The Autism Society of Minnesota: Steps of Hope

Join us in celebrating 10 years and thousands of steps on Sunday, February 28, 2010! Walk with your family and friends, and alongside hundreds of other friendly faces from the autism community. Check out the information and services provided by our sponsors at their resource tables. Buy autism awareness merchandise and enjoy refreshments provided by our sponsors. Bring in your gently used autism books to swap!

AuSM is excited about our partnership with Firstgiving to support our registration and fundraising efforts. Firstgiving provides us with the technology to help you raise money safely and efficiently. Firstgiving will help you create a personal web page, process online donations and send out automatic thank you notes and tax receipts to your donors. Create your page, complete with photos and stories, set a fundraising goal and even organize your team. With Firstgiving's online tools, organizing to give to Steps of Hope is simple. Just visit www.firstgiving.com/ausm.

Thanks to our fabulous fundraisers!
Winner of a free night and breakfast for two at the Sheraton Minneapolis West
- Stephanie Ament
Winner of two free breakfasts at Sheraton restaurant on 2/28/10
- Helen Hron

AuSM wants to show you how much we appreciate your efforts. For stepping up and supporting us, you will receive cool AuSM merchandise. Focuse your fundraising efforts and reach one of the following goals:

Collect between $500 and $1,999 in donations
and take home on of our very AuSM metal water bottles

Collect between $2,000 and $3,499 in donations
and you receive an organizer's dream briefcase complete with the AuSM logo

Blanket
Raise more than $3,500
and you receive a green blanket with AuSM logo to keep you warm at the game or on the couch.

Prizes will be awarded after the Steps of Hope walk based on the total dollars submitted by March 15, 2010. AuSM will add your on-line donation total to any cash or check donations you present at registration. Prizes will be mailed to the winners at the address provided at registration.

And Now for Our Grand Prize
We are inviting the top fundraiser of the 2010 Steps of Hope to be our guest for a day at the 2010 Minnesota Autism Conference at the Double Tree Park Place Hotel in Minneapolis! Be a part of one of the largest autism-specific conferences in the workd at "Autism, 2010 Edition," April 28 - May 1. You will receive a certificate to attend the day of your choice. There is something for everyone at the AuSM annual conference!

Bring any gently used book, tape or DVD to donate to AuSM. All donated items will be available immediately for purchase for $2.00 at Steps of Hope. You may also drop off donations at the AuSM office anytime before the walk.

A limited number of rooms are available at the Sheraton Minneapolis West (near Ridgedale Center) for the special rate of $79.00 for the night of Saturday, February 27, 2010. Please mention Steps of Hope or the Autism Society of Minnesota. Special rate ends February 12, 2010. And remember the walker with the most donations submitted to AuSM by February 20, 2010 wins a free night and two free breakfasts at this lovely hotel! Call 952-593-0000 or 800-325-3535.

Ridgedale Center requires all walkers to complete a waiver to participate in Steps of Hope. Please bring a completed waiver and your donations to the Steps of Hope registration tables located on the lower level at Ridgedale's North entrance.
Click here for a copy of the mall waiver (PDF)