Pennsylvania Division

Increasing School Involvement

in Relay For Life

Participants will gain knowledge of:• Proven strategies for engaging

schools in RFL• Best practices for Increasing

School Involvement• School recognition and award best

practices• The tools and materials available to

grow success

Learning Objectives

AGENDA

• Why involve schools in RFL?

• Engaging schools in RFL

• Increasing Involvement

• Recognition & Awards

• Tools & Materials

• Best Practices Sharing

• Q & A

Increasing school involvement in every community in PA

**Special focus on Elementary and High Schools

Pennsylvania RFL Strategic Direction

…to make School Involvement in Relay a priority in every RFL community.

• Healthier kids• Income potential• Working through systems• Future leadership

We have several good reasons…

Taking Good Care of our Kids

- Healthy lifestyle habits start when we are young…

Income potential…in the PA Division

•1,706 Elementary Schools

• 819 Middle Schools

• 719 High Schools

Do the Math!!! See The Potential!!!

4 new school teams per RFL community (minimum of $1,000 per team) = $4,000 more per event = $800,000 for the Division!

In 2008 Pennsylvania had 911 School/Youth teams

• 9,361 participants

• $99.51 youth participant fundraising average, $1022 team avg.

• Represented 1% of all RFL Teams

• Estimated revenue of almost $1 million

Working Through Systems

• School systems are some of our largest employers in our communities

• Able to reach more people and recruit more teams in system and outside of schools

• Working through systems = working smarter!

Future Leadership

• Builds self esteem & self-confidence

• Develops important skills – leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, consensus building, and networking

• Being a part of Relay builds a broader base of citizen involvement and set the precedent for continuing support

• Relay offers schools a “win/win” proposition as our objectives mirror theirs – growing citizens & commitment to community

• Administrative Endorsement• Find your Champion• Build Relationships• Another way in the door

Engaging Schools in RFL

Administrative Endorsement

• Superintendent (or Principal)

• Committee (or honorary chair position)

• Principal’s meeting

• Letter to schools

• Assembly or Rally

• “What can we do for you?”

• Inform of current involvement

Find Your Champion

• Staff or Faculty Survivor

• Student or Staff currently battling cancer

• Someone with a passion for fighting cancer

• Ask Superintendent for a name

• Health/PE coordinator for District

• Last year’s team list

Build Relationships

Said to be the “KEY” to our success in school involvement!!

• Start with a mission focus – “What can the American Cancer Society do for your schools?”

• Ask this every time – not just on the 1st visit

• Provide materials and curriculum for teachers (Mini Relay kits)

Build Relationships - continued

It’s all about the RELATIONSHIPS!• Visit the Superintendent BEFORE the Relay to thank

• Visit again AFTER the Relay to present awards

• Visit schools throughout the year

• Recognition at Principal’s meetings

• Make the Team Captains feel valued and appreciated

• Use every opportunity to thank – in person, in writing, or in front of groups

Another Way in the Door…

• Look at last year’s team list for school connections

• Health/PE Coordinator for school district

• Teacher/Faculty touched by cancer

• Champion• Mission Integration• Challenges/Competition• Incentives• Mini Relays• Recognition

Increasing School Involvement

Champion – Your Champion Can Make ALL the Difference

Characteristics of a Champion:

• Staff or Faculty Survivor

• Passion for fighting cancer

• Well-known/connected

• Has time & willing to commit

• Not always a traditional role

Champion Continued…

Champion’s Role:

• Get EVERYONE involved

• Write letters

• Speak at meetings/assemblies

• Use their influence & connections

• Spread the excitement!

• Internal school communication system

Mission Integration

This could be the door opener and the key for increasing involvement in Relay (depending on your Champion/Administration)

• “How can we partner together?”

• “What’s in it for the school? Students?”

Mission opportunities provide a way to differentiate ourselves from other organizations by the year long impact we can have on students and faculty.

Challenges/Competition

Schools are very competitive!

Competition creates excitement and energy more people want to become involved…

• Traveling trophy to top school in district

• Challenges: classroom to classroom, school to school, district to district

• Opportunity for school to excel and generate pride

Incentives

Pennsylvania Division Youth Incentive Program

• Incentives WORK when we promote them!

• Adds excitement to the program for young students – encourages more to become involved.

•Levels: $25, $50, $75, $100, $175

• Youth Participant Envelope and Youth Incentive Prize Order Sheet available – easy to manage system (students, teachers, and parents)

• Age appropriate items

Mini Relays

What is a Mini Relay?

• Held at Elementary School

• During school hours

• Students raise money prior to event

• Opening & closing ceremonies

• Games, rides, concessions

Offers more opportunity for schools and students to get involved.

Recognition Reigns in Schools!

Awards & Recognition are key in schools…

• Increases competition

• Increases fundraising

• Increases spirit/energy/excitement…involvement!

Recognition is key…• Recognition within the

school/district• Recognition at the Relay• Recognition from the

Region/Division

Recognition & Awards

Recognition Within the School/District

Schools love to be recognized!

• In front of peers – at Principal’s meeting or faculty meeting

• Recognize Principals involved

• Traveling trophy to top school in the district

• Classroom or grade level challenges – recognize at assembly

• Publicity in local newspaper

Recognition AT the Relay

Event Level Awards

• Most Spirited School Team

• Most Money Raised by a School Team

• Longest “chain of hope” (fundraiser)

Also a great place to recognize Mini Relays held.

Be CREATIVE!

How do we differ from other organizations?

1. Our Mission – lead with the mission – “What can we do for your school?”

2. Recognition – local, in front of peers, state level, etc.

3. Flexibility – Relay can take place in the schools any time

4. Year-Round Community Presence – work in each community beyond time of Relay

School Involvement Best Practices Group Findings

• Give Options – time frame, level of involvement

• Lots of “stroking”

• Middle School – incentives work

• Package materials simplistically

• Include students in solving generation differences

• Luminaria cermoney, fundraisers, etc.

• Communication

• Email group set up for Team Captains

• Keep Principal in the loop

• Pizza rallies after school

PA School Materials Available• Mini Relay kits• Print Materials• Additional Tools/Promotional Items

Tools & Materials

Mini Relay Kits

What’s in the kit?

• How to get started

• Fundraising ideas

• What happens at a Mini Relay

• Sample letters (all kinds)

• Posters and worksheets

• CD with all content

• National Materials Code: 7548.61

Print Materials – On The Link

• RFL Youth Fundraising Envelope

• RFL Youth Incentive Prize Order Sheet

• RFL Mini Relay Talking Points

• RFL PA SHLI Mini Relay Flyer

Additional Tools

• ACS RFL Youth Videos – DVD 7542.64

WHAT OTHER TOOLS DO YOU NEED?

Q & A

1. Share this information with RFL committees

2. Plan and implement – School Involvement in Relay in EVERY RFL community in our Division!

Next Steps

Thank You!