Newsletter
June 18, 2009
Hola Team!
1) Holy Guacamole Wheels of Justice! Would you believe $24K in one week? Our team total has now reached $69,794! Our warm-up period is now just a memory and we are hittin’ the groove! Some of that increase we owe to our rockin’ sponsors sending in their checks (THANK YOU!) but it’s also clear that many on our team took the time last weekend to send out their first round of emails their friends, colleagues, neighbors, clients, vendors, former classmates, co-workers, etc.
2) HP’s Fundraising Tips: Starting with this week’s newsletter, we will hear the fundraising secrets from fellow riders. OK, I’ll go first! Last year, the contributions I received ranged from $20 to $2500 but somehow added up to over $12,000 raised for Children’s! How did that happen? Read on.
The main “secret” is that the Courage Classic tools make fundraising ridiculously easy – but the key is that you have to actually send your fundraising emails early, often and to as many people as possible.
Here’s my story this year. Last Saturday, I got up early and imported my contacts from Outlook into the address book on my personal Courage Classic page. Then I went through my recent emails and added more. Then I personalized the template email text offered in my “email center” on the Courage Classic site. Then I hit “SEND” and launched emails to 135 people. By noon on Monday, I had raised $1200 and my current total is $3720. My experience is that even more $$ comes from the 2nd follow-up email which I’ll send in about a week. Also more than half of the money I raise comes from outside of Colorado, so don’t be shy about asking people in other parts of the country.
The key is to cast a wide net – you just never know who will give – until you ask them! People who have contributed on my page include: friends from high school, friends from college, former colleagues, co-workers, ex-boyfriends, family, my hairdresser, cycling buddies, contractors at work and even a guy in NYC who yelled at me in a negotiation earlier this year! So when in doubt, just ask! If you need any help getting going, please give me a call or shoot me an email.
Also, I have inserted my sample text at the bottom of this message – please feel free to adapt and use for your own campaign.
3) Join the Wheels of Justice on Facebook: Yes, the WOJ Facebook group is growing - now 91 members. In the coming weeks, we’ll have tips from our FB guru, Leslie Morgan, on how to unleash the power of Facebook to fundraise for Children’s.
Check it out the WoJ page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58302100863
This is a great place to post and read communications, share pictures, discuss cycling stuff with other WOJ team members. Updates are sent out for all WOJ events, so you won't miss a training ride or any other happening. If you are not on Facebook yet, and need help signing up, shoot an email to Les.Morgan@Gmail.com and she will help you get there!
4) TWO TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEKEND! (click the links for the ride details)
a) Saturday, June 20, 2009, 9:30 a.m.
Special Ride with Team Courage around the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs
b) Sunday, June 21, 9:00 a.m.WoJ Coach Megan Hottman Teaches Ascending/Descending Skills at Lookout Mtn – Learning safe descending skills is an absolute MUST for the Courage Classic – last year we had ZERO team injuries and we want to keep it that way in ’09. Plus you can ask Megan anything about other cycling skills, too!
5) Many thanks to our incredible 2009 Wheels of Justice team sponsors – we really couldn’t do this without their generous support!
Questions or concerns? Please let me know. Thanks for your terrific help so far and see you on a training ride soon!
And here’s the sample email text for you!
Please forgive this fundraising intrusion (my one and only each year!) but I'm writing in hopes you'll be able to make a contribution in support of my upcoming bike ride (July 25-27) through the Rocky Mountains to benefit Denver's Children's Hospital.
The Courage Classic is an inspiring three-day bicycle tour through some of the most beautiful towns and challenging mountain passes in the Colorado Rockies (Leadville, Copper Mountain, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone to name just a few). I'll be joining 2000 riders from around the world in cycling more than 157 miles -- all with the goal of helping Children's remain one of the best hospitals for kids in the nation.
Last year, through the generous support of friends like you, I was amazed to raise over $_______. Personal contributions ranged from $__ to $______, and each was accepted with deep gratitude. The Courage Classic overall raised over $2.7 million for Children's Hospital -- a new record!
I'm also part of the Wheels of Justice Cycling Team -- a team of over 200 riders sponsored by the Colorado, Denver and Boulder Bar Associations -- which over the last 3 years has raised over $600,000 for Children’s. This year the Wheels of Justice team is aiming to raise $250,000. To lead the way as good team member, my personal fundraising goal will be $________ and that’s one peak I’ll only be able to reach with your help.
This year the Wheels of Justice team is once again dedicating our ride to the Children’s Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders -- the only pediatric-focused center of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. The Center provides a full range of medical, surgical, nursing and support services for kids from birth to age 25 who have childhood cancers and blood disorders, such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. More than 600 patients seek treatment from Children's program each year. Every child who receives oncology and hematology care at Children's will benefit from your charitable donation because every donation we receive will be used for patient care, education, research and advocacy-activities that help all patients.
Of course, I'm hoping you'll be able to dig deep for your gift but I'll also be very grateful for any amount you can give! Please support Children's by donating through my Courage Classic web page using the link below.
Many thanks,
Heather
P.S. During this tough economic year, Children's Hospital has been treating a record number of uninsured kids -- so our help is needed more than ever. Thanks for considering this request.
Happy Trails,
Heather
Heather A. PurcellDesign Onscreen
The Initiative for Architecture and
Design on Film
1700 Lincoln, Ste 2250, Denver, CO 80203
P: 303-863-1250 F: 303-863-1205
Mobile: 303-641-5986
Newsletter Archive:
- Welcome Letter
- May 6, 2010
- April 10, 2010
- March 14, 2010
- Jan 30, 2009
- Mar 26, 2009
- May 1, 2009
- May 8, 2009
- May 14, 2009
- May 21, 2009
- May 28, 2009
- June 5, 2009
- June 12, 2009
- June 18, 2009
