The JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes is 5 Days Away!

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Come help us honor our greatest Champion, Ron Santo, as we walk in memory of him. Click here to view a special tribute to our favorite #10! Then, if you haven't done so already, register and join us in our search for ways to Cure, better Treat, and Prevent type 1 diabetes and help us reach our nearly $5 million goal!

10 Days is Plenty of Time to Make a Difference!

• REGISTER!  If you haven't done so already, register today at www.walk.jdrf.org!  Ask your friends, family and co-workers to walk with you too!

• FUNDRAISE!  Raise $100 fast by asking 10 people for $10!  Everyone who raises $100 will receive a Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes t-shirt on Walk day (one shirt per walker).  This year's shirt is a special commemorative one, so you will want one of your own!

• SPREAD THE WORD!  Utilize your social networking sites to recruit walkers and raise funds.  Fundraise through Facebook! Follow these simple instructions to download the Facebook application and start fundraising today!
  
  • Login to your JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Participant Center. Click here.
  • Click on the “Fundraise with Facebook” button on the bottom right hand side of your Participant Center page. This will connect you directly to your Facebook account.
  • Facebook will prompt you to download the application. Select "Allow" to continue.
  • That’s it! You’ve downloaded the free Facebook application.  We hope you’ll take advantage of all the exciting new features on your Facebook application to take your fundraising to the next level!

Thank you so much for your support of JDRF!  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 2nd!

P.S. For updated Walk news and information, please visit www.jdrfillinois.org.  For maps and directions, and important logistic information, for each of the Walk Sites, please click here.

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RON SANTO WALK SPOTLIGHT: NALCO COMPANY

How has Nalco Company raised over $331,000 for JDRF since 2004? They made it easy while also having fun! A team of employees put their heads together and came up with creative fundraising ideas that work for them.

The executive support they receive internally creates a lot of enthusiasm for the team and truly makes a difference. The last two years, Nalco has been a Presenting Sponsor for the Walk, which has motivated the employees to give and get involved with their team.

Creating healthy competition has worked for the Nalco team and they’ve accomplished this by splitting into two groups, Nalco Cubs and Nalco Sox. The week before the Walk, they generate excitement by holding a softball game on the front lawn during the lunch hour Nalco Cubs vs. Nalco Sox!

Another popular way to raise money is Wednesday Jean’s Day. Jean’s “passes” are sold every Tuesday during lunch and each pass gives the employee an opportunity to wear jeans on a Wednesday. Last year, the jean’s day alone raised over $4,000.

Nalco employees were asked why they participate in the JDRF Walk. One of them said “I Walk to save my husband’s eyesight, so he will be able to continue to see his children grow. I Walk to raise money to find a cure.” Another employee Walks because “it takes so little time and energy, to do so much in the lives of those who need our help!!”

Nalco team – you all are a true inspiration to so many and we thank you for your continued support and dedication.  Thank you for helping us take critical steps to finding a cure.

Egg Harbor Cafe

For the month of September, all 14 Egg Harbor Cafe restaurants in Illinois will be directing all donations from their Pay It Forward campaign to JDRF.  To find the Egg Harbor location near you, please click here.  For more information about their Pay It Forward program, please check out their website at http://eggharborcafe.com/eggstras/pay-it-forward/.

ATTENTION LAKEFRONT WALKERS: PARKING CHANGES!

Parking at the Lakefront Walk along Simonds Drive is free on Walk Day. Meter charges do apply in all lots at Foster, Wilson and Montrose. Participants are responsible for all meter fees.

Please be sure to keep your car off the grass. The Chicago Park District will fine us $50 for every car they see drive or park on the grass. Thank you!

Old Orchard

Old Orchard has renewed their generous support of JDRF. Taste a sample of one of their fruit juice products on Walk day or pick up a coupon in the JDRF Chapter booth.

Visit www.oldorchard.com and click on “Promotions” to learn more about the JDRF Points Donation Challenge. Thank you, Old Orchard!

