Here’s how you can help

There are many ways to support the work of Protect Our Defenders! Our supporters and members of the survivor community have gotten creative to raise awareness and funds to support our, work and it’s making a huge difference! Below are three examples that you can draw inspiration from to plan your own fundraiser for POD. Feel free to contact us with questions or ideas.

In August 2020, POD supporters organized the We Believe You 5k, a virtual walk/run that raised over $5k for POD! Photos courtesy of: Olivia Stefani, Pam Christensen & Carla Brown Pace

Organize a virtual walk or run

Check out the following pro tips: 

1. Choose an activity you love that can be done from any location.
2. Pick a date and a name for your event. Looking for some inspiration? Check out photos from a virtual event organized for a group of dedicated supporters and survivors called the We Believe You 5k!
3. In order to maximize your fundraising power, create an RSVP page for folks to pay for their participation in the event, with the proceeds directed to Protect Our Defenders. Platforms such as Facebook and Eventbrite are great tools to utilize, but there are a myriad of other options available. If you would like to create your own fundraising webpage through Protect Our Defenders, reach out directly to info@protectourdefenders.com.
4. Finally, spread the word! Get a group of friends to help you publicize your fundraiser through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with a hashtag.
5. Have fun for a good cause!

Create a Crossfit Challenge for POD

Check out the following pro tips: 

1. Create a purpose and a name for your challenge. It can be in support of a program at POD, or you can dedicate it to an individual survivor or a specific call for change. Check out an example created by one of our supporters!
2. Reach out to friends and family in the Crossfit community about helping you organize your challenge.
3. Prepare a budget; factor in any supplies, gym time, or t-shirts you may want to give to participants.
4. Contact info@protectourdefenders.com to discuss how the proceeds from your challenge can be donated to POD.
5. Plan your workout program.
6. Decide whether you want to host a challenge virtually or across multiple gyms/geographic areas.
7. Promote your challenge: spread the word on social media, post flyers at your gym, or create a website!
8. If you want to create a leaderboard for an ongoing challenge or one hosted across multiple gyms, check out Woodify Arena to register your participants and build out your leaderboard.
9. Build a sweat in support of POD!

Small Business? Host an event and designate a portion of the earnings to POD!

There are many other ways to get involved and raise money creatively to support the work of Protect Our Defenders. If you are a small business owner, entrepreneur, creator, or artist, you can sponsor a sale in which a percentage of your proceeds are donated to POD! 

Another idea is to work with a restaurant and host an event in which a percentage of the food and drink sales go to supporting POD’s work. Though we know that during COVID this may not be possible.

We’d love to hear from you and help you make your event a success! Send us an email at info@protectourdefenders.com to get started!

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