The 26th Annual Samaritans 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention is rapidly approaching, and we are so excited to once again welcome our community to Artesani Park. This event will mark our 50 years of impact, honor loved ones lost to suicide, and support those who are struggling.
Proceeds from this event support the free, lifesaving programs provided by Samaritans—education, crisis services, and suicide grief support. This year, we are offering an array of fantastic incentives to show our appreciation for your fundraising efforts. This stylish swag is a great way to show your support of Samaritans while looking cool!
Check Out the Prizes You Can Earn
$100+ Raised: Samaritans Journal
This smart notebook made from 100% recycled notebook paper is perfect for jotting down your thoughts and reflections.
$250+ Raised: Samaritans Campfire Coffee Mug
You loved this prize so much last year, we’re bringing it back in a larger size! Enjoy your morning coffee or evening tea in this high-quality, ceramic mug.
$500+ Raised: Samaritans Engraved Water Bottle
Stay hydrated with this durable stainless steel water bottle with a wide mouth for adding ice or fruit.
$1,000+ Raised: Samaritans Folding Umbrella
With this high-quality, auto-open umbrella in hunter green, you’ll be prepared for any weather!
$2,500+ Raised: Samaritans Bucket Hat
This sturdy bucket hat with the 5K logo is a trendy way to shield your eyes from the sun.
$5,000+ Raised: Samaritans Premium Folding Chair
This comfy chair with a padded back includes a mesh cup holder, an insulated cup holder, and a bottle opener. Use the convenient drawstring carrying bag to bring it to any outdoor event!
Fundraising for the Samaritans 5K
Did these prizes excite you, but you don’t know where to begin your fundraising journey? Keep reading for some advice from David Cohen and Kyle Freeman, longtime 5K participants and members of the Samaritans Council. They shared some tips that can help even small teams and individuals maximize their fundraising efforts.
“You don’t need to have the biggest team ever to fundraise the most,” David said.
While having more people on the team can certainly help, it’s not necessary to make a significant impact. When David’s team, the Michael H.K. Cohen Team, raised $160,570 in 2022, it consisted of only six people, including family and some of Michael’s friends.
Personalize Your Story
When you create your 5K fundraising page, it will automatically set up a default page with statistics about the impact Samaritans has. While this certainly is a good starting point, adding a personal touch to your page can make a significant impact. Sharing how you’ve coped with the loss of a loved one to suicide, your experiences with Samaritans services, and how they’ve helped you can resonate deeply with potential donors.
“My advice to the team was to personalize it to the extent that you’re comfortable with,” David said. “I’ve personally talked about how I’ve used the Samaritans Helpline as part of my coping and recovery process. Anything about how you feel about Samaritans and what a donor’s contribution would mean to you and to others who would benefit from their services,” he noted, can make your outreach more compelling.
For example, David’s sister, Sarah, shared an account of the day their family found out about Michael’s death, and her journey since then. This powerful narrative helped her become one of the top 10 individual fundraisers for that year.
David acknowledged that creating a personal narrative takes time and emotional effort, but the impact can be profound.
“These are not easy stories to tell. These are not easy places to go,” he said. “But in the long run, sharing your story can significantly influence donations and how people think about Samaritans and suicide prevention.”
Individualize Your Outreach
Sending individual emails can be time-consuming, especially if you are trying to reach out to a large number of people. For her fundraising, Kyle created a form email that she customized for each person. She also sent messages to individual Facebook friends whose emails she didn’t have. The personal touch shows you know who you’re reaching out to and enhances that connection.
“Share it with your network. Tell them the personalized a story in a way that they can, if they’d like to, tell it, too.”
As for her social media approach, Kyle balanced her fundraising posts with informative content about the topic of suicide and mental health. She also recognized that it’s a “very, very intense topic. I mean, I’m a pretty heavy Facebook user, so I did make a point to just also post an adorable photo of my dog sometimes.”
Kyle’s efforts led her to raise $41,000 for the 2019 5K in in memory of her brother Jeff.
These are not easy stories to tell. But sharing your story can significantly influence donations and how people think about Samaritans and suicide prevention.
Increase Your Goal As You Go
Another tip from David was to start with a modest goal and increase it as you make progress. This strategy creates a sense of urgency and significance around your campaign that motivates donators to help you reach your new targets, and also demonstrates the growing impact and support for the cause.
“When people see you’re coming up on that [goal], they’re likely to think, like, okay, this is a goal that’s meaningful to them, and it looks like they’re almost there. . . If your donors see that there’s constantly a big gap, that is going to keep those big donations coming.”
Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, and it is important to show gratitude.
“One dollar helps Samaritans get closer to helping more people,” David emphasized. “Zero dollars does not.”
Get Your Teammates — And Their Networks — Involved
When you think about fundraisers, it’s all about getting other people involved. One tip David shared is contacting people whose fundraising campaigns you have donated to in the past. These people may be more likely to want to help you out.
You can certainly donate to yourself, too! Even if you are the one leading the fundraising effort, you are still a donor and the money you donate to your own page funds the lifesaving services Samaritans provides.
However, fundraising is most effective when not just the team captain but also team members, and more importantly, their networks, get involved.
“You never know how much one network can bring. I think some of Michael’s friends posted it on their page even when they weren’t running. That’s another thing too. Even if people aren’t running, even if they’re not on your team, they can still market for you. That can really make your reach and your network pretty infinite.”
Some team members shared their stories on their fundraising page, while others used email blasts or Facebook posts to reach out.
David encouraged reaching out to individuals who can make significant contributions, whether they are from your network, your family’s network, or a friend’s network. By explaining the cause’s importance and aligning it with potential donors’ interests, you can inspire larger contributions.
“That’s certainly something I couldn’t have done on my own,” David noted, underscoring the value of collective effort in expanding your fundraising base.
Kyle also had a matching donor: an individual who made a large one-time donation that greatly increased the amount she was able to raise. In 2020, she raised $21,000 individually, and her matching donor allowed her to double that amount. Many employers offer donation matching programs, so be sure to check with them about that opportunity.
Kyle acknowledged that asking for donations can be hard. However, the important thing is to remember that you’re not asking for yourself.
“I’m asking for an incredible cause, on behalf of saving lives.”
Ready to get started? Sign up for the 26th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention as an individual or team and start working towards your fundraising goals.
