Ford Family Team Sponsorship

Ford is a valued part of the JDRF family! Their 2012 Global Walk Partner status and their Illinois Chapter Sponsor title means a renewal of goodwill and support for our organization. Their sponsorship impacts several activities at our chapter and we appreciate Ford’s steadfast dedication.

In 2011, The Ford Motor Company’s Operation Goodwill Campaign helped raise more than $100,000 for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes! We applaud their efforts and thank them for their enthusiasm.

The JDRF/Ford 2012 partnership extends to the network of JDRF Family Walk teams once again.

How does their support impact JDRF Walk families?

Ford Dealerships have the unique opportunity to partner with a Walk Family Team through fundraising activities. The relationship fosters team spirit and friendship, connecting the Dealerships to those families living in their communities. The partnership also means dollars for JDRF to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes! 

How Does the Family Team Sponsorship Work? 

• Interested JDRF Family Teams must apply for a Dealership sponsorship and commit to raising a minimum of $1,500 through their own team fundraising efforts. 
• Family Teams may be selected by a Dealership in their immediate area.  
• Selected teams are responsible for raising money and acknowledging their Dealership partner in personal fundraising letters sent to family, friends, and community members. 
• Recognize your dealership partner! Display the dealership name on family team t-shirts, in post-walk wrap-up letters, on day-of family team signs, etc. 
• Say thanks! Family Teams should send a family team photo; visit the dealership post- Walk; present a personalized family "award". 

What to Expect from a Ford Dealership Partner 

• Select Ford dealerships will each select a Family Team from their area (teams announced in August). 
• Dealerships have the option of hosting Family Team fundraising events. 
• Ford dealerships will match the money raised by your Family Team - up to $1,500 or up to $2,500 depending on the dealer commitment and donations raised by your Team. 

If your team is interested in this amazing opportunity, please complete the below application and return it to the JDRF Illinois office by Monday, July 16, 2012. We look forward to hearing from you! Please contact Kathy Altonji, JDRF Illinois Walk Manager, for more information at 312.423.7196 or

kaltonji@jdrf.org.

Click on the below flyer and application to download and print.

The Dash to Cure Diabetes - May 27, 2012

Joins JDRF for The Dash to Cure Diabetes on May 27th at Citizens Park in Barrington! 

The DASH to Cure Diabetes is a trail run the prairie path between Citizens Park and Cuba Marsh. The path  offers lots of scenic, rolling landscape inside of two of the cleanest parks in Lake County. Split times each mile, hydration stations, and medical support are available throughout the course. More food, fluids, and plenty of rest stations are available at the start/finish line. A 3-mile run and Junior Dash events are also featured.

To learn more and register visit The Dash's website, www.dashtocurediabetes.org.

View the promotional video by clicking here.

Save the Date!

Walk with us:

· Chicago Lakefront @ Montrose

· Libertyville (Independence Grove)

· Lisle (Community Park of Lisle)

· Palos Hills (Moraine Valley Comm. College)

· Peoria (Glen Oak Park)

· Elk Grove Village (Busse Woods)

 Register today and learn more!

www.jdrfillinois.org

The Westin Michigan Avenue - Ron Santo Suite Unveiling

The Westin Michigan Avenue (909 N. Michigan Ave.) will unveil the Ron Santo Suite, a memorabilia-filled suite featuring photographs of Santo’s storied career and other personal items. Join JDRF and Ron Santo, Jr. for the suite's unveiling on Wednesday, April 4th at 11:00 a.m.

Official unveiling will begin at 11:15 a.m. and the ribbon cutting will take place at 11:30 a.m. Guests will then have the opportunity to tour the suite, take photos, and be one of the first to see this very special space.

Join us as we celebrate the many contributions of our friend, Ron Santo! JDRF is honored to be part of this wonderful program and to be chosen as The Westin Michigan Avenue's official charity of 2012. A portion of the proceeds of the room will be donated to JDRF.

Registration is Now Open!

Registration for the 2012 Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes is Now Open!

