Walk Day is Quickly Approaching...

The Walk is less than 2 months away! Have you and your teammates registered yet? If not, register today at www.jdrfillinois.org!

Please contact your local Walk Manager for assistance with team strategy, fundraising tools or walk day logistics questions, and get started today!

Can't be there on Walk day? Walk virtually! Register and use the online fundraising tools to form your own virtual team.

Important! Upcoming Walk Day Deadlines

As Walk day approaches, please make note of the below logistic and fundraising deadlines:

September 10th - Team Tent deadline. If your team would like to order a tent for Walk day, please contact Sharyn at Indestructo at 847.375.8510. Teams are permitted to bring their own tent, but they must contact their local Walk Manager for size approval and placement. Teams who bring their own tents must set them up on Saturday, October 2nd.

September 17th - Team Table deadline. All pre-registered teams with 10 or more walkers, registered by September 17th at 9 a.m., will have a reserved table with team sign at the Walk site. Team tables will be in alpha order by team name.

November 1st - Incentive Prize deadline. If you would like to receive an incentive prize, please make your selection either on your collection envelope or in your Walk Central account. If you choose not to receive a prize, your full donation will go toward finding a cure.

December 6th - Team Total deadline. All money received by December 6th will count toward your team's 2010 Walk team total and award level. Awards are distributed at the Walk Awards Ceremony in January.

Important Walk Reminders

The Walk is just 2 months away! Have you registered yet? Register today at www.jdrfillinois.org! Please contact your local Walk Manager for assistance with team strategy, fundraising tools or walk day logistics questions, and get started today!



Can't be there on Walk day? Walk virtually! Register and use the online fundraising tools to form your own virtual team.

Walk Materials are also now available to order on our Chapter website under the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes page. These materials are available, free of charge, to help you spread awareness and grow your team!

Have you set a goal? Walk Awards and Incentive Prizes are something to strive for when setting your goal.

2010 Walk Award Levels
$3,500 - $9,999        Bronze Achievement Award
$10,000 - $24,999     Silver Achievement Award
$25,000 - $49,999     Gold Achievement Award
$50,000 - $99,999     Platinum Achievement Award
$100,000 - $199,999  Diamond Achievement Award
$200,000 +               Ron Santo Award


2010 Incentive Prizes
Walkers who raise $100 will receive a JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt on the day of the Walk. Walkers who raise $200 or more can select one of our gift catalogs. You can view all of the award levels and prizes at www.jdrf.org/greatprizes.


Team T-Shirt Contest
Don't forget to enter the t-shirt contest! JDRF or Walk logo must be visible on t-shirt to enter. Drop-off the smallest size of your team t-shirt at the registration tent on Walk day. All winning t-shirts are signed by Ron Santo and framed! Details coming soon on our exciting new voting process.

Register to Walk today at www.walk.jdrf.org!

Announcement - Walk Site Relocation!

The Southwest Suburban location is on the move! The Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes has been relocated to Palos Hills from Orland Park effective this year.

The new location is on the campus of Moraine Valley Community College, located at 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills. The site provides all of the elements JDRF requires to host a great event: beautiful grounds, ample parking, and easy access. We are excited to be working with the college and hope all of our SW Walk teams will celebrate the new location with us!

JDRF Illinois thanks the Village of Orland Park and the crew at Centennial Park for their outstanding support over the past four years. We enjoyed hosting our event in your community.

Please visit www.jdrfillinois.org for more details on the new SW Suburban Palos Hills location. Or contact JDRF Walk Manager Mary Anne Bryan at mbryan@jdrf.org or 312-447-7954.

If you have already registered for the 2010 Walk in Orland Park, you do not need to re-register. But if you haven't registered yet for the October 3, 2010 event, please do so today! www.walk.jdrf.org.

Thank You!

THANK YOU for your support of the 2009 Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes. It is our hope that we will raise more than $5 million for diabetes research. Help us get there – send in outstanding contributions today, or make an online donation.

5 Days to go!

We are just 5 days away from the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes! There is still time to register and raise money! Register today at http://www.walk.jdrf.org/!

