Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children realize their potential and build their futures. We nurture children and strengthen communities, and we couldn’t do any of it without you. Nothing changes the human spirit like the human relationship. We hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving: higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors and educational Success. Our vision is that all children have inherent potential and can achieve success in life; we are defenders of that potential!
What is Next Steps Together Walk, Run, Bike?
Are you struggling to stay active while social distancing? Then join Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star for, Next Steps Together a Virtual Walk, Run, Bike Campaign. What a fun way to connect with your family, friends and neighbors while helping to raise dollars to support our matches! Nothing changes the human spirit like the human relationship. Help us to change the lives of the children and families we serve by joining us to walk, run or bike in our Next Steps Together campaign.
Here's how it works, you can sign up to be a part of this virtual challenge as an individual or you can build a Next Steps Together Team and tackle this task with your team members. Each person should aim to reach 100 - 126 miles toward our ultimate collective goal of accumulating 63 thousand miles and commit to raise a minimum of $100.00 towards our $30,000 goal.
Participation is simple:
STEP 1:
Register as an individual or a team. Consider joining or starting your own team to help motivate activity and healthy competition with other teams. Each person, individually or as a part of a team will be responsible for raising $100.00 each and reaching 100 - 126 miles via walking, running or riding (bicycle). When you or your team join, you will work together to reach your goals.
STEP 2:
Set Up Your Device. Track Your Support! Set up your fitness device using the How It Works instructions. Easily start your own personal fundraising page and post it to social media to help encourage donations where pledged funds you receive from your circle will help motivate you to hit your goals, all while defending a child's potential!.
STEP 3:
Use your influence. Get Active! Connect with your social network to help raise awareness and reach your fitness and fundraising goals. Share your progress regularly on social media by posting pictures and short videos to spread the word. Remember to tag Big Brothers Big Sisters (@BBBSHouston), (@BBBSTarrant) or (@BBBSGreaterDallas) and include the #Nextstepstogether to start a social media movement and get movin'!
STEP 4:
Start raising dollars & moving! Any physical activity of your choice will earn you miles, from walking around your home or backyard or running around the block to biking in your neighborhood or local trails! Each individual will perform their activity to accumulate 100 - 126 miles and raise $100.00 (per individual) over an eight-week period. Your activity will begin as soon as you register; registration begins on January 4th!. As you raise dollars, your fundraising thermometer will rise and as you accumulate miles, you upload your success, share your accomplishments and photos in the Next Steps Together Scrapbook!
STEP 5:
Celebrate your success! Pat yourself on the back – you completed 100 - 126 miles in 8 weeks and raised dollars to support children and families in need of a mentor!
Participate in The Community Scrapbook Challenges!
We are so excited to offer our #NextStepsTogether Virtual Race Community fun, engaging and prize-packed challenges for the next 8 weeks to motivate & inspire you to share on our Community Scrapbook! We will announce the new week’s challenge each Sunday during the race and winner(s) the following week.
Week Four Scrapbook Challenge
Scavenger Hunt Scrapbook Challenge! Take a photo of an artistic sculpture while on your walk, run or bike this week and post it in the scrapbook along with an explanation of where it’s located. There will be a bonus prize for those of you who can guess where I (Michelle Bowman) took the photo posted in the scrapbook, dated 2/1! All posts must be made in the Scrapbook by Saturday at 11:59 pm CST. 2 individual winners will be selected at random and their stories will be shared on the BBBS Instagram! Winners will also receive 2 bottles of wine and a Raising Cane's gift certificate!
Our Goal:
- You have from January 4th through February 27th to join at any time, set your fitness goal, rack up those miles and raise those funds!
- Your personal mileage goal is 100 - 126 miles and your personal fundraising goal is $100.00.
- Our collective goal is to raise $30,000 or more and reach a total of 63,000 miles or more!
What do I receive for participating?
In addition to the dollars you raise helping to match a child with a mentor and changing lives forever, each person who raises a minimum of $100.00 will receive an exclusive Next Steps Together BBBS t-shirt and water bottle!
Alongside each child and mentor is the donor who made the friendship possible. Your gift, no matter how “big” or “little,” enables one-to-one mentoring to be a free, safe, and effective resource for families and children who want and need a positive, loving adult to be carefully placed into their child’s life. Young people who have a mentor are much more likely to be leaders, avoid incarceration, go on to college, and volunteer. Even more, when you fund a Big for a Little, you propel a life-changing ripple effect for the surrounding family members and the generations that follow. We care about your gift the way you care for others, and we take that responsibility very seriously. As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, we strive to be the best stewards of your gift in order to better serve its purpose: to serve more children with mentors, more effectively.
Give the gift of mentoring. Change a community.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Charity Footprints?
Charity Footprints is a social enterprise that connects fitness and charitable giving. We empower people just like you, to get fit & give back.
Our Virtual Races allow non-profits to challenge their patrons to run, walk or ride and raise funds just as they would in a fundraising walkathon. The best part - charities save over 45% in event and logistical costs. So, the dollars that you pay to register or fundraise, go farther.
What is the campaign registration fee?
This campaign is free to participate in.
However, we encourage you to donate optional/suggested amount during registration or you can always donate any amount on your fundraising page after the registration.
How can I create my fundraising page?
Well, you wouldn't have to create a separate fundraising page. Once you register for this campaign, we'll give you the link to your fundraising page.
If you workout indoors (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike etc.), you can upload your workouts here.
How do I join a team on this campaign?
While registering for the campaign, select the team you'd like to join or create a new team and invite others to #GetFitGiveBack with you. If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.
I am an international donor (non-US), what are my donation charges and tax-deductibility?
All donations are made in US dollars, so the donations may be levied an exchange rate fee via your bank. Donors will want to connect with their bank to determine exactly what that fee may be. Additionally, international donors will need to reach out to a tax professional to discuss if and how tax deductibility will apply to their donation.
Who can sponsor my fundraising efforts?
The short answer is - everyone. The fundraising research shows that the number one reason for people not donating is that they weren't asked to.
That said, there are things you can do to attract people to sponsor you. Adding a picture to your fundraising page, telling potential donors why this cause is so personal to you, sharing your fundraising page on social media, email, and chat groups.
Last, if your employer has a gift matching program, check with the human resources department to support your favorite cause as well.
Who can I contact if I need help?
You can contact us any time if you need help. We love hearing from our users so please don't hesitate to write to us about issues, suggestions, or to just say hi. You can also contact the non-profit administrator directly if you would like.
How do I change or switch my team?
If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.
CAMPAIGN CHAT
Please register for the campaign to see the chat activity. If you're already registered, login here.