Project S.N.A.P.

Project S.N.A.P. will be back again at the Walk collecting drawings for a mural that will be auctioned off at the December 10^th Chance of a Lifetime Gala.  Ford Motor Company sponsors this opportunity and it’s a great way to have your creativity part of a lasting piece that helps fund type 1 diabetes research.  Be sure to visit the Project SNAP near the Ford tent to add your drawings to the collection.  Click here for more information and to view past murals. 

SNEAKER SALES CAMPAIGN NEWS

Stop in to these below JDRF partners, buy a sneaker and thank them for their generous support of JDRF!

Advance Auto PartsAdvance Auto Parts  will once again be supporting JDRF through their annual Sneaker Sales Campaign. Their campaign will run from August 18th - October 1st, 2011 and will consist of $1, $5, $25 and $50 sneaker sales at more than 3,500 Advance Auto Parts stores in more than 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  The campaign raised $1,898,000 in 2010 and we look forward to another successful campaign!

Back-to-Bed Sneaker Sales Campaign
Beginning August 1st, Back-to-Bed will begin their JDRF sneaker sales campaign.  Their campaign will run for 6-weeks, so be sure to stop in to your local Back-to-Bed to buy a sneaker and say thank you!  To find a Back-to-Bed near you, please click here.

Marshalls
In 2010, Marshalls raised an incredible $1.9 million for JDRF! They will be supporting us again this year through their sneaker sales campaign beginning on August 21st through September 24th at their over 800 locations.  Please stop in to your local Marshalls, buy a sneaker and say thank you for their continued support of JDRF!

Russell Stover Candies
As America's leader in Sugar Free candies, Russell Stover Candies has been a proud supporter of JDRF since 2002. They proudly display their association with JDRF on all of their Sugar Free candy products - which can be found in the candy aisle at retail stores throughout the United States.  Their 3rd annual JDRF Sneaker Sales Campaign will run Thursday, September 1st – Saturday, October 1st at 38 store locations in 14 states.  For a list of Russell Stover locations, please click here.

Hy-Vee
Since 1998 Hy-Vee has raised more than $13 million for JDRF and donated countless in-kind product for JDRF chapter events. Hy-Vee’s annual JDRF Sneaker Sales Campaign will run from Thursday, September 1st – Saturday, October 31st.  To find the Hy-Vee location near you, please visit www.hy-vee.com.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteer Opportunities

October 1st & 2nd, 2011

Join us in support of the 33rd annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes!  You can help by lending your time and talent for our largest fundraising event:  we need hundreds of volunteers to assist on set-up day and Walk day. 

Volunteers are needed at each of our six walk locations to help unload supplies; hang signage; work check-points, registration, T-shirt and food tents; welcome walkers; inventory supplies and help clean-up.

We ask that volunteers are able to devote a minimum of four hours on either day. 

Walk sites are located in:

·  Central Illinois:         Glen Oak Park in Peoria

·  Chicago Lakefront:   Lawrence Avenue and the Lake

·  North Suburbs:        Independence Grove in Libertyville

·  Northwest Suburbs: Busse Woods in Schaumburg

·  Southwest Illinois:    Moraine Valley College in Palos Hills 

·  West Suburbs:         Community Park in Lisle

To learn more, please contact the Volunteer Chair for the Walk Site you would like to assist.  Click the below Walk Volunteer form for Volunteer Chair contact info. To sign-up today, complete the below form and mail or e-mail to the appropriate Chair.

Thank you!  We hope to see you on Walk Weekend!

Ron Santo Day and 2011 Walk Kick-Off Luncheon Reminder

Please join us for these two exciting upcoming events!

Ron Santo Night at Wrigley Field is coming up on August 10th!  Don't miss out on this special night honoring Ron!