We have created a document to help guide you through the registration process. Our newly enhanced registration system that was unveiled last year now saves your information from the previous Walk and will make getting started this year even easier.  So remember to enter in last year’s username and password when registering for the 2012 Walk.  If you have forgotten your username and password, you can click on the link and it will be e-mailed to you.  

If you have any questions, please e-mail or call your Walk Manager so we can help walk you through the process or answer any questions.

Visit www.walk.jdrf.org to register today and spread the word to family and friends!  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 14th!

Sneaker Sales Campaign News - Casey's General Stores & Party City

JDRF is excited to announce a renewed partnership with Casey’s General Stores. Their 5th annual JDRF paper sneaker scannable campaign will take place during the entire month of February at all Casey’s locations.

Since 2007 Casey’s General Stores has raised $756,000 for JDRF. Company-wide, Casey’s goal is to raise $250,000 this year in support of JDRF’s mission to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes. 

We appreciate Casey's commitment to JDRF and look forward to a successful campaign!  Please visit your local Casey's today to buy a JDRF sneaker and thank them for their efforts!

JDRF is thrilled that Party City will once again be conducting a JDRF Scannable Sales Campaign.  The campaign will run from February 19th-March 3rd at their more than 600 company-ownded and franchise stores throughout the United States.  

This is the second year that Party City has supported JDRF with this campaign.  In 2011, the Party City campaign raised over $415,000!

Please visit your local Party City to thank them for their support of JDRF and while stocking up on your party supplies, buy a JDRF scannable!

Thank you, Party City!

2012 Walk Registration to Open on March 14th!

Registration for the 2012 Ron Santo

Walk to Cure Diabetes opens on March 14th!

 Last year, JDRF began using a new Walk registration and database system with enhanced fundraising tools and resources for all of our participants and donors. This system offers participants features such as the ability to set up a team web page and link your personal fundraising page to social networking sites. It also enables walkers to track Walk donations and download donor reports. This system saves your information from the previous Walk and will make getting started this year even easier! You can use last year’s username and password to register for the 2012 Walk.

We have created a document  which will help guide you through the registration process. If you have any questions, please e-mail or call your Walk Manager so we can help walk you through the process or answer any questions.

Visit www.walk.jdrf.org on March 14th to register your team and kick-off your fundraising efforts for 2012 Walk being held on October 14th!

* * * 

Special thanks to Ford Assembly Plant who is the first team to turn in money, over $1,000, for the 2012 Walk!  They’re off to a great start and hoping to surpass their impressive 2011 totals.  Keep up the good work!

2012 Walk Sponsorship Opportunities

The JDRF Walk Staff is currently working hard to renew all past Walk Sponsors and secure new corporate sponsors.  Sponsorship of the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes gives you access to nearly 30,000 participants; provides corporate exposure and visibility; promotes teamwork and community service; and links your company to one that is making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans impacted by diabetes.

If you are interested in corporate sponsorship, or if you would like additional information to pass on to your company, please contact your local Walk Manager.

Special thanks to those sponsors who have already signed on for the 2012 Walk!

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

JDRF is a volunteer driven organization, and we are always looking for new volunteers. We are especially in need of volunteers for Walk weekend at each location. The volunteer positions range from set-up to welcoming committee and students can receive community service hours for volunteer efforts with JDRF. If you are interested in volunteering for our Walk, please contact your local Walk Manager and they will forward your name on the the Volunteer Chair(s) for the Site you are interested in. 

We are also in need of volunteers to serve on our Family Team and Site Logistics Committees.  If you are interested in learning more about serving on a seasonal committee, please contact your local Walk Manager.

* * *

The Central Illinois Site is currently looking for volunteers to fill the following positions:

Site Committee:

• Volunteer Chair & 2 sub-committee members
• Entertainment Chair
• Stewardship Chair

Family Team Committee:

• 4 Family Team Mentors

If you are interested in learning more about any of these positions in Central Illinois, please contact Tricia Potts at 309-229-0558 or tpotts@jdrf.org.

