FORMING AN AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO TEAM BENEFITS YOUR ORGANIZATION

Walking as a team is not only fun, but also a powerful morale builder for all types of companies, schools and organizations. It’s a time for meaningful fellowship outside the work or school environment, and it’s a great reason for friends and family groups to get together!

Forming an AIDS Walk team is a great way to reinforce the goals of every individual walker. An AIDS Walk team brings Team Members together to show support for loved ones who are fighting the disease, to walk in memory of those who have passed away, and to raise awareness that HIV/AIDS still threatens our communities. Raising funds for those affected by HIV/AIDS is extremely important and easy to do as a group. As an AIDS Walk team, you will motivate each other (and challenge other AIDS Walk Teams) to meet high fundraising goals.

By forming an AIDS Walk San Francisco team, you are demonstrating your commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in our communities, and your team will be listed in the official AIDS Walk San Francisco Guide. At the event, many teams wear T-shirts and carry banners with their names and logos proudly displayed.

It’s Easy, Start A Team!

•Designate a Team Leader (or Co-Leaders) and Form a Team NOW. Request A Team Once approved by an AIDS Walk San Francisco Team Coordinator, you will receive an e-mail with your username and password to set up your own Team Fundraising Web page! In addition, the AIDS Walk San Francisco office will assign your team an exclusive team number and send registration materials, marked with that number to distribute to your employees, students or members. When Team Members register they must  provide your team name or team number, so that we can Your team number allows us to accurately track all walkers registered on your team as well as the money they raise.

•Set a recruitment and fundraising goal. For larger companies, consider the size of the organization. If your employer has 1,000 employees, set a goal to register 10% of them or 100 Team Walkers. Many teams invite their family and friends to join, too. In 2007, the average walker raised $325. If your team registered 100 walkers that raised $325 each, your team would raise $32,500 which could make your team a top team and a Gold Team!

•Register Team Members! Register 25 walkers or more by NOON Wednesday, July 9, 2008 and your team will qualify for a Team Meeting Station in Golden Gate Park on July 20, 2008. Use your team Web page to invite friends, co-workers and family members to join the team. Use the AIDS Walk San Francisco Team Fax Registration Form  to register walkers in person. Once a form is filled out completely, fax it back to the AIDS Walk San Francisco office using the number written at the top of the document. Remember to invite board members, vendors, customers, friends and family members!

Keep the Momentum Going!

•Get the word out. Encourage the involvement of your Team through newsletters, e-mail, incentives, and group activities. Put up posters, hand out flyers, send an e-mail or change your voice-mail message to notify everyone you are participating in AIDS Walk San Francisco.

•Get your fundraising off on the right foot. The AIDS Walk San Francisco office will mail each Team Member a Walker Kit with a sponsorship form upon receiving their registration. In addition, all Team Members will have access to their own fundraising Web page where they will be able to send out e-mails and collect credit card donations online. In the meantime, motivate Team Members to start collecting donations offline as soon as they register! Download an AIDS Walk San Francisco Sponsor Form and hand it to them immediately.   

•Raise Funds!
Ask everyone to sponsor you. No amount is too small; Sponsors can pledge $1, $10 or $100 – the sky’s the limit!  Matching gift programs can double, even triple your donations. Search for the company names of all Ask friends and family members who sponsor you to find out if their employer has a matching gift program.  

•The Star Walkers Club is a group of dedicated individuals who set a goal of raising $1,000 or more. Star Walkers who reach the $1,000 mark will receive extra recognition and support. To learn more about the Star Walkers Club, contact us at awsfstar@aidswalk.net

•We want you to be successful! The AIDS Walk San Francisco team staff is always available to help with your team building and fundraising efforts. To get more team fundraising and recruiting ideas, contact a Team Coordinator, at  awsfteams@aidswalk.net.   

Lace Up Your Sneakers!

On Sunday, July 20, join other caring and compassionate individuals in Golden Gate Park to raise urgently needed funds for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in San Francisco. AIDS Walk is a fun event with celebrities, food, music, and most importantly, YOU AND YOUR TEAM!

Also, consider Volunteering or becoming a Corporate Sponsor!