Join JDRF Illinois on Wednesday, August 10th at Wrigley Field for Ron Santo Night.  Before the game, the Chicago Cubs will unveil a statue in his honor outside of the ballpark. Ron's family and former teammates like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Fergie Jenkins will be part of the unveiling ceremony.  To help honor his JDRF legacy, the Cubs will donate $10 to JDRF from each on-line bleacher and terrace reserved outfield purchase when the special "JDRF" coupon code is used.  

Visit www.cubs.com to order your tickets today and be sure to select the appropriate seats using the "JDRF" coupon code.  Check the jdrfillinois.org web site for future updates about Ron Santo Day at Wrigley Field, but plan to arrive early to witness some of the festivities!

Buy your tickets, support JDRF and wear your Walk team t-shirts to demonstrate your JDRF spirit!  Please let your local Walk Manager know if you are attending so we can be sure to come by and say hello!

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Join us for the 2011 Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes Kick-Off Luncheon on Friday, August 12th

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We hope you will join us as we officially kick-off the 2011 Walk season!  Learn about new Walk tools, pick-up your Walk materials, network with other teams, swap fundraising ideas, and start the 2011 Walk season with a bang!  Vicki Santo and Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio are scheduled to attend to help us kick-off this special year for the Walk in honor of Ron.

The Chicagoland 2011 Kick-Off Luncheon will be held on Friday, August 12th from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt O’Hare (9300 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont).

Please RSVP by Friday, August 5th to 312-447-7970 or walk@jdrfillinois.org.

Please visit www.jdrfillinois.org for updates on these exciting events and additional ways in which you can support JDRF.

Thank you!

Back-to-Bed Sneaker Sales Campaign - August 1st - September 12

Beginning August 1st, Back-to-Bed will begin their JDRF sneaker sales campaign. Their campaign will run for 6-weeks, so be sure to stop in to your local Back-to-Bed to buy a sneaker and say thank you! Click here to find a Back-to-Bed near you.

5th Annual LoPriore JDRF Fundraiser - Saturday, August 27th

Please join the LoPriore's Midgets Family Team for their 5th Annual JDRF Fundraiser being held on Saturday, August 27th from 3:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Cedar Ridge Estates located at 427 Cyprus Circle in Lake Villa, IL 60046.  Come out for great food, silent auctions, face painting, massages and manicures and lots of FUN!  All proceeds will benefit JDRF.  For more information, please click here for the official flier.  For additional information, please contact Ralph LoPriore at 847.245.3217 or e-mail LoPriores@hotmail.com.

Special thanks to the LoPriore Family for working so hard on this successful fundraiser for JDRF!  Good Luck!

A Day In the Life...

Brian Sterk, of Team Brian Sterk, will be tweeting about life with type 1 diabetes all day on Wednesday, July 20th.  Follow #JDRFlife to hear more from Brian and learn more about his typical day with type 1 diabetes.


Do you follow JDRFIllinois on Twitter?  Sign up today and stay connected!

Ron Santo Night at Wrigley Field - August 10th

Join JDRF Illinois on August 10th at Wrigley Field for Ron Santo Night.  Before the game, the Chicago Cubs will unveil a statue in his honor outside of the ballpark. Ron's family and former teammates like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Fergie Jenkins will be part of the unveiling ceremony.  To help honor his JDRF legacy, the Cubs will donate $10 to JDRF from each on-line bleacher and terrace reserved outfield purchase when you type "JDRF" as the special coupon code.

Visit www.cubs.com to order your tickets today and be sure to select the appropriate seats using the JDRF coupon code.  Check the jdrfillinois.org web site for future updates about Ron Santo Day at Wrigley Field, but plan to arrive early to witness some of the festivities!

Walgreens Way to Well Commitment Campaign

JDRF is thrilled to announce that we have been selected as one of five non-profit partners of Walgreens Way to Well Commitment, a new Walgreens initiative to improve the everyday health of Americans nationwide.

As a Way to Well partner, Walgreens will be conducting a scannable donation campaign for JDRF during the Back-to-School season from August 1 through August 31 at their over 7,500 locations across the U.S.