Central Illinois Walk News

Kelsey Alderson, Grace Cushing, Jilli Sellner and Sydney Gramm of “Sydney’s Supporters".

Central Illinois Celebrates at Walk Awards Reception
Over 130 people came out to celebrate the success of the 2011 Central Illinois Walk on Thursday, January 26 at the Par-a-Dice Hotel & Casino.  In addition to our regular walk team fundraising awards, special awards were presented to Clark Management (McDonald’s) for outstanding sneaker sales and to family team committee member, Julia Walker, as the Central Illinois Volunteer of the Year. 

Special thanks to Scott Robbins of WMBD 1470 who once again served as the emcee for the event.  We are grateful for his continued support.  We also thank all of our Central Illinois corporate partners, including R.A. Cullinan and Son, who were on hand to celebrate this past year’s fundraising efforts.

Top fundraising award honors went to returning winners: Family Team, Edna’s Angels, for raising nearly $40,500 and Corporate Team, Janssen’s Justice for JDRF (Janssen Law Center) for raising nearly $5,600!

 

Congratulations to all of our award winners in Central Illinois!  We are grateful for your continued support of JDRF.

 

* * *

Volunteer Opportunity for Central Illinois Families

We are looking for two volunteers to staff a JDRF information booth on Tuesday, March 13th at the Peoria Civic Center during family night at Access the Experience, the premier March Madness event in Central Illinois. This is a night for special needs kids and adults and their families to come and go through all of the games at March Madness.  Organizations are set up throughout the event and parents/caregivers can bring their families and gather information.  Set-up is from 4-5 p.m. and the event runs from 5-8 p.m.  It is free for organizations to participate, free for people to attend and free to park.  Tricia Potts, JDRF Walk Manager, will provide the materials and signage. If you are interested in helping staff the booth, please contact Tricia as soon as possible at 229-0558 or tpotts@jdrf.org.

All family teams were recently sent a packet of information about our Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes program.  Please take the time to review this information about this exciting program.  Help us raise more funds for research and a cure by organizing a Kids Walk at your child's school! 

The Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes is an educational school fundraising program that raises money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. While raising money for JDRF, students learn about diabetes and the importance of making healthy choices. The money raised through this program helps fund type 1 diabetes research and provides additional dollars for your school to use on equipment, field trips, books or whatever your school needs!

How the JDRF Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes Program Works in 5 Easy Steps:
1.  Contact your local Walk Manager to schedule your Kids Walk.  Pick two days, two weeks apart.  Your school can participate anytime of the year!

2.  On the first scheduled date, students are taught about diabetes and the Kids Walk program is explained.

3.  Students have two weeks to collect donations.

4.  Two weeks after the classes have been taught, the Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes is held on your campus. 

5.  Wrap up your campaign.  Expect the students’ prizes, your school banner and your 10% appreciation check to arrive six weeks after your donations and order forms have been received.

Start planning your own JDRF Kids Walk today!  Send in the form that was included in the packet and a JDRF Walk Manager will follow-up with you.  To learn more, please visit http://jdrfkidswalk.donordrive.com/.

3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bike Parade to Benefit JDRF

On March 17, 2012, Bleeker’s Bowling Lanes in Evergreen Park, IL will be holding their 3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bike Parade to Benefit JDRF.  Decorate your bikes with Irish and JDRF themed decorations then meet up at Bleekers’s Bowl where the parade will start and end.

Come out and celebrate St. Pat’s, enjoy food and fun and raise money for JDRF!  Last year, the event raised over $2,500 to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes!  It is a wonderful family event that gets bigger and better every year! Join this new tradition in 2012!  For more information, please contact Bleeker’s at (708) 423-4777.

Do you have an event coming up to benefit your Walk team? 

We'd love to hear about it!  Please send your event details to your Walk Manager and we will highlight it in an upcoming communication.

