Fundraising First - Tips from a Team

We, at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge, are always looking for fundraising tips to share with our participants. Sometimes, the best people to ask for these ideas are our participants. I wanted to share the first tip (of six) from Julie Sears of Team Six Degrees. All 6 Fundraising Tips will be featured in this month's newsletter...so here's an excellent teaser for what's to come...

#1 Make it Personal! Think of one moment in your life where a friend made the difference! And then start writing! The more real, the more heart-felt you can relay that the better. Everyone can relate to a friend that as made their day….and that is why we are riding and running anyway! It is to give everyone a chance to have a friend like that! So make it real! Sell it! Don’t use just the generic write up that Best Buddies provides on your personal webpage. Keep the parts you want of course, but make it your own! If I read your personal story about a friend and it makes me smile, laugh out loud or cry I’m gonna donate!!!! Guaranteed!!!!

For tips 2-6, keep an eye out for the February Newsletter.

Hyannis Port Kick Off Party - One Week Away

For the first time, we’ve decided to celebrate the start of our event season in a BIG way! Come meet and mingle with the Audi Best Buddies Challenge Staff, as well as past, present and future participants, over drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres. We will also be celebrating the premiere of The Greatest Bar’s two new paintings of Ted and Bobby Kennedy by local artist, Giovanni DeCunto. Mix 104.1’s DJ Freddy will be emceeing, so come and register at our lowest rate and help us kick-off the season! Bring a friend (or 5) and help us celebrate the eleventh annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port!

WHO: YOU and any friends you bring! Or anyone else interested in learning about the Audi Best Buddies Challenge
WHAT: The Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port Kick Off Party
WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 6pm – 9pm
WHERE: The Greatest Bar, 262 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114
WHY: To celebrate the eleventh Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port and register on site!

RSVP to catelaroche@bestbuddies.org

Pictures from Hyannis Port Now Online

We've just finished uploading pictures from our 2009 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port event to our flickr account. Click here to view our photo set!

Fundraising Tip of the Week: 100 Days Until HC

Hi Everyone! It's been a little while since our last post. We had an extremely successful Hyannis Port Challenge and have been recovering for a week or so. We'll be sharing photos from the event as soon as they come back. Hearst Castle participants...if HC is anywhere near as awesome as HP was, you are in for an unforgettable day!

Now, down to fundraising business. Last Thursday, June 4, marked 100 days until the Hearst Castle ride. Friday, June 12, marks exactly 3 months until HC. Whatever way you want to look at it, September 12 is coming up quickly and before we know it, you'll be coasting down the PCH. In honor of 100 days until the event...err, 94 days...I wanted to share this special letter sample we've drafted for participants to share with donors. Send it out to 10 people, asking for $10, and you've got yourself a quick and easy $100! Happy Fundraising!

Dear (Your Friend’s Name),

100 days from now, I’ll proudly sport my bike shorts and Audi Best Buddies Challenge jersey, and cycle 100 miles from Carmel to San Simeon to support people with intellectual disbilities! And I need your support to get me there!

The Best Buddies Challenge is a one-of-a-kind five-star event, and it benefits a very important organization. Best Buddies is an international non-profit that supports people with intellectual disabilities by providing one-on-one friendships and integrated employment opportunities. In middle schools, high schools, colleges, and businesses across the country people are benefitting because of Best Buddies. Every single dollar that I raise will go directly to this great organization, so you can feel confident that 100% of your donations benefit people with intellectual disabilities! You can learn more about Best Buddies at www.bestbuddies.org.

Please consider making your tax deductible donation today. To kick-off the 100 –day count down to the Audi Best Buddies Challenge, I am committed to raising at least $100 this week- and with your help I know I can exceed that! As I cycle 100 miles along the coast of California, I’ll be thinking of you and your support, and when I cross the finish line on September 12, I’ll know that your donation made each and every mile happen. If you’d like to make a donation to me quickly and easily, visit hcchallenge.org then click on “sponsor participant,” and then search for me. You can also support my participation in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge Ride by sending me a check, written out to Best Buddies. I’ll be sure your donation gets to Best Buddies right away!

