GETTING STARTED WITH TEAM HEALTHY KIDS
Team Healthy Kids is for anyone who wants kids to be healthy and wants to do something about it! Whether
you want to run a marathon, host a local event, walk a 5K or simply support someone who is already signed
up, this is the right place for you. Whatever you choose to do, your efforts will help schools provide good
food and fitness programs for kids.
Ready to Start?
Our running coach and team director, Seth Kopf, will be providing a continual stream of support and
communications updates to you. He will provide inspiration and guidance to your training and fundraising
efforts. Now, you are about ready to begin! Email [email protected] or
[email protected] anytime.
Begin promoting your event to your friends, family and co-workers through email, social media and word of
mouth. Your fundraising page provides an easy and secure site to serve as the HQ to receive donations and
support. Use the site to promote to Facebook, email and other social media.
Benefits for running with Team Healthy Kids
Upon signing up* for Team Healthy Kids, runners receive:
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Team Healthy Kids technical running shirt
A FREE virtual training program from Kopf Running
Weekly training & nutrition tips
‘Ask the Coach’ email/phone support
Personalized fundraising page and fundraising guidance
Online fundraising toolkit
The opportunity to play a BIG part in the fight against childhood obesity!
Team Healthy Kids Support:
At any time during your training, you will have technical support from Action for Healthy Kids in the form of
runner training, fundraising coaching and technological support for your Fundraising Page. If you have any
questions, please contact Seth Kopf: [email protected]. Additional contact
information is on the final page of this toolkit.
STEP 1: PERSONALIZE YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
Follow the steps provided by us to create your page, then personalize it!
Use this sample to personalize your fundraising page:
Dear friends and family,
[Customize your opening paragraph to speak to the reason why supporting Action for Healthy Kids is
important to you. Here is an example.]
I have made a commitment to running in the [insert race name here] and to promote healthy living for myself
and our society. Running to promote a healthy lifestyle and to fight childhood obesity is a perfect
complement. I want future generations of children to be healthy and succeed in school and in life.
Childhood obesity is a major problem that needs addressed. More than 30% of American children are obese
or overweight. This is triple the number than in 1980. Action for Healthy Kids is helping make a difference
through several great programs. Check out their website www.actionforhealthykids.org to learn more.
With a donation of any size you can help them continue to impact the lives of our kids and get even more of
these great programs in local schools.
Thanks for your support!
[your name]
P.S. For those of you wondering how your donation will be used, here are some examples:
Make sure to include pictures and photos to make your page come alive.
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STEP 2: SEND OUT MESSAGES
Use this sample to personalize emails asking for support:
Sample Email Subject line: More than 30% of American children are overweight. Join Me in Helping Action
for Healthy Kids.
Dear (First Name),
I am running in the [insert race name here] in support of Action for Healthy Kids. Action for Healthy Kids
impacts childhood obesity and healthier schools nationwide thanks to dedicated parents and volunteers. I
thought you might be interested in learning more and considering supporting it as well.
More than 30% of American children are obese or overweight. This is triple the amount since 1980. But,
Action for Healthy Kids is doing something about it by partnering with a legion of dedicated volunteers -teachers, students, moms, dads, school wellness experts and more -- from within the ranks of our 80,000+
network to create healthful school changes. Each year, they work with 25,000 schools and 13 million kids!
Join me in supporting Action for Healthy Kids. With your help, Action for Healthy Kids will provide the
necessary resources, programs, and volunteers to help schools build wellness programs that succeed. Please
take a minute to visit my fundraising page and donate today. A gift of $100 will make a huge difference.
{Insert Link to Fundraising Page}
Thank you for your support and all you do to make our youth healthy and active.
Sincerely,
{Insert Name}
P.S. Please let me know if you are willing to help me spread my message to your friends and family!
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Use these sample messages on your personal social media accounts:
Messages were to fit within 140 characters for Twitter. They can be expanded for Facebook.
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Nearly 1 in 3 children is obese or overweight. Find out how you can help Action for
Healthy Kids make a difference. {insert link to Fundraising page}
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Time to get our kids moving. Donate $20 to help me run [insert race name] and support
Action for Healthy Kids. {insert link to Fundraising page}
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Do you think after school programs need healthier snacks? Donate $50 to supply fruit
and vegetable snacks for one week. {insert link to Fundraising page}
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Action for Healthy Kids programs like Game On! have proven to make youth more active
and eat healthier. Help us get them in more schools. {insert link to Fundraising page}
For Facebook:
In addition to using the key messages listed above, Facebook is a great way to engage your
contacts in discussions by asking questions. Examples include:
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“I read the other day 35% of school-age children watch an average of 5 or more hours
of TV on a school day. Does this concern you? Donate to my page today”
 “What tips would you share to help make your children eat healthier? “
 “As an advocate for Action for Healthy Kids I am glad to hear so many people are
interested in helping kids get active and eat healthy. Consider donating to this cause to
help us improve the lives of our children.” {insert link to fundraising page}
STEP 3: SEND THANK-YOU LETTER
Dear <name>:
Thank you for donating $____ to Action for Healthy Kids. I really appreciate your support in
helping me fight childhood obesity. Your gift will be used to enhance and expand programming
in schools, and inspire me to run!
I look forward to keeping you in touch with our efforts. I know you will be moved as you begin
to see the changes in children I have seen thanks to Action for Healthy Kids.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at <phone no>.
Warm regards,
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STEP 4: FOLLOW UP
Acknowledge the Gift
Make sure to follow up each donation with a thank you note. Send these notes promptly –
ideally within 24 hours, certainly within 48 hours. Exceptionally generous donors always
appreciate handwritten notes because they are so rare, but typed letters are fine.
A Thank You is an indispensable part of engaging donors, friends, volunteers, and other
constituents. More than anything else, it demonstrates that you appreciate their investments of
time, money, and energy. Through good stewardship, you demonstrate respect and
appreciation for your friends’ involvement with Action for Healthy Kids.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Again
Communication is key – if over a week has passed with no response from your contact, send a
polite friendly reminder to donate with the same key messages. You may catch them at a time
when they are less busy and more likely to contribute. Don’t take their lack of response
personally, sometimes we just need reminder.
Say Thank You Even If Someone Doesn’t Give
Again follow up with a thank you note within one or two days. Send this regardless of whether
or not the prospect made a gift. The courtesy of listening to your solicitation deserves your
thanks.
SAMPLE IMAGES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL
Feel free to use your own images, but the photos below can be used as well.
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RESOURCES
1. Address:
Action for Healthy Kids
600 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 720
Chicago, IL 60607
2. Important Website, Social Media & Team Healthy Kids landing page information:
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www.actionforhealthykids.org/support-us/team-healthy-kids/ - THK Headquarters
www.Facebook.com/ActionforHealthyKids - Facebook
www.twitter.com/Act4HlthyKids - Twitter
www.TeamHealthyKids.org – Home Page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKORnAf8l3E – video of Idita and AFHK impact on her life
3. Instructions for collecting ‘offline’ donations:
Checks can be sent to the attention of Sarah Pronto at the address listed above. Please
include ‘Your name marathon donation’ in the memo line.
4. Staff and Fundraising Contacts:
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J.D. Beiting – 614-570-3520; [email protected]
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Seth Kopf – 847-659-8721; [email protected]
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