Prevent Child Abuse New York's Blog

Walk for Children: Last Minute Reminders

We're ready for the Walk for Children tomorrow! The kids' games and activities are packed, the food is ordered, and the prizes are being packaged and wrapped at this very moment. In addition to having fun tomorrow, I hope you'll have a chance to learn more about our work. We'll have our educational materials available, as well as our signature line of Pinwheels for Prevention products

Here are some last-minute reminders as you prepare for the big day:

1. Registration opens at 10 a.m. inside the Lake House in Washington Park. You'll find a map of Washington Park and the streets around it on our web site.
2. The children's games and activities also start at 10. The walk is a rain or shine event.
3. Please bring your sponsorship cash and checks and turn them in when you register. Please be sure your name and team name, if you have one, is written on your collection envelope.
4. The walk kicks off around 11:15. We will walk once around the park. After the walk, please join us at the Lake House for refreshments and the awarding of fundraising and raffle prizes.
5. There's still time to raise money! A last minute e-mail or phone call to potential sponsors could make a big difference. Remember, every walker who raises over $50 gets a Walk for Children T-shirt.

Thank you for everything you're doing to prevent child abuse and neglect!

Walk for Children: One Week Away!

With the Walk for Children a little more than one week away, we're in the final stretch to raise funds and make this year's Walk the most successful yet. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to create and personalize a fundraising page at FirstGiving.com. This is a simple and easy way to raise money and show your sponsors why preventing child abuse is important to you. This is also a good time to send a final email to friends and family that have not yet contributed asking them to donate and forward your message to others they think could help.

We have many teams raising funds to support the Walk for Children! Everyone is doing a terrific job, but we really need you to continue recruiting walkers and sponsors to reach our goal of $30,000!

We greatly appreciate your participation and fundraising efforts and hope you have found the process to be fun and rewarding! Child abuse and neglect prevention is the most critical issue we can address for the long-term prosperity of our state and nation. Thank you for stepping up to make a difference in your community!

Walk for Children At-a-Glance:

Where:
Washington Park Lake House

When:
Saturday, October 15
Registration & Kids' Activities 10 a.m.
Walk 11 a.m.
Rain or Shine

At the Walk:
Children's games, activities, crafts, music, food, refreshments, prizes and a short walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow - our kids! Proceeds from the Walk support our Parent Helpline and Kids Can't Wait, our legislative advocacy program.

More information:
Learn more about the event on our web site, including information about registration, organizing your own team, creating a personal fundraising page, fundraising tips, and volunteering.

Already busy on October 15?
That's OK! You can still support the Walk for Children by making a donation or raising money with a fundraising page on FirstGiving.com.

Walk for Children: Sample Email to Sponsors

As a participant in the 2011 Walk for Children, you play a key role in the success of the event! Please help us reach our goal of $30,000!

If you haven't already, please take a moment to create and personalize a fundraising page at FirstGiving.com. This is a simple and easy way to raise money and show your sponsors why preventing child abuse is important to you.

Below is a sample e-mail that you can send to anyone you think might sponsor you.

Dear Friend,

I am participating in the 2011 Walk for Children to benefit Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY) on October 15 at Washington Park in Albany. The Walk for Children is an event for the whole family that features games, activities, prizes, food, refreshments and a short walk around the park to honor the leaders of tomorrow - our kids.

Widely considered the state's go-to organization for information, activities and resources related to preventing child abuse and neglect, PCANY provides training, education and referral services to nearly 100,000 people each year. Countless more benefit from their legislative advocacy efforts, which have successfully established and sustained proven child abuse prevention programs for at-risk children and families.

PCANY has enjoyed many successes, but too few children benefit from them. The unfortunate reality is that so few resources have been dedicated to prevention programs that they are available to only the tiniest fraction of those who need them.

That's where you come in. I have created an online fundraising page to make it as easy as possible for you to contribute to my efforts. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to this very worthy cause.

Please visit [insert link to your page] to make a secure online donation.

Thank you in advance for your generous support!

Your friend,

[Insert Your Name]

Child abuse and neglect prevention is the most critical issue we can address for the long-term prosperity of our state and nation. Thank you for stepping up to make a difference in your community! Learn more about the event on our web site, including information about registration, organizing your own team, creating a personal fundraising page, fundraising tips, and volunteering.

Walk for Children: Let's Celebrate the Leaders of Tomorrow!

In an unpredictable world one thing is for sure: Today's kids are tomorrow's leaders. Child abuse prevention is the most urgent issue we can address for the long-term prosperity of our state and nation. I hope you'll join us at the Walk for Children on October 15 to celebrate the leaders of tomorrow and help create a world where all children are loved, nurtured and protected.

It's been a challenging year for PCANY and all signs point to another difficult year ahead. The success of the Walk for Children is more important than ever. We're depending on you to spread the word and raise money.