2011 Team T-Shirt Contest

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes T-shirt Contest Finalists.  Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by clicking on the comments link (right below each post in the gray bar) and leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the t-shirt you are voting for in the comment sections.  To keep things fair, please cast only one vote. 

One family team t-shirt winner will be chosen at each of our six Walk Sites, as well as one overall Corporate Team t-shirt winner.  The winning t-shirts will be anounced at our January Walk Awards Receptions.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th.

Voting is simultaneously going on at our JDRF Illinois Facebook page as well, so be sure to vote and feel free to pass this on to your friends and family (click on the envelope below)!  Happy Voting!

UPDATE:  VOTING IS NOW CLOSED.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.  WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT OUR WALK AWARDS RECEPTIONS IN JANUARY.  STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO.

Corporate Team T-Shirt Contest Finalists - VOTE NOW

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes Corporate Team T-shirt contest finalists.  Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the shirt in the comment section below.  Please cast only ONE vote.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th. 

T-Shirt #1 - AAR

 T-Shirt #2 - Allstate

T-Shirt #3 - Captive Resources

T-Shirt #4 - Ed Miniat, Inc.

T-Shirt #5 - EMKAY, Inc.

T-Shirt #6 - Ford

T-Shirt #7 - Land O'Frost  

 T-Shirt #8 - SEKO Worldwide, LLC

T-Shirt #9 - Sloan Valve

T-Shirt #10 - The Warranty Group

Happy Voting!

Busse Woods T-Shirt Contest Finalists - VOTE NOW

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt contest finalists for our Northwest Suburbs (Busse Woods) Walk Site.  Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the shirt in the comment section below.  Please cast only ONE vote.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th.  Happy Voting!

T-Shirt #1 - Erik's CARBage Collectors

 T-Shirt #2 - Meg's Militia

T-Shirt #3 - Mikey's Marchers

T-Shirt #4 - Robert Gardner Cure Crusaders

 T-Shirt #5 - Ryan's Rescuers

T-Shirt #6 - Steven's Sweeties

T-Shirt #7 - Team Maggie

T-Shirt #8 - Kevin's Krusaders

Happy Voting!

Lakefront T-Shirt Contest Finalists - VOTE NOW

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt contest finalists for our Chicago (Lakefront) Walk Site. Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the shirt in the comment section below. Please cast only ONE vote.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th. Happy Voting!

T-Shirt #1 - Alexandra's Amazing Butterflies

T-Shirt #2 - Diabetes Speedies

T-Shirt #3 - Everybody Loves Nick

 T-Shirt #4 - Harry's Care-Eez

 T-Shirt #5 - Lil' Pricks

 T-Shirt #6 - Malia's Mission

 T-Shirt #7 - Nicole & Karina Cure Busters & Co.

 T-Shirt #8 - Team Colleen

T-Shirt #9 - Team Diabuddies

 T-Shirt #10 - Team Vin-Ethan

 Happy Voting!

Libertyville T-Shirt Contest Finalists - VOTE NOW

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt contest finalists for our North Suburbs (Independence Grove, Libertyville) Walk Site.  Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the shirt in the comment section below.  Please cast only ONE vote.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th.  Happy Voting!

T-Shirt #1 - 5K 4 #10

 T-Shirt #2 - Abbie's Angels

 T-Shirt #3 - Alyssa's Allies

 T-Shirt #4 - Carter's Crew

 T-Shirt #5 - Katie's Crew

 T-Shirt #6 - Michael's Mates

 Happy Voting!

Lisle Team T-Shirt Contest Finalists - VOTE NOW

Congratulations to the 2011 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt contest finalists for our West Suburbs (Community Park of Lisle) Walk Site. Please vote for your favorite T-shirt by leaving the T-Shirt number and team name of the shirt in the comment section below. Please cast only ONE vote.  Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7th. Happy Voting!

T-Shirt #1 - Amanda's Angels

 T-Shirt #2 - Hoof it for Heather

 T-Shirt #3 - K A Pumpers

 T-Shirt #4 - Team Carley's Cure

Happy Voting!