Why raise money?

• For the family who had a child on the autism spectrum and were moving to Akron and seeking assistance with services and programs. We helped. 
   
• For the mother who called crying because her son was having trouble at school. We helped. 
   
• For the other 300 calls and e-mail inquiries we answered last year…we helped. 
   
• For the child with a disability who always wanted to ride a bike. We’re bringing “Lose the Training Wheels” to Akron. 
   
• For the parent with a child on the spectrum who just wants someone to talk to and troubleshoot problems. We developed the Neighbor to Neighbor program. 
   
• For the adult with Aspergers who wants to improve their relationships and social skills. We have our Aspergers Boot Camp. 
   
• For our educators who need support teaching acceptance of children on the spectrum at school.  We are donating videos on how to be a friend to someone with autism to school districts in the Greater Akron community, including Summit, Stark, Wayne, Medina and Portage counties. 
   
• For being a voice for families who are often too overwhelmed to give their own, we work on the federal, state, and local levels to advocate for positive changes in services, employment and housing opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum.

REGISTRATION

• 5K Run: Registration fee is $20. Please select your t-shirt size, age, and gender when registering. Runners can also build fundraising pages to support your run!

• Walkers: Registration is $10 per person. Walkers (or riders, such as strollers or wagons) under the age of 3 are free. Please select your t-shirt size at the time of registration. Build a fundraising page to support your walk!

• Team Captains: Set a team goal and ask your team to help you raise money. Create a fundraising page so you can send out emails to friends and family with your story about why you are walking. Be creative!

• Use this Autism Awareness Ribbon sheet to raise money by selling ribbons at your workplace, neighborhood, etc.

• Here is a team sign-up sheet. If you use this sheet, don’t forget to enter your team individually into the Firstgiving site so we know your team members and t-shirt sizes. Hang this sheet in your office!

• Does your company match your fundraising efforts? Create a corporate team and support your company’s corporate citizenship efforts!

• If you are given personal checks and cash, please make checks payable to YOU; then, bundle the money into ONE check made out to the Autism Society of Ohio.

• Be sure to log the checks on your Firstgiving page (Enter Manually) so you (and/or your team) get credit!

• Mail checks to Autism Society of Ohio, P.O. Box 2831, Akron , OH  44309

Set Goals and Give Yourself and/or Your Team a Challenge!

• Give your team a challenge. If you meet your goal, what will you do? Walk in heels? Dress up as superheroes? As long as it is family friendly, we’re all for it! Be sure to let us know if you make your goal and what the challenge is.

• Are you a first responder? Challenge your colleagues that if you make your goal, you will run in your gear! Run in uniform!

Are there prizes? You bet! All prizes will be based on Firstgiving totals. 

• Prizes will be given to Individuals and Team Captains who create fundraising pages and raise the most money!
• Prize Categories:
  • Overall Prize: Individual Who Raises the Most Money
  • Overall Prize: Team Captain that Raises the Most Money

Individual who raises money in these categories will have name entered into drawing for a prize:

• $500 - $1000
• $1,000 - $1,500
• $1,500 0 $2,000
• $2,000 - $2,500
• $2,500 + 

Let's get down to event day!

SCHEDULE

6:30 AM:       Vendors Set Up

7:30 AM:       Registration Opens
 

8:15 AM:       Welcoming Remarks

8:30 AM:       Walk Begins

9:00 AM:       Run Begins

10:00 AM:     Awards for Fundraisers and Runners

11:00 AM      END

WALK

What is the walk course? The course will be approximately one mile and will be family friendly (easy for all ages).  The course will be different than last year’s to allow for more people. Check back for more information on the course.

RUN

What is the 5k course? The 5k course is “under construction,” but will be different than last year’s tow-path course. We are preparing for more runners!

How will the race be timed? The run will be electronically timed for the best possible accuracy.
 

How will awards be given this year? Awards will be based on age groups and gender.

ACTIVITIES and FOOD

We will have a snack for after the run and walk.

Vendors are encouraged to put together fun activities for the children, such as games, coloring, corn-hole, hoola-hoops, etc. The Autism Society of Ohio, Greater Akron is providing bounce houses (four this year).

Stop by the Autism Society's table for an Autism Awareness Ribbon tattoo (temporary of course)! You can also pick up information about our programs and services, and purchase Autism Awareness items.


DRAGONLY SENSORY ROOM

Dragonfly Academy will once again be running our Sensory Room, a quiet area if we have some overwhelmed walkers.  There will be a bounce house, games, books, and toys inside the Sensory Room.

POSTERS, BUTTONS, SIGNS

Don’t forget to create posters to cheer your team on!

VOLUNTEERS
 
You can sign up to be a volunteer through our Firstigiving Registration Site. Select REGISTER and there is a Volunteer Option.  We want our families to be able to walk or run, but if you are someone who can support us that day as a volunteer, we need your help! Thank you!

 
Questions we haven’t answered? Please submit your questions to:
Autismgreaterakron@yahoo.com.  Thank you.