Dear Friend,

It’s almost that time of year again! The second annual Waymakers Run/Walk/Roll will be held from Sept 16-30. Register by August 19 to receive early bird pricing!

The name for our Waymakers race was coined in honor of a girl we served from West Africa. When she was successfully released from custody, settled in, and enrolled in high school, she sent a letter to her Child Advocate, thanking her for being her Waymaker.

As children continue to be separated from their families at the border and children who arrive on their own are at risk of being deported to danger, we need Waymakers more than ever. Join us  to show your solidarity and support.

Here’s how you can start preparing for the race:

Tap into your extended network and come together as a Waymaker Team

Forming a team, in person or virtually, is an awesome way to support our work, since teams typically generate more donations and bring new folks into our community! Considering asking your friends, family, and co-workers to join you. For folks who are already in running clubs or athletic groups, consider asking those folks to join your team too! For all teams that raise over $250, the captain will receive a free copy of Maria Hinojosa’s critically acclaimed memoir for Young Adults “Once I Was You”, which tells her story as a young immigrant in the United States finding her voice.

Here are some tips for making your team as successful as possible:

• If you can, make a contribution at any level first, that way you can tell your contacts that you've donated and ask them to join you.
• Make a list of people you think would be interested in participating or supporting your race. Then emailing or calling them is a great way to get friends and family on board because it's personal. (Direct messages on social media is a terrific option too!)
  

Pick your distance: 1M, 5K (3.1M) or 10K (6.2M), prep your route, and plan your race date!

Chart your own course! You can decide how far you want to go, and when you want to race between Sept 16-30. You can find a list of possible routes in our eight office locations (Chicago, Harlingen, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Washington D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles), if that’s helpful! Feel free to participate in any way that works for you.

Lastly, show your solidarity with our participants and teams across the country by sharing your race day photos on social media using #BeAWaymaker!

Thank you for standing, running, walking, rolling, and supporting immigrant children! You can help even more by forwarding this email to your friends and family and inviting them to join in on the fun.

With Gratitude,

Birdie Soti

Philanthropy Director

P.S. Interested in a corporate sponsorship and/or forming a corporate team? Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here and contact me for more information.