PLEDGE PROGRAM

The Friends for the Cure® Donations Program is a way by which the Komen for the Cure Race participants can do even more to help in the fight against breast cancer. You can go the extra mile by collecting pledges from family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. In this way, those who can't make it to the race can support your participation with their pledges, which are tax deductible. If every participant collected $100.00 each in pledges, we could give an additional $700,000.00 to the cause! All you need to do is ask 10 friends for $10.00.

The money raised allows the Komen Grand Rapids Affiliate to fund needed grants in the West Michigan community.  The service area that is covered by the affiliate includes Kent, Ottawa, Montcalm, and Muskegon counties.  Now more then ever, women are turning to the breast cancer screening, treatment and education programs funded by Komen.  The Komen office receives many calls from women that are underinsured or have no insurance and don't know where to turn.  75% of the money raised will stay local to funded these needed programs while the remaining 25% is used to fund Komen's National Research Program.  Click here to view a list and descriptions of our latest grant awards.  These are the reasons why the pledge program is so vital to our work and we need your help to continue it!

You can also earn great prizes while supporting the cause. Incentive Prizes will be awarded to those who collect pledges of $250 or more AND turn them in by the morning of the Race - Sept. 25th, 2010.  Prizes will not be awarded after Race Day.

Here are the incentive levels and prizes:

$250.00 - $499.00 - A pink ribbon gift will be given out at pre-registration events starting Sept. 11th and on Race Day.

$500.00 -  $1499.00 - A New Balance Shoe Certificate will begiven out at pre-registration events starting Sept. 11th and on Race Day.  Certificates will not be given out after Race Day. 

$1500.00 -$2499.00 - A $100.00 New Balance Store Gift Card will be awarded by filling out your name and address at a pre-registration event starting on Sept. 11th up until Race Day.   It will be mailed to participants approximately two weeks after Race Day.

$2500.00 and above -  A $250.00New Balance Store Gift Card will be awarded by filling out your name and address at a pre-registration event starting on Sept. 11th up until Race Day.   It will be mailed to participants approximately two weeks after Race Day.

Click here to watch a tutorial on how to use your participant center for help in maximizing your fund-raising! 

Any pledge checks can be made out to Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure®  Any donations that you receive off-line (i.e. checks or cash) need to be entered on-line in your personal fundraising page.  Go to your Race Center and enter these as off-line donations in the "My Progress" section.  It will then count toward your total and your team's total if applicable.  Checks can be mailed to the Komen office, handed in at pre-registration events or on Race day at the pledge table.  We will do our best to confirm off-line donations but it may not happen until after the Race.

You can download a pledge form here to help keep track of off-line donations.

If a donor would like a receipt for their pledge, they must contact the Komen Office with proof of their donation. 

Additional Prizes:

• The Top Individual Fundraiser (in excess of $2,000) will receive round-trip air transportation on American Airlines and/or American Eagle to any destination in the contiguous U.S.
• In addition to receiving an incentive prize, each officially registered participant may enter his/her pledges in ONE category for an overall 1st place pledge prize. For example, a child cannot enter his pledges for the YOUTH category and the TEAMS category. The child must choose one category only. First through third place prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
1. TEAMS
2. ADULTS
3. YOUTH (13 and under)
4. SURVIVOR

To be eligible to collect these prizes, pledge money must be turned in at pre-registration or on Race Day at the Pledge table. Please enter any off-line donations you may receive on your personal fundraising page and bring a copy of your final total on your fundraising page with you when you hand in your pledges.  Overall winners will be notified two weeks after the Race by either telephone and/or mail with instructions of where they can pick up their prize.

In order to receive the New Balance shoes, you must obtain an official certificate at the pledge table on a pre-registration day or on Race Day.

In order to receive the New Balance Gift Cards, you must fill out an official blue mail in form at the pledge table on a pre-registration day or on Race Day. Certificates will be mailed out two weeks after the Race.

Ways to Submit Pledges

• Donate online via our Web site at http://www.komengr.org/.
• Submit your pledges at a pre-registration site prior to the race.
• Submit your pledges at the Pledge tent on Race Day
• Submit your pledges directly to the Affiliate office by mailing it to:
  Komen Grand Rapids
  710 Kenmoor SE Suite 130
  Grand Rapids, MI 49546
  (We cannot track these for you. You must enter them onto your personal fundraising page as an off-line pledge in order to receive credit for prizes)

Matching Gifts

If your company/employer has a matching gift program, please submit the matching gift form along with the pledge check as it will expedite the confirmation of the gift.