Autism Walk Congratulations/Thank You -- From Autism Speaks

Congratulations and Thank You!

We Did It! Over 600 teams and 20,000 people came together at Suffolk Downs Racetrack on Sunday, October 19th to raise $1,115,000 to date and counting for Autism Speaks! Despite the cool weather and winds, walkers united in one strong voice to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders – and the community was listening! We had fantastic media coverage of this event which is so wonderful since the event is equally about fundraising AND awareness! Click here... http://www.autismspeaks.org/walk_events/greater_boston_walk_2008.php for a brief recap of the Walk and YouTube footage from the event.

Fundraising Continues

You can turn in donations for this year's walk through December 31, 2008 and still receive credit to your personal or team fundraising. Please continue to raise funds right up until this date. It’s not too late to qualify for our great incentives!

$250 - $499 Walk Now for Autism Lunch Tote

$500 - $749 Walk Now for Autism Duffel Bag

$750 - $1,499 Walk Now for Autism Sweatshirt

$1,500 - $2,499 Walk Now for Autism Blanket

$2,500 - $4,999 All the Above Gifts

$5,000 - $7,499 Portable DVD Player

$7,500 - $9,999 iPod Nano

$10,000 & Above iPod Classic

Please send any additional donations to the address below and include a donation form for each contribution, with your team name and walker information to get proper credit.

Autism Speaks
Attn: GB Walk Donations

5455 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2250

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Due to the large volume of donations received on Walk Day (over $200,000), it will take time to enter all donations onto the website. Please be patient and know that we are working as quickly as possible to update your team and individual totals. Additionally, the incentive prizes will be ordered and mailed to you after January 1, 2008 to ensure proper credit to all participants.

Ebaying for Autism

Want the perfect gift for a Celtics fan or sports memorabilia collector? Check out our Ebay auction for the Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism. We have a 2008 Celtics Championship team basketball - autographed by the entire team! Check it out at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=260305429779.

Never too Late... Did you find yourself running out of time to do those extra fundraising ideas? You can do them now! Host a dinner and charge $10 a head, throw a movie night at home with friends and family and tell folks to drop their donations at the door... the ideas for wrap-around events are endless. In lieu of holiday gifts this season, ask family and friends to consider a tax deductible donation to your Walk fundraising! You could also do this for birthdays, showers, etc. Continue your email and letter writing campaigns and add pictures from the Walk. To find more ideas about how you can fundraise post-walk, visit the fundraising tools link on the Walk Website.

Matching Gifts: If you have matching gift forms for you or your donors' company, please complete the employee section and mail to the address listed above.

Team Photos: Within the next month, all team photos will be emailed to each team captain.

Thank You! Thank you for joining Autism Speaks as we continue to tackle autism. The 2008 Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism was a HUGE success thanks to YOU! The goal for the Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism is $1,600,000 so let's keep the fundraising going.

A Message from Greater Boston Walk Co-Chairs

Terri Farrell and Deirdre Legge

Our hearts are full today as we reflect on the past six months. We have met such incredible people during this journey and we are grateful to the thousands who have made this process so rewarding.

During the most difficult economic time since the depression, we have received the most generous gifts of time, talent and dollars. We are so fortunate to have had support from our friends at Suffolk Downs, Boston Culinary Group,Teamsters Local 25, Randy Price and WHDH Channel 7 News, Uno Chicago Grill, Digital Federal Credit Union and Blair Howell and Mass AV, to name a few. We were so thrilled to have the Honorable Mayor Menino kick off the walk, proclaiming October 19th as Autism Awareness Day in Boston. And thanks to our wonderful speakers, Sean O’Brien, President of Teamsters Local 25, Ann Guay from MA Advocates for Children, and Susan Gloor, Autism Speaks’ National Walk Director.

Words cannot express our deep appreciation for the support of the Greater Boston community. This walk would not have been as successful without the support of the New England Chapter Autism Speaks staff. Our special thanks to Melody Horgan, Greater Boston Walk Director, for her tireless efforts, enthusiasm and dedication.

We look forward to the 2009 Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism event and we hope you do too! With deep gratitude,

Terri Farrell and Deirdre Legge

Autism Speaks … Greater Boston is listening

Boston Walk for Autism Update: from Autism Speaks

Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism Sunday, October 19th Suffolk Downs Racetrack in East Boston

Register yourself and your teammates at www.walknowforautism.org/greaterboston
We are just a few days away from the 8th annual Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism at Suffolk Downs Racetrack. If your friends, family and co-workers have not yet registered for the Walk please ask them do so today!

