Thursday, June 25, 2009

An Evening with Lou Piniella at Harry Caray's


Mingle with Lou Piniella, Ernie Banks and Dutchie Caray on Wednesday, July 8th at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago, as the West Side Rooters Social Club host an evening benefiting JDRF!

Bring your questions about the team – Lou will provide up-to-the-minute information about the Cubs during a Q & A. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $50 each with 100% of the proceeds benefiting JDRF. Ticket price includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

Baseballs autographed by Lou, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, and other noted baseball stars will be sold during the event. Guests can also bid on great auction items including four tickets in Lou’s seats and a meet/greet/photo/autograph session on the field, and four box seat tickets plus a trip on the field to watch batting practice and half an inning with Ron Santo in the broadcast booth.

For more information and to order tickets, visit the West Side Rooters Social Club website.

JDRF & the Jonas Brothers!

Nick Jonas has teamed with Bayer Diabetes Care, to fight juvenile diabetes through various upcoming events.

Bid on tickets to the Jonas Brothers concert on July 10, 2009 at the Allstate Arena. Tickets will be auctioned off on eBay with all proceeds benefiting JDRF!

When you choose the auction, you can bid on your choice of eight ticket packages to see the SOLD OUT Jonas Brothers in concert. Two ticket packages include pre-concert Meet and Greets with the band!

The eBay auctions begin 9:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, July 4, 2009 and close at 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 . JDRF will overnight the tickets to the winning bidders for delivery by Thursday, July 9th. Click on the below links to check out the various ticket packages and start your bidding!






Also, check out the “Express Your Simple Win” Creativity Contest! Express your own Simple Win by creating a 15-30 second video with your song, lyric, story, drawing, photo movie or other creative idea. Open to 6-18 year olds with diabetes. Three lucky grand prize winners will meet Nick in person!
For more information, visit www.NicksSimpleWins.com or view this flier.

Questions? Contact Jill Gonyea, JDRF Corporate Relations at 770.343.6116

CONGRATULATIONS to Lauren Hermsen, one of JDRF Illinois' own, who was the June winner! You can view Lauren's winning video below.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Ford Funny Car Design Contest

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

Have you ever dreamed of designing a race car? Now’s your chance! Ford is partnering with JDRF once again with this unique opportunity that raised nearly $85,000 in 2008! Ford is a sponsor of NHRA race car driver Bob Tasca III. He’ll race in Charlotte, North Carolina in a car potentially designed by your child! Your child’s design will be posted on a JDRF website open to the public for on-line “bid” donations to decide the chosen design. Ford will select the winner from the top 5 designs with the highest total bids!

What does this contest do for JDRF and for you?
• All proceeds raised by the “bid” donations will support diabetes research!
• Funds raised by your design can benefit your walk team! So get as many people to donate to your design as possible and watch your team grow!
• Let’s make JDRF Illinois the #1 chapter with the most designs submitted and the highest number of donations collected online! This is a national JDRF contest!


What is my next step to have my child’s design on an NHRA Race Car?
• Read all rules and regulations by clicking here.
• Mail the design to the given address (make sure to include your child’s name, age and chapter).
• Let JDRF Illinois know you sent in a design! Email
Katy Orender.

ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JUNE 30, 2009.

Walk Fundraising Tips






Top Ten Steps for Walk Fundraising

Step One: Online Fundraising is Oh So Easy
Visit http://www.jdrf.org/ and create your own personal page that prospective donors can view. Set your goal, upload your e-mail list, add a personal photo, and send out your customized letters inviting your contacts to make an online credit card contribution. Sit back and watch the dollars grow on your own personal website!

Step Two: Face-to Face Conversations Seal the Deal
Asking people in person is a fast and effective way to collect donations. Ask 10 friends for $10 each and you will raise enough to earn the JDRF Walk t-shirt! Use JDRF and diabetes information available in your Walk brochure or online to inform them about how contributions raised through the Walk to Cure Diabetes will be used and why your personal participation is important to you.

Step Three: Letter Writing Makes an Impact
Sometimes a personalized and stamped letter can work magic. Remember, not everyone has email, so you may have some great potential donors who need to receive your formal solicitation letter.

Step Four: Follow up is Key
Be considerate, but remember that people are busy and may need a little nudge. Share a reminder on why you are raising money for diabetes research. Tell everyone how the fundraising is going and how close you are to your goal, and remind them that it’s not too late to contribute. This little reminder can clinch your success!

Step Five: Matching Gifts Double Your Efforts
Find out if your company has a matching gift program. Always remember to ask your sponsors whether or not their companies will match their donations. See if your company offers a match program at www.matchinggifts.com/jdrf.

Step Six: Walk Brochure—Never Leave Home Without It
Always carry a JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes brochure wherever you go. You never know when you will run into a potential supporter!

Step Seven: Ask Where You Shop, ‘Til You Drop
Ask the businesses you frequent for a donation—such as your grocer, hair stylist, dry cleaner, doctor, gym, coffee shop, and favorite restaurant.

Step Eight: Grab Peoples’ Attention
Promote your efforts for the cause by wearing your favorite Walk to Cure Diabetes T-shirt. You will be more "official" and get more attention promoting your upcoming Walk. Also bring along a personal story to share—if you don’t have a diabetes connection, ask your local JDRF Chapter for a Child Ambassador’s story.

Step Nine: Donor Amounts—Think Big, Get Big Results
Don’t undersell your cause and your efforts! Any size donation is great, but if you ask for too small of an amount, people will limit their giving. Try saying "I am asking 10 of my friends for $10 – can you make a donation to fund diabetes research?" Or if you are fundraising online, ask someone who you think will make a larger donation to let you list it on your fundraising webpage – people will see that example and follow suit!

Step Ten: Always Be Thankful
Be sure to send thank you notes to all your donors. Let them know how much you raised, as well as how much your local Walk to Cure Diabetes raised. You can also share some great research funding highlights.