Thanks so much! And if you happen to be free 100 days from now, please come out and cheer me on! I’ll need it!

All my best,

Your Name Here

Fundraising Tip of the Week: The Big Ask

For Hyannis Port participants, you are down to the final stretch...Congrats and see you soon! For Hearst Castle participants, hopefully you are at least thinking about fundraising. HP participants, this tip is a little bit more for you to do in the next week or so. By now, you've sent emails and follow up emails and you have either passed your goal or are "this close" to it. Now is the time for a big, final push. Look back through the list of people you've reached out to and check to see who has donated. Next, look specifically at the list of those who did not donate. Is there one person on there who you were expecting to donate...possibly a big donation? This is who will be your Big Ask.

Invite this person for a cup of coffee or simply pick up the phone and call this special person to talk a little more about what drew you to participate in the Best Buddies Challenge. What about the Best Buddies mission impacted you most and is worth challenging yourself to ride/walk/run the many miles? Remind this person that you are not raising money for yourself, but instead for all of the people who are impacted by Best Buddies 6 different programs. Now comes the most important part. Ask for a specific amount, and aim high! Sometimes these donors don't know what you need or how much to give. By giving them an actual number, there's a good chance you will have a check being written out to Best Buddies on your behalf. Whether they give what you ask or more/less, that is a (big) donation that you would not have gotten had you not taken the extra time and personal touch to describe exactly what you needed from them.

For ideas of what to say, check out the Best Buddies International website or the Audi Best Buddies Challenge website. We are so excited to have 300+ more participants in this year's Hyannis Port Challenge (and hopefully more late-joiners) than in 2008! Happy Fundraising and enjoy your last pre-Challenge week!

Boston.com's Favorite New England Bike Rides

Hey Hyannis Port riders - as spring is beginning to show itself and as the Audi Best Buddies Challenge is just about 7 weeks away, now is a great time to be getting out and riding! Training is so crucial to enjoying the event. Sure, you can survive it, but wouldn't it be nice to take in the beautiful scenery on the way to the Cape instead of stressing about your burning glutes and how you just can't seem to catch your breath?

Just in time for your weekend, Boston.com (The Boston Globe's trusty website) has pulled together a collection of its 15 favorite rides around New England. The Cape Cod Ride is a nice preview for the HP Challenge. Check these out and start peddling!

If you have a favorite training ride that didn't make Boston.com's list, TELL US! We are working on some top-secret projects (more details to follow soon) to link together our riders and their favorite routes and would love to get your feedback. So send them along to coach@bestbuddies.org. Happy cycling!

Plymouth Rock Studios Team Video for the ABBC

Here's a great video from one of our ride teams, Plymouth Rock Studios! They describe who they are, why the ride and how they are preparing to make the 100 mile trek from Boston to Cape Cod in May's Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port.


Find more videos like this on Hollywood East TV


Videos like this one are great for showing potential donors what they are contributing to because they express the Best Buddies mission so clearly. Thanks for the great work Plymouth Rock Studios! And if you have made any videos about either challenge, or have any great photos, send them our way (hccoach@bestbuddies.com)

Check out more from Plymouth Rock Studio's Website: Hollywood East TV's The Studio.
If you can't see the video above, click here!

New B-52's album to be released March 25

We are really excited to have the B-52s playing at this year's Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. This is a big year for the B-52s. Next Tuesday, March 25, they'll be releasing their first album, Funplex, in 15 years.

The New York Times had a great interview and look at the new album this past Sunday. Read it here.

Pre-order Funplex through Amazon.com

Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port now a century!

That's right, the 2008 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port is a little bit longer and will now be 100 miles. After eight years of 90 miles from Boston to the Cape, riders will have to push those pedals a few more miles before they can enjoy clam, lobster and The B-52's.

Check out the route map

For those looking for a shorter ride, the 20-miler is still available. See you on May 17.

ABBC: HP - The B-52's to play

Are you ready for a little "Love Shack" Hyannis Port?

That's right, the B-52's have agreed to perform at the 2008 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. The hit-makers behind "Love Shack", "Rock Lobster" and dozens of other chart toppers will be performing for participants in the ninth running of the event which will be held on Saturday, May 17 2008.