So far we have more than 575 teams registered to participate in this Sunday's Walk. We've raised more than $750,000 to date with your fundraising efforts and our supportive sponsors, including our newest sponsor, Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) by contributing $50,000!We need everyone's help to get to our goal of $1.6 million. So please remember that it's so important to follow up with those individuals you might have approached for a donation but you haven't heard a response from yet. Chances are they would like to contribute they just need a gentle reminder.New this year - Be sure to stop by the Mission Product tables to purchase your exclusive Autism Speaks Walk Now Skincare Survival Kit or at www.MISSIONproduct.swirclient.com/autismpeaks. The Walk Kit includes 5 must-have products for your Walk, and even better, MISSION donates 50% of all proceeds to Autism Speaks! So come to the Walk and Get Your MISSION ON!

Reminders for Walk Day -A logistics e-mail was recently sent with details about the big day. Here are just a few reminders...
1. There is plenty of parking at Suffolk Downs so we are no longer shuttling people to the Walk site. Therefore, take a little more time for yourself for getting to the event on Sunday. The doors will not open to Suffolk Downs until 9 am when we are all set up and ready to offer you a great day of food, entertainment and activities.
2. There cannot be any animals on site. If you bring your pets you will be asked to leave them in the car so please let them stay safely at home. This is the policy of Suffolk Downs Racetrack and we must abide by it.
3. UNO Chicago Grill will once again be providing lunch for us and Coca Cola and Boston Culinary Group will have bottled water available. Please remember that water station volunteers are required by Suffolk Downs to remove the caps from the bottles before handing them out. Please help us recycle this year by putting empty bottles into the designated recycling containers next to the garbage cans. If you have someone in your group who has special dietary needs or restrictions we ask that you pack them a lunch from home.
4. Come prepared to have a great day!
Thank you all so much for your wonderful commitment to this organization and its mission. We are incredibly grateful for everything you have done and continue to do. The success of this Walk is your success. THANK YOU.

See you on Sunday!
Greater Boston Walk Planning Committee

Boston Walk for Autism: from Autism Speaks

Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism 2008Sunday, October 19, 2008Suffolk Downs, East Boston, MARegistration 9:00 am Walk 10:30 am

Greetings
If you have already registered to attend the big event on October 19th, you will soon be receiving detailed information for Walk day. You will also find some Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have not yet registered, please visit: www.walknowforautism.org/greaterboston or call the Chapter office if you need assistance. 617-924-3300. Donations: When you collect checks for donations, please be sure to include the Donation Tracking Form which can be found online at:http://www.walknowforautism.org/atf/cf/{ed421eb4-f3f0-467b-b6d9-6f709dd02e5d}/Donation%20Tracking%20Form%20for%20website.pdf You can collect checks and turn them in on Walk day, or send them any time to our processing center at the following address. Please note that it can take several weeks to process (due to the wonderfully large amounts of donations coming in from Walks all over the country!) and be credited on your web page:

Send forms and checks to: Autism Speaks, Donations Processing, 5455 Wilshire Blvd , Suite 2250 Los Angeles, CA 90036

Please note: Your Registration # is the same as your Walker ID #.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Greater Boston Walk:
1. How long is the actual walk?The scenic Suffolk Downs Racetrack is 1 1/4 miles around. Some people go around once, others twice. You do not have to physically do the Walk if you'd like to just raise funds, attend and enjoy all of the festivities of the day.

2. Does everyone have to register prior to October 19th?Yes, we would like all participants to registers online or via the phone so that we have enough food, t-shirts, supplies, etc. on Walk day. Also, when a person registers they will receive mailings and e-mails with important items and information they will need for the event.

3. What goes on at the Walk?We will have music and entertainment, food from Uno Chicago Grill and other contributors, lots of children's activities (and also a quiet area) and a Resource Fair with many autism related programs, services and product representatives.

4. Do you still need volunteers?Yes, we need many, many volunteers to make this large event run smoothly. Know any high school or college students who need service hours? Please encourage them to contact us at greaterboston@autismspeaks.org or call 617-924-1225. Individuals and groups are welcome. We have lots of available and will be sure to make volunteering fun.

Team Captain Checklist:Use this checklist to ensure that you have completed all of the steps necessary to have a successful Walk Now for Autism team this year.Make sure all team members have registered themselves on-line Involve your company/employer Did you email your co-workers to join the team? Did you involve your boss to rally your company team? Have you asked friends, relatives and neighbors to join you? Encourage all team members to be active fundraisers for autism research, awareness and advocacy Email or call team members regularly to answer questions and check on their progress Create team t-shirts, buttons or a banner to increase your visibility on Walk day