Going the distance for donations
Whether you’re a longtime dedicated runner, cyclist, swimmer or weekend 5K enthusiast, you can make your next challenge more meaningful by raising money for Best Friends Animal Society through the secured online platform CharityBets. CharityBets allows your friends, family members and colleagues to pledge donations for the nonprofit of your choice, like Best Friends. All the organizations are pre-screened to be featured on the website.
The ease of using CharityBets is one of its best features. The athlete selects an event, which include races, swim meets, and other sporting matches, and sets a performance goal. Then he or she selects their authorized charity and contacts potential supporters. Once the event is completed, the athlete updates the profile page with their personal results. It’s just that simple.
CharityBets supports nonprofits
“As a runner myself, I think CharityBets will provide an added motivation to cross that finish line,” shares Gregory Castle, CEO and co-founder of Best Friends. “We know many of our Best Friends members and other active pet-lovers will be excited to use this individualized tool to raise money to help abandoned and homeless animals. While we have been involved with formal outdoor event fundraisers for over a decade, with events like Strut Your Mutt, the service of CharityBets will keep our extended family connected to Best Friends throughout the year in a unique way – it will enable them to support our mission of No More Homeless Pets through donations and help spread the word about our lifesaving work.”
Gregory knows a thing or two about the psychology of staying motivated. He has completed many marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. But you don’t have to be as dedicated to fitness as Gregory to make every step count.
Runners on the benefits of the platform
Robin Politowicz, Best Friends senior specialist for the No More Homeless Pets Network, was instrumental in getting our organization promoted through CharityBets. She’s a seasoned runner and is looking for an ultra-running event to put the fundraising site to good use. While she was exploring ways to garner support for her favorite charity and training in between races, she saw an opportunity to combine the two. “I have done many events for causes that are important to me like leukemia and lymphoma over the years, and I wanted to be able to help animals, too, but I wanted something that could fit my schedule,” she explains. “CharityBets will enable a lot of people like me to do more.”
Another Best Friends staffer echoes a similar sentiment. Jill Williams, Web content manager, has been running since 1998. She’s completed her fifth marathon this October, and she can check off running across the Grand Canyon as one of her marathon goals. She sees the opportunity to fundraise through CharityBets as a great incentive to face the physical challenge. “For me, the last few miles of a marathon are more mental than anything,” she says. “You’re tired, your legs hurt, and sometimes you just want to give up. But knowing that you are raising money for the animals gives you that extra boost to keep going.”
Make your next race or challenge count for the animals. Check out CharityBets to get started.