOTAL Day 1 Get yourself started with a $25 donation $25 Day 2 Challenge three family members to match your $25 donation $100 Day 3 Ask your best friend for a $25 sponsorship $125 Day 4 Ask your boss for a company donation or a matching gift $150 Day 5 Ask five local friends to sponsor you for $10 $200 Day 6 Ask five out-of-town friends to sponsor you for $10 $250 Day 7 Gather support at work! Ask five co-workers for $10 $300 Day 8 Ask five neighbors to support you for $10 $350 Day 9 Ask 10 people at your church, club, gym, etc for $10 each $450 Day 10 Request a $10 sponsorship from five local businesses $500
10 FUNDRAISING TIPS FOR PACK MEMBERS GET YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVED! Ask the places you frequent for a donation - such as your hair stylist, dry cleaner, doctor, dentist, gym, coffee shop, favorite restaurant, etc. Throw a bake sale, movie night, or dance party to raise awareness and garner donations. Campaign door to door, if your neighborhood allows Bring in snacks to the school/office. Your co-workers can have some if they donate to your Walk efforts Host a chili cook off, baked potato party, or guacamole sale. You can sell tickets for $5 each for a vote for the best item and raise funds for the Walk at the same time! Food is a great way to raise funds, especially with hungry co-workers Rummage Sales Ask your team members to clean out their closets and garages and bring items for a team wide sale Auction off a prime parking space at work! Change Jars Keep change/donation jars in high traffic areas at work Hang Walk for the Animals posters in your office which are available for pick up at the Humane Society of Greater Miami BE STRATEGIC WITH YOUR EMAILS Brag about your pet(s) with pictures and stories Talk about why you think it s important to rescue pets, care for neglected animals Share a personal experience about the Humane Society of Greater Miami or adopting an animal Share your passion for the animals. Use your online personalized page to conveniently send fundraising emails out to all your friends, family and colleagues letting them you are participating in the Walk for Animals and ask them for their support Tailor your writing to your audience. Try out several different templates if you have a wide range of groups you are sending the request to Be direct and concise. We all tend to ramble when talking about issues close to our hearts. Understand the optimal time of day to send your email Don t be afraid to follow up with those that haven t read your email. You can tell who reads your email by checking the contacts in your online personalized page menu If you are a previous donor, always update your contact list before embarking on your new Walk fundraising efforts Use your online personalized page to send an email from your pet to all your friends asking them to donate to your team
11 SOCIAL MEDIA In order to maximize your walk efforts, be sure to take full advantage of social media During the 2 months leading up to the Walk, make our Walk logo your profile picture on your favorite social media sites Always thank your donors publicly on social media - it's a great way to show them you appreciate their support while inspiring others to follow their lead SET A FUNDRAISING GOAL Share your goal with friends, family and co-workers so that they can help you & your pet achieve it. DON T BE AFRAID TO ASK Remember that you can t raise money to help the animals if you don t ask for support. Be proud of what you re doing and your supporters will be proud to help you. People often give money based on who is asking - so take a "Friends asking Friends" approach. FACE TO FACE Ask family, friends and colleagues for a few minutes of their time so that you can talk without interruptions. Let them know why your participating and remember, you are not asking for the contribution for yourself, but for the thousands of individuals and animals the Humane Society of Greater Miami provides services to each year. TELEPHONE Prepare a list of all your friends and acquaintances and select an afternoon to sit down and call them about your plans to participate in our Walk for the Animals. Let them know about our wonderful programs - you may have personal experience in adopting a pet, or taking a training class, or receiving help in some way that you may want to share. LETTER WRITING Personalize your letter with details about yourself and the reasons you are walking - you might even want to include pictures of your pets! Remember your audience when you are crafting your letter - tailor it to fit friends, family, business owners, colleagues, etc. And, consider enclosing a self addressed stamped envelope to make it easier for them to contribute (you'll find your response rate is much better).
GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH OLD FRIENDS Remember saying, "We'll just have to get together and do something real soon!" What a perfect opportunity to do just that. And so convenient! Send an email and invite them to visit your webpage. MAKE IT A FAMILY ACTIVITY Have all your family participate in the Friends Asking Friends activity. It is so easy, everyone can take part in doing something good. What a fun way to teach kids the rewards of giving! HOST AN EVENT Host a dinner party in your home or ask if you can host a fundraiser potluck in your office. Ask everyone to participate (either donating food or attending) and ask your co-workers or friends to make a donation to the Humane Society of Greater Miami on your behalf. MATCHING GIFTS Check to see if your company offers matching gifts. This is a great way to double the money you raise. Please check your company's policy or contact your Human Resource office. 12 DONOR AMOUNTS Let your supporters decide how much they wish to give on behalf of the animals. Don't limit yourself by asking for a smaller amount than they may have in mind. You'll be surprised at what people are willing to give! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Remember to send a thank you note or email when you receive a donation - this is easy to do with your online personalized page.
13 PACK REGISTRATION FORM Yes! I would like to be a Pack leader for the 2015 Walk for the Animals! (Please print your name) (Address) (City) (State) (Zip) (Phone) (E-mail) My Pack name is: Yes, I would like to sign up for a Pack Leader Training Course. Yes, I would like to have a Pack Recruitment presentation at my company. Please return to: Walk for the Animals Miami 2015 Humane Society of Greater Miami 16101 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, FL 33160 email: walk@humanesocietymiami.org
14 PACK DE TAILS FORM Due Wednesday, February 18, 2015 Pack Leader Name: Pack Name: Mailing Address: (work/home) City: State: Zip: Home phone: Work phone: E-Mail: Total number of Pack Members: Number of t-shirts: S M L XL XXL NOTE: All packs MUST submit My Pack De Tails Form and all monies on February 18, 2015 to qualify for special Pack Perks. Questions: email us at walk@humanesocietymiami.org Pack Member Name Amount Collected Online Fundraiser Corporate Match Grand Total Total for the Pack
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16 PACK CHECK LIST BEFORE IT S TIME TO TURN IN YOUR MONEY (WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015) MAKE SURE TO: Register your Pack online, by mail or by emailing walk@humanesocietymiami.org Attend a Pack leader training class at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center (optional) Collect money & Individual Pack Pledge forms Confirm that you have reached your $500 (kid) Pack minimum Check that members have reached their minimum goals Make sure all forms are filled in completely by each member Verify that My Pack De Tails form is filled out completely Have fun!! Don t forget the deadline to turn in your money Wednesday, February 18, 2015! Soffer and Fine Adoption Center 16101 West Dixie Highway North Miami Beach, FL 33160 305-749-1825
17 Join the [your group name here] Pack for the Humane Society of Greater Miami Walk for the Animals and unleash your team spirit! Saturday, February 28, 2015 Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami It s the purr-fect opportunity for [your group name here] to work together to raise money for Miami s homeless animals. Show your dogged determination to help us raise the most and earn the title of Leader of the Packs What s a Pup Pack? A Pack is a group of two or more students who work together to raise money for the Walk for the Animals. Each Pack must raise a minimum total of $500 to qualify as a Pup Pack and each member of the Pack must raise at least $50 to earn Pack goodies. What are the benefits of forming a Pack? A Pack is a great opportunity to bring people together to work toward the common goal of helping homeless animals in their community. Packs receive T-shirts, a Pack sign to walk with and a Pack photo taken at the Walk. The day of the Walk, your Pack members (with or without their dogs) can enjoy a fun-filled morning of canine contests, activities and more! How will forming a Pack help the Humane Society of Greater Miami? The more people out in the community raising money and awareness of the Humane Society of Greater Miami, the more animals it can save. The Humane Society receives no funding from government agencies. It relies solely on donations, grants and fundraising events like the Walk to continue to shelter 300 cats and dogs daily for as long as it takes to find them kind and loving homes. Sounds great! How do I get started? Contact [pack leader name here] at [contact email or phone here] to register as a [your group name here] Pack member and request your pledge form. What is the deadline for submitting pledges? Please provide your sponsor form and pledge sheet by February 18 th to: [your contact information here] Are there other ways I can support the Walk? Yes! There are sponsorship opportunities for organizations and budgets of all sizes. You can also help us spread the word about the Walk. If you know other people who would like to walk individually or form their own Pack (we also have a special Kids Pack for the 18 and under crowd!) tell them to visit www.humanesocietymiami.org for more information. Questions? Contact our Walk for the Animals representative at 305-749-1825 or email Walk@humanesocietymiami.org. www.humanesocietymiami.org