This new campaign features two ways to give:

1)  Buy the scannable to support JDRF for $1

And/Or

2)  Buy a 64 box of Crayola Crayons and $1 will be donated to JDRF (up to $20,000 additional dollars!)

Please visit your local Walgreens store during the month of August, buy a scannable and/or a 64 count box of Crayola Crayons and thank the store for their continued support of JDRF!

We also encourage you to check out Walgreens' other new endeavor, Walk with Walgreens, www.walgreens.com/walk, where consumers are encouraged to walk, log their steps and get rewards from Walgreens.

Thank you, Walgreens!

The JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Are you registered? Register your team today at www.walk.jdrf.org!

Click here for a step-by-step guide through the new 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.

Can't be there on Walk Day?

JDRF's new registration page now offers registration for "Virtual Walkers" who are not able to attend the Walk, but still want to raise money for a cure! Virtual Walkers qualify for incentive prizes, team awards, etc. Even if you can't be there with us, you can still make a difference and help bring us closer to a cure!

It's never too early to register your team or to start raising funds!
Any team who registers between July 15th - July 31st will be entered to win a $20 Applebee's gift card*. So, don't wait! Register today!

Special thanks to the Chicagoland area Applebee's restaurants for their generous donations to help boost our fundraising efforts.

*Some restrictions apply.

SAVE THE DATE! 2011 Pre-Walk Events

We hope you will join us at one of the below events as we officially kick-off the 2011 Walk season!  Learn about new Walk tools, pick-up your Walk materials, network with other teams, swap fundraising ideas, and start the 2011 Walk season with a bang!

The Chicagoland 2011 Kick-Off Luncheon will be held on Friday, August 12 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt O’Hare (9300 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont).  $10 for garage parking.

Please RSVP by Friday, August 5th to 312-447-7970 or walk@jdrfillinois.org.

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Are you a Corporate Team Captain?  Please join us on Wednesday, August 17th for the Corporate Power Lunch hosted by Lakefront Corporate Chair, Mary Culler of Ford Motor Company.  Hear from successful team captains, exchange fundraising ideas with other companies, and build a plan for success!  Thank you to Mary Culler and Ford for hosting and to Grant Thornton for opening their doors once again.

Date:  Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Time:  12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Grant Thornton, 175 W. Jackson Blvd., 13th Floor Training Room

Please contact Katy Akester at 312.423.7196 or kakester@jdrf.org with any questions or to RSVP. 

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The Central Illinois Walk Team Captain Kick-Off Event will be held on Thursday, August 18th at O’Brien Field.  More details to come...

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Family Team Open House Event - September 8th

We will be hosting a Family Team Open House event on Thursday, September 8th from 4-6 p.m. at the Tyner Center, 2400 Compass Road in Glenview.  Official invitation coming soon.  This event is geared towards new family teams who have just signed on to the Walk and want to learn how to be successful fundraisers.  Special thanks to Chuck Balling and the Glenview Park District for donating this beautiful space. 

Let’s make this year’s Walk the best yet –

in honor of our favorite #10.

ATTENTION FAMILY TEAMS - 2011 FORD FAMILY TEAM SPONSORSHIP

All past family teams should have received a Ford Family Team Sponsorship application in the mail.

The third year of the Ford Family Team Sponsorship raised over $30,000 through 14 Ford Dealerships sponsoring 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. Apply now to be part of the 4th year of this program. Over 20 Family Teams will be supported this year. Thank you Ford!

Click here to learn more about the program and to apply.  Please contact Katy Akester if you have any questions: kakester@jdrf.org or 312-423-7196.

FUNDRAISING TIPS - GET STARTED TODAY!

