5K Teams and Groups

We encourage participants to walk or run with a team for fun or competition, but it isn’t required by any means.  If you’d like to participate with friends, family and/or co-workers, then you should strongly consider creating a team.  Details below.

Why walk or run as a team?

1) Teams are a great way to show your support for an individual or cause.  Groups will sometimes wear signature items, costumes or t-shirts centered around their team.

2) Participating as a team can offer recognition for your company or cause.

3) If you’re competitive runners, then your team’s top times will be averaged and available online after the race.  Compete against other teams or try for a team goal average.

How do I signup for a team?

There’s a “team name” option at registration… just ask your teammates to use the same team name when registering.

If you already registered and didn’t fill out a team name or would like to change your team name, email the change to kirsten@autism5k.org and she can manually change it before race day.

Top Autism 5K Groups for 2012

Will’s Wheels (over 70 arriving by bus!!)
Chrestomathy (over 40 strong and growing!)
Brady’s Bunch (Another big group arriving by bus!)
Danny’s Gamers
Team Josh
J Man’s Group
Lionsgate Lopers
Sunny Days Therapy
Lovaas Institute
Holland Center
MAC
Hungry for Chips
Rhino Technology Group
TCPN
Team Drew 22
Jake’s Crew Sponsored by Stonebridge Bloomington
Ambling for Autism
C&C Puzzlers
Corbin’s Crew
Daniel’s Determination
Foss
Jogging for Jake
Linked 2gether
On A Whim!
Peggy’s Posse
Pullin’ for Autism Awareness
Team Bartleson
Team Calvin
Team Charlie
Team Colin
Team Drew 22
Team Elijah
Team Jackson
Team Jacob
Team Jacoby
Team Jake
Team Jared
Team Jordan
Team Lu
Team Jack Jack
Yo Gabba Gabba
You Don’t Know Jack

Thanks to all of our great teams for showing your spirit in support of the cause!

Donations and Fundraising

Thank you for your interest in supporting families affected by Autism.  Participants primarily support the cause by participating in the 5K (registration details here), but there is also the possibility to donate or help us fundraise.

Here are ways to make a donation to C.A.D.E. from direct donations to registration.

1) Make a donation directly to the Autism 5K charities on our event donation site:
- Great option for those who would like to be at the event but can’t make it, yet still want to contribute.

• http://www.crowdrise.com/autism5k
  (Click the orange “Donate” Button or find a fundraising team to support at the bottom of the page)

2) Become a fundraiser and help us raise donations.

• http://www.crowdrise.com/autism5k
• (Click the “Fundraise for this event” button on the right or join an existing team at the bottom)- Fundraisers are eligible to win any of a variety of prizes including tickets to the Autism Awareness Night game with the MN Lynx on August 28th vs San Antonio. Fundraisers who raise at least $100 are eligible and will receive a prize drawing entry for every one hundred dollars raised.

3) Volunteer or Come to Cheer
If you can’t participate or contribute at this time, your presence at the event will be great for supporting the runners and walkers while helping us build awareness of autism’s reach.

• Contact briana@autism5k.org for more information on volunteering.

4) Register for the event and consider an add-on donation.
When you register, there is also an option to make an additional donation.  Your registration alone also helps as well, as all net proceeds go directly to fund therapy, treatment and research for local kids and families.

• How to Register

For information on sponsoring the Autism 5K, please visit our sponsor page.
(Details at the bottom of the page.)

If you have any questions about how you can get involved with fund-raising and donations, please email info@autism5k.org.

Thank you so much!

Support Families affected by Autism

2012 Autism 5K race proceeds will benefit local families affected by autism as well as research and is to be distributed through the nonprofit which runs this event, Children with Autism Deserve Education (C.A.D.E.) via grants.

C.A.D.E. (Children with Autism Deserve Education)

The basis of C.A.D.E. is to help fund education for autism for children that don’t have the funding to obtain it.  The direct teaching method known as ABA/VB has been found to be the most effective treatment for autism and is the methodology that we support.  Unfortunately, many children with autism don’t have the opportunity to benefit from this effective therapy & public schools don’t have the funding to provide it.  C.A.D.E would like to be able to help fund those children that don’t have the financial means for this.  Children with autism deserve to obtain the most effective means of education and we will help them get  it.

C.A.D.E. will also support medical interventions for children.  There are many medical interventions that are being found helpful to the growing population of autism.  We will help provide funding for interventions that are supported and managed by medical doctors in the Twin Cities. Finally, a portion of the proceeds will be set aside for research grants in our hopes that the world will continue to explore the causes of and interventions for this epidemic.

C.A.D.E. is 100% a volunteer organization, from the board to the other volunteers and all net event proceeds it ultimately receives will go directly to fund grants for children in the Twin Cities.

Grants:
If you would like more information on applying for our need-based medical and therapy grants, please email grants@autism5k.org and we will follow up with additional information on how can apply.

The Autism 5K and C.A.D.E.
The Autism 5K is the top annual event for C.A.D.E..  If you would like to support the event, we greatly appreciate it and here are some relevant links:

• Donations and Fund-raising
• Register for the Autism 5K
• Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you so much for your interest in and support of C.A.D.E. and for supporting families and children affected by autism.

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Children with Autism Deserve Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the operating entity of the Autism 5K and will distribute race registration and sponsorship net proceeds via grants.  Direct donations above and beyond registration or sponsorship fees can be made directly and independently to our nonprofit as well.

Original Artwork by Michael Birawer

Immensely talented local artist Michael Birawer has created this custom artwork for the 2011 Autism 5K.  You have likely seen his oil & acrylic pieces and sculpted wood pop outs, many featuring local Twin Cities landmarks and urban settings.   Mr. Birawer created the 2010 commemorative Target Field artwork, the Minnesota State Fair poster and many other incredible pieces.

This piece was created specifically for our 2011 event and it’s use graciously donated to our event by Mr. Birawer.  We are eternally grateful for this incredible contribution!  This piece commemorates our first year’s event, which was held at Lake Harriet.  The 2011 event will be held at Lake Calhoun.

We’re huge fans of Mr. Birawer’s works and we highly recommend you check out his website: http://www.michaelbirawer.com

Join us on Facebook, Twitter

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or the social media outlet of your choice and please help us spread the word!

A) Join us on Facebook!

Autism 5K Fan Page: www.facebook.com/autism5k

Facebook Event Page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/273264526089867/

1. Please RSVP that you will be attending on our event page.
2. Spread the word by inviting others.  Click on the “Share” button then the “Send a Message” tab and choose which friends you would like to send it to by typing in their names.
3. Post the Event to your Wall.  Click on the “Share” button then “post to profile” with comments or without.

B) Follow us on Twitter:

Find us @autism5k
Follow us and we’ll follow you back.  Please send a tweet out about the event to your followers!

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C) Email a Friend or Share with your network!

Go to the home page and click on the “tell a friend” button at the bottom of the page,  then you’ll be able to email the link to a friend or post it to your Facebook page or your other networks.  Or just drop a link to www.autism5k.org to share.

You could also click on the “tell a friend” button on this page, but then just realize you’ll be sharing this specific page as opposed to the main page of The Autism 5K.

Old-Fashioned Social Networking Method:

Print off and share a copy of our online registration by giving it to friends or posting it at your local coffee shop or place of business.

Download the registration flyer PDF here:
http://www.autism5k.org/reg.pdf

And print it out!