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How can I help the WSA?

The Williams Syndrome Association is dependent on the support of dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of many wonderful individuals and organizations.

Volunteering

There are numerous opportunities for volunteerism within the WSA. From sponsoring fundraisers, to coordinating group outings and social events, you can get involved with the WSA.

To offer volunteer support, please contact your WSA Regional Director. You can find the contact information for your region in the WS Community area.

Donating to the WSA

Contributions to the Williams Syndrome Association are tax deductible and there are several ways a gift can be made. Among these are:

WSA Annual Fund
Individual contributions
Fundraising Events
Tribute/memorial gift
Sally Foster Giftwrap program
United Way and Combined Federal Campaign designations
eScrip and iGive.com purchase contributions
Bequest of cash, securities, life insurance or property
Gifts in kind

Annual fund [back to top]

Each year the WSA mails an appeal to its members, parents and professionals. The Annual Appeal provides 25% of the WSA's yearly income.

Individual contributions [back to top]

[Contribute Now]

Individual cash contributions can be made to the WSA in the following forms:

General contributions
You can make general donations to the Williams Syndrome Association to support any and all WSA activities.

Restricted gift
You can designate that your gift be used to support a particular interest, program or project that is important to you.

Regional gift
You can designate that your gift be used specifically to support the activities of your local WSA region.

Matching gift
Gifts made to the WSA may be eligible for matching by your employer. Corporations with matching gift programs can effectively double or even triple your gift to the Williams Syndrome Association. Please check with your employer before making an individual contribution to see if matching is available.

Member-sponsored fundraising events[back to top]

WSA members can help individuals with Williams syndrome in their area and throughout the country by holding fundraisers in support of the WSA. Typical events include:

Garage Sales, In-home sales (Tupperware, decorator items, etc.), Plant sales, etc.
Golf Tournaments
Special Dinners
Community Opportunities (see below)
Car Washes
Donation Letter Campaign (Send friends & family letters asking for their support)

Use your imagination! If you have an idea that you think might work, call the national office for tips and pointers that may help you get your fundraiser off the ground. They will also be happy to help you put together flyers, tell you how to get publicity and more.

"Pre-Designed" Fundraising Opportunities in your Community
Be on the look out for "pre-designed" fundraising opportunities in your community. Often these fundraisers will provide an opportunity for the WSA to generate donations from people in the community who may have no direct connection with Williams Syndrome, but rather with the business or organization involved.

Casual Day at your (or a friend's) office (Employees pay $$ to wear jeans to work)
Service clubs host fundraisers and designate a non-profit organization as the beneficiary. (ie, Kiwanis Club's "Peanut Day" fundraiser, or a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast)
Some restaurants will donate a certain percentage of their profits on a given day or weekend to a designated non-profit organization.

Whatever you choose, please let the WSA national office know about your plans. We will be happy to help create and distribute any printed materials you need and be sure you have the correct resource materials as well as anything else you may need.

Tribute or memorial gift [back to top]

[Give a Gift Now]

The Association often receives gifts from friends and families of an individual in honor of a special event in their lives or upon an individual's death. These gifts honor individuals and are often used to reflect the interest of the individual. The Association also receives gifts in memory of deceased friends and loved ones of the individual with Williams syndrome.

Sally Foster Giftwrap program [back to top]

The Sale of Sally Foster Giftwrap is the WSA's largest fundraising event, raising more than $30,000 anually. The WSA has been a Sally Foster participant since 1995, and now receives 40% of all sales revenue. Currently, approximately 300 families participate in the fundraiser, selling the giftwrap to family and friends in support of WSA programs. Please join us in the Sally Foster Giftwrap program to help the WSA.

Please contact the national office today to request your Sally Foster sales packet.

United Way and Combined Federal Campaign designations [back to top]

You can designate your United Way or CFC campaign gifts to the WSA. The United Way designation for the WSA is "non-conforming agency #5560." The WSA is agency #1126 for CFC campaign designations.

eScrip and iGive.com purchase contributions [back to top]

By registering your credit and shopper cards with eScrip, a portion of every purchase you make on these credit cards, at participating retailers, will go to the Williams Syndrome Association. Your purchases can be online, or in person at the stores.

To download the current list of participating merchants, pick here.

To sign up for eScrip, follow these steps:

Pick here to go to eScrip.com, and then follow the instructions below to sign up:
At the top of the eScrip.com page, select the "sign up" link
On the sign up page, select "Group ID" and enter "34074" in the search field. Pick the search button.
The results page should appear with the Williams Syndrome Association listed.
Pick the link and continue to follow the online instructions to complete the sign up process.

Shop as you normally would online or at your favorite stores.

By using iGive.com, a portion of your online purchases at participating retailers will go to the Williams Syndrome Association. Your purchases must be made online and you must either begin on the iGive.com web page, or download and use the iGive.com Shopping Window.

To view the current list of participating merchants, pick here.

To join iGive.com, follow these steps:

Pick here to go to iGive.com, and then follow the instructions below to sign up:
At the top right of the iGive.com page, enter your email address and select the "join now" link
On the Find a Cause to Support page that opens, enter "Williams" in the search field. Pick the search button.
The results page should appear with the Williams Syndrome Association listed towards the bottom of the results.
Pick the link and continue to follow the online instructions to complete the sign up process.

Continue your online shopping using the iGive.com mall as your starting point.

Bequest of cash, securities, life insurance or property [back to top]

Publicly traded stock that has appreciated in value since you bought it will be gratefully accepted by the Association. You may also name the WSA as the primary beneficiary of a life insurance policy or property that can be sold upon receipt.

Gifts in kind [back to top]

The WSA can often use donations of personal property. From items to be used by the national office to items for auctions at fundraising benefits. Please contact the WSA national office regarding gifts being considered for donation.

All gifts should be sent to the WSA at:

Thank you for your support!