FOR PACKS SAMPLE REQUEST FOR SUPPORT LETTER/EMAIL Use this sample letter to send to friends, family members, colleagues, associates, etc asking for sponsorships. Remember to include your return address for people to mail their checks. Dear ( Name ) : I am so excited to announce the formation of my Pack, called (enter Pack Name), to help the animals that make their temporary home at the Humane Society of Greater Miami. I will be participating in their 15 th Annual Walk for the Animals on Saturday, February 28, 2015 in downtown Miami s Bayfront Park. My personal fundraising goal for the Walk is $ (my minimum requirement is to raise $50). I am confident that with your support I will reach and possibly exceed my goal. In case you are not familiar with the Humane Society of Greater Miami, I am proud to share the following information with you: They care for approximately 3,500 animals per year Every animal under their care is safe from the threat of euthanasia for as long as it takes to find them a loving home Programs and services include: high quality adoptions, low cost spay/neuter with two preventative clinics serving North and South Miami-Dade County, humane education, grooming salon, Bow Wow Meow Pet Boutique, pet therapy to name a few. The Humane Society of Greater Miami does not receive any funding from government agencies. It relies solely on private donations, grants and fundraising events like the Walk for the Animals to raise the money needed to care for the animals and support all their wonderful programs and services. Can I count on your help in supporting this organization and fun filled event, all in the name of the animals? Please make your check payable to the Humane Society of Greater Miami and mail to my attention at : (insert your address) or visit my online fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/hsgm. You can find my pack and my page under the teams section. Thank you in advance for your support. Remember, donations are tax deductible! If you have any questions please call me at (insert your phone number). Sincerely, Your Name 18
FOR PACKS SAMPLE REQUEST FOR SUPPORT LETTER TO COMPANY EMPLOYEES To: Company Employees From: Company CEO/ Human Resources Date: Re: Raise money for the animals This year our company, Company, will be giving back to the community by helping to raise funds for the homeless pets of Miami-Dade County that make their temporary home at the Humane Society of Greater Miami. On Saturday, February 28, 2015 the annual Walk for the Animals will be held at the scenic Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Registration begins at 8:30 am and the Walk begins at 10:00 am and ends at 12:00 pm. The morning will be filled with activities, entertainment and fun for people and dogs alike! Company is committed to forming a Pack of walkers, and with your help we plan to raise $! In order to accomplish this, I am asking each of you to become actively involved and be part of the Company Walk for the Animals Pack. The Humane Society of Greater Miami s mission is to create a humane community where ALL companion animals have homes with responsible, committed and loving caregivers and to eliminate cruelty, neglect and pet overpopulation. They offer programs and services throughout our community to educate, inform and inspire people to take responsible care of their pets, spay and neuter, and treat animals with the kindness they deserve. They set the example by guaranteeing to every healthy, adoptable animal in their care a second chance, free from the threat of euthanasia. Becoming a part of our Company Pack is easy! The first step is to sign up with our Pack Leader. The second step is to simply ask family, friends, and neighbors to sponsor you by making a contribution to the Humane Society of Greater Miami, or to walk with us as the Company Pack. To reach a goal of $, we ask each Company pack member to raise at least $50. I know each of you will do your part to support both Company Pack and the animals of the Humane Society of Greater Miami in this worthwhile community event. Can we count on your help in supporting this organization and fun filled event, all in the name of the animals? Please make your check payable to the Humane Society of Greater Miami and send to my attention at : (insert your address) or visit our Company Pack s online fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/hsgm. You can find our pack under the teams section. Thank you in advance for your support. Remember, donations are tax deductible! If you have any questions please call me at (insert your phone number). Thank you for your support, Your Name 19
20 Questions? Contact Dani Kandera or Arleen Velarde at 305-749-1825 or email Walk@humanesocietymiami.org. Humane Society of Greater Miami 16101 West Dixie Highway North Miami Beach FL, 33160 www.humanesocietymiami.org www.firstgiving.com/hsgm Thank you!!!