Please click on the below links for specific site information, parking & shuttle details, maps and directions, etc.

Chicago (Lawrence Avenue at the Lakefront)

Northern Suburbs (Independence Grove, Libertyville)

Northwest Suburbs (Busse Woods, Schaumburg)

Southwest Suburbs (Centennial Park, Orland Park)

Western Suburbs (Community Park,Lisle)

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 4th!

Two Weeks to Go!

Walk Day is just around the corner!

PLEASE REGISTER - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

* * * * * *

Congratulations to the Central Illinois Walk for holding an incredibly successful event on Sunday, September 13th! Go Peoria!

We're just two weeks away from the 5 Chicagoland Walks being held on Sunday, October 4th:
Chicago (Lawrence Avenue at the Lakefront)
Northern Suburbs (Independence Grove, Libertyville)
Northwest Suburbs (Busse Woods, Schaumburg)
Southwest Suburbs (Centennial Park, Orland Park)
Western Suburbs (Community Park,Lisle)

Visit http://www.walk.jdrf.org/ to register your walkers today and help us reach our $5.5 million goal!

We can do it with your support!

Ford's Family Team Sponsorship

Ford's Operation Goodwill Campaign

Ford Motor Company’s Operation Goodwill Campaign helped raise over $100,000 for the 2008 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes!

Ford continues their role as a JDRF Global Walk Partner and as a JDRF Illinois Chapter Sponsor. We appreciate their continued dedication to our mission!

How does this partnership affect JDRF Walk families? As a presenting sponsor for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, Ford dealerships have the unique opportunity to partner with a Walk Family Team. Our goal for this partnership is to establish a connection between Ford and the community while increasing Family Team success.

The inaugural year of the Ford Family Team Sponsorship raised $25,000 through nine Ford Dealerships sponsoring 10 Family Teams. This campaign drove their local participation to new heights and gave JDRF Family Teams an opportunity for greater success! Success means more funding for diabetes research.

What to expect from a Ford dealership as a partner:

• 13 Ford dealerships will select one winning Family Team each (winning teams announced in August).

• Dealerships have the option of hosting Family Team fundraising events at their dealership.

• Ford dealerships will match the money raised by your Family Team - up to $2,500!

What is expected of selected Family Teams:

• Interested JDRF Family Teams must apply for a dealership sponsor.

• If selected, families are responsible for raising money for the Walk through personal campaign letters sent to family, friends, and community members asking for support and highlighting the unique Ford Dealership partnership.

• Family teams may display dealership name on t-shirts, post-walk wrap-up letters, etc.

• If chosen, Family Teams should thank the dealership partner for their commitment to a cure and support of 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 Friday, July 31, 2009. We look forward to hearing from you! Please contact Katy Orender, JDRF Lakefront Walk Manager, for more information at 312.423.7196.

Save the Date & Spread the Word!

Welcome to our new Walk blog and the 31st Annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes! We are thrilled to expand into Central Illinois this year with our 6th official Walk location. Save the dates and help us find a cure!

Sunday, September 13, 2009 in Peoria.

Sunday, October 4th in 5 Chicagoland locations:

Chicago (Lawrence Avenue at the Lakefront)

Northern Suburbs (Independence Grove, Libertyville)

Northwest Suburbs (Busse Woods, Schaumburg)

Southwest Suburbs (Centennial Park, Orland Park)

Western Suburbs (Community Park,Lisle)

Register for the 2009 Walk at www.walk.jdrf.org today!

Why Walk?
As many as 3 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, a disease most often diagnosed in childhood that strikes suddenly, lasts a lifetime, and carries the constant threat of deadly complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Thanks to dramatic research progress, a cure is now within our reach.
The Walk draws people together in a healthy activity for a worthy cause, raising money to help find a cure for diabetes. It's fun for families and builds camaraderie among company employees. Above all, you’ll feel great about doing something good.

Click on the envelope below to e-mail this Save the Date to your friends, family, co-workers, etc.!