JDRF’s Walk season is here and it’s time to gear up for successful FUNdraising! Raising money toward a cure for diabetes isn't difficult. Click on the below links for some great ways to raise money:

• Top Ten Fundraising Tips - 10 easy ways to help you reach your goal!
• Fundraising Menu of Ideas - Collected from JDRF Corporate Team Captains to help enhance your Walk team.
• Summer FUNdraising Flyer - Some fun ways to keep the kids entertained this summer, while raising money for your Walk team.

For more great fundraising tips, please click here.

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Did you know that JDRF Walk Materials are available to you to help in your fundraising efforts? Visit www.jdrfillinois.org and click on the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes tab at the top. Then click on the yellow Order Walk Materials button on the left. You will then be brought to a menu of materials available to you, i.e. Walk Brochures, Collection Envelopes, Posters, Sneakers, etc. All materials are free of charge and will be sent directly to you. We hope you will use these materials to grow your team and increase your fundraising success!

Kick-off your fundraising efforts today!

RON SANTO WALK SPOTLIGHT: KAREN KERBIS



Karen Kerbis (right) on Walk Day at the Busse Woods Site.

JDRF Illinois wants to thank Karen Kerbis for serving as the Busse Woods Site Chair for the past 12 years. The Kerbis family will be relocating to San Francisco this fall. Karen and her family became involved with the chapter after her son Adam was diagnosed at the age of six. Karen and Adam were selected to participate in Children’s Congress in 1999, where they had an incredible experience. Karen said, “it was the most incredible experience for both of us. Being surrounded by so many incredible children with diabetes and their families was comforting to both me and Adam, and we saw how powerful the voices of 50+ children could be in Congress. We felt the strength and support of JDRF, and it was amazing!”
When Karen returned from Children's Congress she was asked to get more involved and soon after started her run as Busse Woods Site Chair. 

"It's hard to describe the feeling you get on Walk weekend, watching an empty field magically transform into the amazing event that is the Walk. Anyone who has ever served on a site committee knows what I mean. I have had the honor of working with the most incredible JDRF staff and volunteers, and as a team, we make the magic happen. It's the satisfaction we get from having run a successful event that keeps us coming back year after year." 

As for what she'll miss most about her involvement with the Walk:  "I'll miss working with my amazing Walk manager, Megan Gavin, and my dedicated site committee. I'll also miss attending the Walk at Busse Woods - it's something my family looks forward to each year. It's become such an important part of our lives as we battle to raise funds to find a cure for diabetes."

Thank you, Karen for your support, dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Busse Woods Site Committee. Karen summed up her experience with JDRF in these words: “Being involved with JDRF in general, and the Walk in particular, has changed my life. The experience I've gained as site chair has given me confidence and strength that have helped me both personally and professionally. I've also been fortunate to have met some of the most incredible people over the years, including the amazing, motivating Ron Santo, who we miss dearly. Through my involvement and experience, I've had the opportunity to help newly diagnosed families get acclimated and know that they'll always be able to reach out to JDRF for the support they need. I know that I'll always be involved with JDRF, no matter where life takes me. It's an incredible organization.”

Karen, you are one of a kind! We will miss you here in Illinois! Good luck to you and your family as you open a new chapter in your lives.

CREATING YOUR OWN LETTER WRITING & VIDEO LETTER CAMPAIGNS

The Letter Writing Campaign has proven to be one of the most effective (and easiest) ways to raise money for the Walk.  By simply drafting a “Dear Family and Friends” letter or email explaining why you and your family are participating in the JDRF Walk, you can reach your largest audience without even leaving the comfort of your home!  For a step-by-step guide on how you can start your own successful letter writing campaign, click here.

Walk teams across the country are using the Video Letter Campaign to double and even triple their fundraising! It is an easy way to quickly reach a large audience with just the click of a link. You can now upload your videos into the new participant center too!

Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to create your video letter. Get started on your letter or video today!

Do you have a great letter or video you'd like to share? We'd love to see it! Anyone who e-mails a copy of their letter or video link to Erin Miller at emiller@jdrf.org by July 31st will be entered in a drawing to win a $20 Applebee's gift card.