(For a printable form of these instructions - Click Here)

Spread the Word is a NO-COST method of increasing public awareness about The Arc and raising much-needed funds to support its mission.  This is an email-internet approach to letting friends and relatives know that The Arc is important to you and your family, and it gives them an easy way to make a donation on-line.  We all find it difficult to ask our friends and family for donations, but most people find this email-internet approach a very comfortable and acceptable method.  Help us “Spread the Word” about The Arc and why it is an important and worthy cause to support.

Starting your Spread the Word campaign for The Arc

Estimated completion time: 10-15 minutes.

1. Draft the text of your personal story, “Why The Arc is important to me …” (Recommended 250-400 words).
2. Select a picture for your site.  Save an electronic version on your computer.
3. Set a personal fundraising goal (generally somewhere between $200 and $1000), or decide not to set a goal.
4. Go to www.firstgiving.com/arc-pa.
5. Select the “Getting Started” button at the middle of the page.
6. Identify the local chapter with which you want to be affiliated or “The Arc of Pennsylvania.”
7. Create a name for your page. It is already programmed to begin with www.firstgiving.com but you need to add some variation of your name (e.g. www.firstgiving.com/gailleightley).

NOTE: If you set up a page for a previous campaign and want to use the same name again, please send an email to support@firstgiving.com.  Include the name of your page and ask to have your page “cleared” so you can start a new one. The response should be quick; please let me know if there’s a problem.

8. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the screen to enter your personal story, upload your picture, write a “thank you” note that will automatically go out to donors, and complete other text boxes shaded in yellow. We recommend that you select “Don’t show any date” for the “Select a date” option.

NOTE: You can edit your personal story, select a new picture or make other changes to your site at any time after it’s created.

9. Once you have received a confirmation email from firstgiving.com that your page is established, send a short email to friends, family and co-workers. Include the link to your page and ask them to visit to learn more about The Arc and make a donation. Also ask them to forward your message to anyone else they can.

If you have any questions about these directions, or if you experience any other problems, please contact:

Todd Dickinson, The Arc of Pennsylvania

Phone: 717-234-2621    E-mail: dickinson@thearcpa.org