Please help us reach our goal of $30,000! Fundraising is a challenging, but rewarding activity. We're thankful for supporters like you as we push toward our goal. Here are some tips to help you achieve your personal fundraising goals:

Create a FirstGiving.com Page
Use FirstGiving.com to create a customized fundraising page. Tell your story with a photo, compelling message or video. Then simply email the page to your prospective sponsors. Your page is your place to show your friends, family and colleagues exactly why you're supporting Prevent Child Abuse New York.

Try Face-to-Face, Too
There's no denying the power of the internet to raise money, but people will find it harder to say no to you (or ignore you) if you ask them to donate in person. This also gives you the opportunity to immediately answer questions and explain why preventing child abuse is important to you.

Know Where the Money Goes
People want to know how their money will be spent and that it will be put to good use. Funds raised in the walk will support our 24-hour Parent Helpline and Kids Can't Wait, our legislative and policy advocacy program. You can read more about our work on our web site.

Aim High
Ask for more than you expect to get. If you think someone will donate $25, ask for $50. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Follow Up
Stay in contact with the people you ask to sponsor you. If they don't commit right away, follow up and remind them how important this is to you.

Give Thanks
Send thank you notes or emails to your sponsors. After the event, send photos of you and your team at the Walk. Be sure to let your sponsors know they are making a difference.

Walk for Children At-a-Glance:

Where:
Washington Park Lake House

When:
Saturday, October 15
Registration & Kids' Activities 10 a.m.
Walk 11 a.m.
Rain or Shine

At the Walk:
Children's games, activities, crafts, music, food, refreshments, prizes and a short walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow - our kids! Proceeds from the Walk support our Parent Helpline and Kids Can't Wait, our legislative advocacy program.

More information:
Learn more about the event on our web site, including information about registration, organizing your own team, creating a personal fundraising page, fundraising tips, and volunteering.

Already busy on October 15?
That's OK! You can still support the Walk for Children by making a donation or raising money with a fundraising page on FirstGiving.com.

Step Up to Prevent Child Abuse at the Walk for Children

As a supporter of Prevent Child Abuse New York, you know the Walk for Children isn't just a fundraiser. It's an event for the whole family that features kid's games, activities, crafts, music, food, refreshments, prizes and a short walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow - our kids.

The 2011 Walk for Children is just four weeks from Saturday! This is the perfect time to shift your efforts to recruit team members and raise sponsorship money into high gear. Recruiting walkers and raising money is hard work, but you can do it! Remember, you're making a difference for a cause you believe in. You'll find many helpful tips in our Fundraising Handbook and Team Leader Handbook (both documents are PDFs).

Please remember to register and create a personalized fundraising page at FirstGiving.com. This is a simple, easy and effective way to raise sponsorship money.

Walk for Children At-a-Glance:

Where:
Washington Park Lake House

When:
Saturday, October 15
Registration & Kids' Activities 10 a.m.
Walk 11 a.m.
Rain or Shine

At the Walk:
Children's games, activities, crafts, music, food, refreshments, prizes and a short walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow - our kids! Proceeds from the Walk support our Parent Helpline and Kids Can't Wait, our legislative advocacy program.

More information:
Learn more about the event on our web site, including information about registration, organizing your own team, creating a personal fundraising page, fundraising tips, and volunteering.

Already busy on October 15?
That's OK! You can still support the Walk for Children by making a donation or raising money with a fundraising page on FirstGiving.com.

 

Stand Up for Kids and Others Organize for Walk for Children

What do youth homelessness and child abuse have in common? Everything, according to Lil, executive director of New York’s chapter of StandUp For Kids, a national organization committed to helping homeless and street kids.

“So many kids are on the street because of abuse,” said Lil. (Stand Up for Kids doesn’t publish last names in order to protect the safety of the kids they serve.) “They either leave because it gets bad or parents just throw them away. Abuse is the main cause.”

Lil and a team from Stand Up for Kids plan to travel to Albany from New York City to take part in the Walk for Children on October 15. “Participating in the walk is important because our mission is to end the cycle of youth homelessness, and we can’t do that without ending the root of the problem,” said Lil.

Like many of our walkers, Lil shares our hope to end child abuse. Our walkers know we all have a role to play in stopping abuse before it starts. They turn their passion into action, make a difference for a cause that’s important to them, and inspire others to take action, too. “We want to get the word out abuse and abuse prevention: Raise awareness, raise money, raise empathy and educate. Prevention is better than cure.”

The Walk for Children is Saturday, October 15, at Washington Park in Albany. The event includes free food and refreshments, prizes, kids’ games, arts and crafts, Halloween activities, a bounce house and safety demonstrations. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 11.

For information about registration and volunteer opportunities, please call 518-445-1273 or visit the Walk for Children Albany page of our web site.

Walk for Children, Albany! October 15, 2011

Step up to prevent child abuse at our annual fundraiser! The Walk for Children is an event for the whole family, featuring children's games, activities, arts, crafts, and a walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow—our kids. Registration and kids' activities open at 10 a.m. at Albany's Washington Park Lake House. The walk kicks off at 11 a.m., winds through the park, and ends back at the Lake House for a celebration of food and prizes. Please visit our web site for information about registration, fundraising and volunteering.

