Registration is now OPEN

The 2017 Cider Run: Registration is now open! 

Visit our event page here to read about the event and to sign up for the 5K run or 2 mile walk.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK:

This year, we're encouraging people to participate in teams, either by joining a team or becoming a Team Captain. (You can designate which you'd prefer on your registration form when you sign up for the run/walk.) This is a great feature we're excited to premiere this year! Its main purpose is to let people assemble teams of runners or walkers for the Cider Run, and teams will be eligible for special prizes and awards the day of the race. 

However, a team can also be used as a social (aka peer-to-peer) fundraiser! This is accomplished by having each teammate credit their registration to their Captain when they register. They would then sign up for their own (free) Neon account, linking their page to their Captain's, and sharing with friends and family to encourage them to sign up for the Cider Run or make a donation. (A post with more detailed instructions will be pinned to the top of this blog soon.)

However you choose to participate in the Cider Run this year–whether you'll be running or walking, flying solo or teaming up, donating your time or money, or spreading the word about what we do here at Valley Educational Associates–we appreciate you!


More information about the Cider Run:

• Early Bird Registration (August 1 to September 8) - $20
• Regular registration (September 9 to October 27) - $25
• We will be accepting late/day-of registration as space allows (the event is capped at 250 participants--walk AND run combined). Late/day-of registration - $30

**All participants who register by October 13 are guaranteed a T-shirt!**

If you have any questions about the Cider Run, the registration process, teams, or about VEA in general, please feel free to contact us! You can find contact info on our website, valleyeducational.org. 

2017 5K Cider Run - Registration Opens Aug. 1

We're thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual VEA Cider Run will take place Saturday, November 4, 2017! 

NEW THIS YEAR: TEAMS

Here are some benefits to participating in the Cider Run with a team:

• Compete with friends and family for encouragement and motivation
• Join a new team to meet awesome new people
• Become a Team Captain and lead your team to victory
• Become eligible for special team prizes
• Help inspire more people to join the Cider Run, which directly benefits VEA and the individuals that we serve

We'll have more information on teams and Team Captains soon!

Registration opens August 1, 2017.

Early Bird Registration (Aug. 1 - Sep. 8): $20
Registration (Sep. 9 - Oct. 27): $25
Late/Day-Of Registration (Oct. 28 - Nov. 4): $30

The event is capped at 250 participants. Day-of registrations will be accepted as space allows.

Visit the Cider Run event page for updates and announcements!


 

Cider Run T-shirt Deadline is TOMORROW!

Register for the 5K run or 2 mile walk by 11:59pm on Friday, 10/21 for your FREE Cider Run T-shirt! 

 Click the link in the right sidebar to register now! >>>

If you won't be participating in the run or walk, but want to show your support for VEA, you can purchase T-shirts (no limit) from our online shop at valleyeducational.org. These shirts also make a great gift for other VEA supporters!

 

Don't wait, because these shirts are only available until 11:59pm on Friday, October 21!

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising - Hints & Tips

If you've registered for VEA's 5K Cider Run or 2 Mile Walk, you've probably already heard about peer-to-peer fundraising for the event. If you haven't registered for the event but want to help VEA in some way, this is the perfect opportunity!

You may be an experienced social fundraiser, a complete newbie to the idea of peer-to-peer (or P2P) fundraising, or somewhere in between. No matter where you fall, the resources we've lined up below will help you make the most of your campaign, which will make the VEA Cider Run even more successful than last year and directly benefit the individuals we serve!

Hints and tips for a successful P2P campaign:

• You might already know and love Valley Educational Associates, but maybe your social circle isn't quite as familiar with us. Sharing some background information on VEA, such as our history, what we do, the people we serve, etc. can help your supporters get to know us and what we stand for, making their decision to support you that much easier!
  Check out our website at valleyeducational.org. There, you'll find lots of great info that you can share with your supporters to let them know exactly what our mission is and why supporting the VEA Cider Run is a great decision.
  
• Create a free peer-to-peer fundraising page! Once your account is created, you'll receive a confirmation email. To log in to the site, follow this link to get started on your campaign: https://valleyeducational.z2systems.com/np/clients/valleyeducational/login.jsp
• Name, create, and customize your campaign. Set a goal, upload a photo, and write a message to your supporters letting them know why you believe in VEA! You can track your progress, as well as the overall campaign's progress, and keep track of event registrants who credit you for their registration, among lots of other things.
• Once you create your campaign, share it everywhere! Post a link to your campaign on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, send a Snapchat to your pals, email it to your family members... get the news out there!
• Other tips:
  - Set a high goal! Even if you don't reach it, a higher goal will encourage people to give more.
  - Use excerpts from the VEA website and the Cider Run logo! Feel free to use blurbs from our website to explain what we do here at VEA, and share the Cider Run logo (at the top of this blog) when you post!

