Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA bow-WOW-walk Team Captain Kit

Team Captain Kit THI

RD

What is bow-WOW-walk?

This K-9 2.5K to support the animals and life-saving programs of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA was a huge hit for both two-legged and four-legged friends in 2014 and 2015, attracting more than 400 walkers and their pets.

The 2016 walk will once again kick-off at Lee Park and wind through Charlottesville’s historic downtown mall neighborhood before returning to Lee Park for a post-walk festival sure to WOW our doggie friends.

This year the festival will begin at 8:30 a.m. and feature human and doggie entertainment, canine competition, treats for humans and pups, and animal-friendly sponsors.

By participating in the bow-WOW-walk, you are leading the way to help us save lives.

We anticipate that the walk’s popularity will continue to grow over last year’s 400 participants, strengthening this annual benefit event to help animals in our community.

Being a part of the bow-WOW-walk is so much more than just a single day of fun. Last year, we raised more than $56,000 to benefit the homeless animals in our community!

Step One - Find your Team!

As you recruit for your team, think of friends, family and neighbors who share your passion for the life-saving work we do at the CASPCA. The more successful your team, the more we can help the animals who directly benefit from this fundraiser. Here are some other things to keep in mind as you recruit:

• Don’t know where to start? Write a list.

Your team can consist of anyone who wants to help the shelter. Ask those you’ve recruited to recruit others.

• Want to increase office morale? Forming

a bow-WOW-walk team is a fun way to bond your work group while also providing great exposure for your business, group or organization.

• When in doubt, host a party! A get-

together is a great excuse to mingle with potential team members while generating enthusiasm for our cause.

Why every step you take —and every dollar you raise— makes a difference As one of the first No Kill shelters in the country, the CASPCA has long been at the forefront of animal welfare. In 2016, the shelter is celebrating 10 years as a No Kill organization, which is all the more impressive considering the CASPCA serves as the pound for the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, welcoming animals others shelters might turn away. In the past decade, the CASPCA has found homes for more than 30,000 animals, reunited over 6,500 lost pets with their gaurdians and spayed/neutered more than 50,000 animals to reduce overpopulation.

Are you involved in your church, a club or an athletic team? Make an announcement at a meeting or at your workplace that you’re forming a bow-WOW team!

Step Two - Raise Money for our Animals Spread the word! Think about those you know who might appreciate the work we do, but don’t forget to mention the shelter and this crucial fundraiser to everyone you know. You might be surprised by how many people have an interest in helping homeless dogs and cats in our region.

• Social media is your friend. Like our bow-

WOW-walk posts and share our event on Facebook. Tweet about our event, and direct your followers to give for your team and for the CASPCA.

• Email, email, email. Subscribe to our email

communications and forward our bowWOW-walk emails with a personalized note encouraging friends and family to support the animals at the CASPCA.

• Share your connection to our cause. Even

if you didn’t adopt a shelter animal, you probably know someone who has. Or maybe a friend’s beloved pet was lost and, because of the shelter, was reunited with their owner.

Perhaps you or a friend attended one of our Compassionate Care Clinics or know someone who has volunteered at the shelter.

Sharing a story is the best way to encourage donations and generate interest in our fundraiser.

• Give your team clear fundraising goals. Set

a fundraising goal for your whole group, but don’t forget to set individual goals for each member to meet—at least $250. You also can suggest your individual team members ask at least one person a day to give to stay on track.

Know someone who wants to recognize their cherished dog or cat? Encourage them to donate in honor or memory of their pet!

Step Three - Have fun and walk for the CASPCA! Saturday, April 30 Walk Pre-Registration: Jan. 26—April 29 Walk Registration: April 30, 8:30 a.m.—9:45 a.m.

Walk Kick-Off: 10 a.m.

Post-Walk Party in the Park: 11 a.m.—12:30 p.m.

• Meet with your team. Your team has worked hard to raise

money—now it’s time to have fun! Arrange to meet in a central location at the event. Feel free to bring your own banners and, if your group is from an organization or business, promotional materials.

• Take a group photo. Take a photo of your team and share your achievement on social media. Not only are you praising your walkers for all their efforts, but you’re also helping to bring awareness to the shelter and this annual event.

• After the event, thank your team and your supporters. Make sure to acknowledge how invaluable they have been in as personalized a way as possible. Events like these only are successes because of the individuals who come together to support our cause.

Sample emails or letters For team recruitment: Subject if an email: Join my team to help save animals!

Dear John, Greetings! I’m forming a team for the 2016 Third Annual bow-WOW-walk, a fun-filled event that brings hundreds of animal supporters and their canine companions to Downtown Charlottesville to raise money and walk for the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. As I know you share my love for the dogs and cats in our community, you came to mind as someone who be a great addition— please consider joining our ranks! All the money we raise will benefit the shelter, and these efforts are crucial for the thousands of homeless pets helped and saved there every year.

Here are the details: Third Annual bow-WOW-walk Saturday, April 30 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Lee Park Want to register? Go to caspca.org!

The festival will feature human and doggie entertainment, canine competition, treats for humans and pups, and animal-friendly sponsors. Thank you, and I hope you’ll spread the word to other potential team members or supporters about this amazing event!

For team fundraising: Subject if in an email: From one animal lover to another ...

Dear Jane, Greetings! I’m a participant in the Third Annual bow-WOW-walk, a fun-filled event to benefit homeless dogs and cats at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA (CASPCA). I’m thrilled to be fundraising for a cause that means so much to me.

The CASPCA has long been been a touchstone in our community, providing life-saving care for homeless animals and finding homes for more than 30,000 pets since 2006. This year, the shelter is celebrating a decade as a No Kill organization. Let’s help them continue to do their good work!

Please consider giving to my team--Team X--as we try to reach our goal to raise $X by the event on April 30 for the animals at the CASPCA. Any gift would make a difference.

Also, please help me spread the word about this great event, which brings together hundreds of animal supporters to Lee Park on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a fun-filled day of doggie entertainment, canine competition, treats for humans and pups, and animal-friendly sponsors.

Thank you for your support!