Step Up to Prevent Child Abuse at the Walk for Children

Imagine a world without child abuse - a world where all families live in prosperous communities that value kids and support parents in the important job of raising their children. You can take a step toward creating that world by joining us at the 2011 Walk for Children on October 15 at Washington Park in Albany.

The walk is an event for the entire family that features games, activities, prizes, free food and refreshments and a short walk around the park to honor the leaders of tomorrow - our kids. You can learn more about the event on our web site, where you'll find information about registering, organizing your own team [pdf], and creating a personal fundraising page.

Please register today. Every step you take and every dollar you raise will benefit PCANY's child abuse prevention programs!

Concrete Angel: Spotlight on Walk for Children Team Leader George Jefferies

PCANY is thrilled to welcome a new team to the Walk for Children family, Concrete Angel. On October 17, the members of Concrete Angel and other like-minded individuals and teams will meet at the Washington Park Lake House in Albany to walk in support of child abuse prevention. Step by step, they are preventing child abuse and neglect, We applaud their passion and commitment to kids!

Below is an interview I did with Concrete Angel Team Leader George Jefferies.

PCANY: How did you find out about the walk?
George: I’ve wanted to volunteer for a child maltreatment prevention non-profit for a while, and in my scout, I came across the Prevent Child Abuse NY website. Going through it, I read about the Walk for Children, and wanted to participate.

PCANY: Why did you decide to join the walk?
George: Because I’ve always wanted to be an advocate for child maltreatment awareness, when I came across the walk, I thought, here’s a great place to start. After learning about how many people participated the year before, I knew that the impact of this walk would give their message legs (no pun intended), and I wanted to be apart of that.

PCANY: What are you hoping to accomplish by participating?
George: I think I share the same hopes for child maltreatment to end as everyone else who participates in causes like these. It took me a while to come to terms with my own experiences with it, and, I guess, in addition to wanting to raise awareness, I want to join the troop of people who have also conquered similar times. I want to get to know and help the community of people who have dedicated their time to helping others heal, prevent and educate. Abusers often times where abused first, and I’m proud to be on the roster of people who did not allow that cycle to continue, and who live happy, meaningful and love-filled lives. When I was young, walks for prevention didn’t exist, I wish they had, it exposes the hidden, which in itself, makes a world of difference.

PCANY: Have you participated in other kinds of walks?
George: The Walk for Children will be my first walk; however, a few members of Team Concrete Angel have participated in other walks such as the Revlon Run-Walk for Cancer, and have shared with me the sense of enthusiasm, unity and power you feel walking along side people with the same commitment. I’m really excited to feel that for the first time.

PCANY: Do you volunteer with any organizations?
George: I am happy to say that the PCANY Walk for Prevention is my first volunteered initiative for a cause that holds a very dear place in my heart. I hope my participation leads to a lasting relationship within the PCANY family where I can continue to help their purpose.

PCANY: Who are you recruiting to join your team? And how are you recruiting people?
George: I have reached out to my network of family, friends and colleagues. I have been able to recruit a few so far, and we hope to raise funds through the methods PCANY recommends on their site.

PCANY: What is the significance of your team’s name?
George: I proudly named my team Concrete Angel after the title of the feature film I am in pre-production of, which tells the story of a young girl and victim of child abuse. Film Concrete Angel is my first grand-scale contribution to the advocacy of child maltreatment prevention, and through this film, I hope to set a standard of social responsibility to be taken on behalf of these affected families. I do also intend for the story to be dynamic enough to inspire those who are the abuses or enablers to change their course of behavior and seek help.

PCANY: Anything else you’d like to include?
George: I stared writing the screenplay for Concrete Angel nearly four years ago. After I completed the screenplay, I decided to team up with a few others who share the same compassion for the subject matter and start the production company Altruistic Productions; whose purpose is to tell stories of under acknowledged issues, currently child maltreatment and domestic violence, raising awareness and evoking corrective and preventative action on personal and community levels.

5 Reasons to Join the Walk for Children

Our Walk for Children team leaders and participants are a source of inspiration to me. Their support for our work leaves all of us at PCANY feeling renewed in our promise to create safe and supportive communities for kids and their families. As I've listened to stories about why people join the Walk for Children, I've noticed some common themes that I want to share.

Our Walkers:

1. Want to spread awareness that we all have a role to play in preventing child abuse.
2. Believe that children are our future and their health and well-being are the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society.
3. Envision a world where all children live in families that love, nurture and protect them.
4. Enjoy the opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family at a kid-focused event.
5. Are making a difference and want to inspire others to take action too!

I hope you'll join us in celebrating children on October 17th! Funds raised in the Walk for Children will benefit Prevent Child Abuse New York. Register here.

Walk for Children Details:

When: Saturday, October 17

Registration: 9 a.m. Walk: 10 a.m.
Rain or shine

Where: Washington Park Lake House, Albany, NY

At the Walk: Children's arts and crafts, a bounce house, face painting, free food and refreshments, prizes, and a walk through the park in honor of kids! Funds raised will benefit Prevent Child Abuse New York.

Register here.

Hope to see you there