Register Now for the 5K Cider Run!

Registration is officially OPEN! 

Sign up for the 5K run or 2 mile walk, and get special Early Bird pricing until September 9. All participants registered by October 21 are guaranteed a T-shirt!

Click the link to register and learn more:

https://valleyeducational.z2systems.com/np/clients/valleyeducational/event.jsp?event=2&

VEA also encourages all participants to sign up for peer-to-peer fundraising (see our previous post for some helpful links). Look for an email invitation after you register to get started!

 

Register August 12 for the 5K Cider Run!

VALLEY EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATES PRESENTS

THE 2ND ANNUAL 5K CIDER RUN AND 2 MILE WALK

VEA is thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual 5K Cider Run and 2 Mile Walk on November 5, 2016! 

 
Registration will open Friday, August 12, and we'll have special Early Bird pricing available for participants, so mark your calendars now!
 

We'll also have the Kids' Fun Run again this year, for kids aged 12 and under.
Parents/guardians can sign their children up for this popular event on the day of the race.

Early Bird Registration (until September 9): $20

Registration (September 10 to October 28): $25

Late/Day-Of Registration (October 29-November 5): $30

All participants registered by October 21 will be guaranteed a Cider Run T-shirt!

NEW THIS YEAR:

We will have extra Cider Run T-shirts for sale, registration NOT required!  We encourage everyone who does not wish to participate in the race/walk to keep your eyes peeled for an email invitation to order these shirts. It's a great way to show your support for VEA!

Also new this year: Peer-to-peer fundraising! After you register for the race or walk, look for an email invitation to create your own peer-to-peer fundraising page for the Cider Run! This is a fantastic and fun method of raising money for VEA and earning special prizes along the way. In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about peer-to-peer (or "social") fundraising, below are some links to get you started!

What is peer-to-peer fundraising?

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: The Ultimate Guide

2016 5K Cider Run

Valley Educational Associates is thrilled to be in the planning stages of our 2nd Annual 5K Cider Run, which will take place Saturday, November 5, 2016. 

We're still several months away from the race, but we've already received a generous donation from C&S Wholesale Grocers!

C&S Wholesale Grocers has over 90 years of experience serving retailers as a fourth generation family business! They supply independent supermarkets, chain stores, and institutions with over 170,000 different products, from more than 75 high-tech facilities. Visit their website at http://www.cswg.com/ for more information about this great company!

From everyone here at Valley Educational Associates, thank you C&S!

Valley Gives Day - May 3, 2016

Valley Educational Associates is thrilled to participate in our third Valley Gives Day, on May 3, 2016! 

We're also excited about a new feature offered by Valley Gives and Razoo this year... peer-to-peer fundraising! This is a fun and easy way that you can promote VEA and share what we do with your friends and family.

Just follow three easy steps to get started:

1.) Create a Razoo account (it's free!).
 
 2.) Start your own fundraiser for VEA.
Under Cause, search for "Valley Educational Associates" in Hatfield, MA. Then, enter a title for your fundraiser (it can be anything you like!). Once you're signed up, you can set your own fundraising goal, donation amounts, etc.

3.) Share your fundraiser on social media--Facebook, Twitter, etc. and encourage your  friends, family, co-workers, etc. to join the giving extravaganza on May 3! Every dollar you raise for VEA helps us get one step closer to our goals.

Join the VEA staff members and supporters who have already started peer fundraising, and get ready for Valley Gives Day on May 3!

Learn more about peer-to-peer fundraising: https://valleygives.razoo.com/giving_events/VG16/getstarted-fr

Giving Tuesday is tomorrow... but you can donate TODAY!

First, we hope everyone had a restful and delicious Thanksgiving!

After two hectic days of shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a day to give back to your community and support your favorite local nonprofits. December 1st is tomorrow, but you don't have to wait until then to make a difference. Any donation you make between now and the end of tomorrow will count towards VEA's Giving Tuesday goals!

Click here to visit our Razoo page and learn more about VEA, what we stand for, and how you can help!

 

Giving Tuesday - December 1!

 
As we leave our first Cider Run and approach the holiday season, we'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who supported us for our first big event, and encourage you to keep that momentum going. Make charitable giving part of your holiday season! Visit our Razoo page to learn more about Giving Tuesday, a day to give back. Also, stay up-to-date on VEA events by liking our Facebook page!

Happy Thanksgiving!



Razoo, Giving Tuesday:
https://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Valley-Educational-Associates

VEA Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Educational-Associates-Inc/509865945774349