1 CAL Volunteer Manual
2 reach their fitness goals.Thank you for your interest in being a Catch A Lift Fund (CAL) Volunteer CAL depends on volunteers to help us spread awareness, organize events, and raise funds for our cause. Your efforts are enabling our veterans to get back to a heathy self. In this manual, you will find different ways you can become involved in CAL, from organizing events, fundraising or interacting with our veterans and helping them reach their fitness goals. Your CAL Contacts: Lynn Coffland: President and Founder (O) OR (C) Laurie Mancina: FFH Coordinator (O) Linda Rubeor: Volunteer Lead (O)
3 VOLUNTEER EFFORTS ARE ENABLING OUR VETERANS TO GET BACK TO A HEALTHYSELF ! ” "To me, physical conditioning is more than a hobby; it is a way of life, and thanks to Catch A Lift, it is easier than ever.“ Sgt.T.Anderson “Catch A Lift's Mission is an awesome one. Encouraging Wounded Veterans like myself to never quit. A free membership to my gym makes it that much easier to get up and hit the weights everyday!!!” Sgt. M.Hayward
4 Contact Laurie Mancina for more information.
5 Fitness for Heroes Gym ChallengeThis challenge series is a fun, active and easy way for gyms and fitness facilities all over America to get their members and communities involved in raising funds and awareness for CAL. The link below will explain how the Fitness for Heroes Challenge works, but here’s what you can do on your end…. There are many different ways you can connect gyms to the Fitness for Heroes Challenge (FFH): Personally take the FFH information to your own gym and coordinate an event there. Personally take the FFH information to multiple gyms in your area and help coordinate an event at those gyms. Through your social media, peers, network, etc. connect people to the FFH information so that they can be an ambassador of FFH in other areas nationwide. Compile a list of gym contact information in your surrounding areas . Send and introduce them to the FFH information. Contact Laurie before approaching gyms to discuss your plan Laurie can also provide you with an FFH attachment that can be printed and distributed if you chose. Invite templates to help solicit gyms and promotional material is available from Laurie as well.
6 Contact Susanne Kennedy for more information or to get started.
7 Dine for Heroes Restaurant NightDine for Heroes is a fun and easy way for restaurants and their communities to get involved with Catch A Lift while helping us raise awareness and funds. Millions of Americans eat out every day, so by asking your local restaurant, café, or maybe even a restaurant chain to participate in the Dine for Heroes Fundraiser, you can help CAL impact the lives of hundreds of veterans. _____________________________________________________ Chances are this is something that most restaurants you approach have already done, so they might have ideas of their own- which is great! But just in case they don’t, we have a set of guidelines that you can look over, and take into the restaurant you have chosen. Sports teams, school classes, church groups, running groups and many more can all be enlisted as CAL Dine for Heroes supporters and attendees for your restaurant event. For more information on the Dine for Heroes Fundraisers,
8 CAL MARATHONS, 5K’S and RACES
9 Marathons, 5k’s and other races!For the past 3 years, Catch A Lift has been involved in many races through out the U.S. including the Walt Disney World Marathon and the Disney Wine and Dine. These events help Catch A Lift raise money and spread awareness by getting people involved that otherwise might not ever learn about CAL. Ways you can help: Signing up to run with CAL in the Disney Races. CAL is guaranteed race spots as a “Charity Partner” within these SOLDOUT races. Runners commit to fundraising requirements per race. These races go on through out the year. And many of our runners run each year. To learn more , CAL Race Team Coordinator Rob Fessock at or call our office EST. Organize a 5k or other race in your town! People are doing this every day and there are online forums for most communities on how to get started. Getting one of these together in your hometown can become an annual event and help raise a lot of much needed funding for CAL. Sign up for an already organized race and get some friends as well to form your own TEAM CAL! No matter the race, no matter the town, you can still be a part of TEAM CAL. So walk, cycle or run! Commit to a fundraising amount, ask friends, family and colleagues to donate to the cause, and we will send you a CAL shirt for when you run your race! 4. for supporting logos and templates.
10 CAL FUNDRAISING IDEAS
11 CORPORATE Sponsor SolicitationOther Fundraising Ideas… The fundraisers outlined for you in this manual are just meant to be guidelines. If they do not fit into your lifestyle, there are many other ways you can fundraise in your community. ~A FEW IDEAS~ Jeans Day- Coordinate a Jean/Casual Day at your work place (or school) where employees pay an amount (i.e. $5.00 or $10.00) to wear jeans to work. Let your employees know where this money is going and how they will be helping combat wounded veterans! Golf / Tennis Tournament- Many of you might belong to clubs, or have clubs in your area that would be willing to host an event for Catch A Lift. Tap into your friends and family and see if they know anyone at golf or tennis facilities in your area. Host a Bingo or Card Tournament- Contact your local school or church to see if their cafeteria or gym could be used for a tournament. Invite your community to pay an entry fee to play, and give them chips to bet with, in place of money. Swim Laps, Sport Team Competitions or Bake Sales- get creative. Everyone can be involved! CORPORATE Sponsor Solicitation Catch A Lift Fund is always looking for new sponsors. If you feel you would excel at approaching companies in your area to ask them about becoming a sponsor, for the 2017 Sponsor Level Program!
12 CAL SQUAD LEADER
13 What does a SQUAD LEADER do? • Motivates • Listens • Problem Solves • Supports Thousands of Catch A Lift veterans are attending gyms or using their home gym equipment everyday all across America.. By becoming a Squad Leader, you will partner with CAL veterans on a one to one basis by following them over the course of one year through their fitness journey. Your personal outreach will provide a foundation for support and help to assure their success in the CAL program. Be ready to be inspired and motivated by our CAL veteran’s determination and fortitude.
14 WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A SQUAD LEADER?•One year commitment to run your Squad •Choose the size of your Squad. A Squad can consist of 2 to 8 CAL vets. Decide the number of CAL vets you can commit to serving based on your own life style. • CAL Confidentiality agreement must be signed by the Squad Leader •Currently- Squad Leaders must agree to use their own (you can create your own google if you so desire) and phone number. •Call each CAL vet in your Squad and record details in a SQUAD Form, provided to you via google docs CALL FREQUENCY: (16 calls for the year per veteran) Month 1 : one call for week 1, 2, 3 & 4 Month 2 : one call for week 2 and week 4 Months 3 thru 12: one call monthly ASSESSMENT FREQUENCY: Months 1, 6 and 12 includes a Progress Survey •Submit results monthly to CAL. •Squads are nationwide and currently not separated geographically.
15 THINK YOU COULD BE A SQUAD LEADER?How to get started…. •Call CAL’s Office (EST) and ask for Linda for more information. Or Linda Rubeor at or our MAPS (Motivation, Accountability and Peer Support) Program Director, Katelyn Thompson at •A phone interview will be scheduled for each Squad Leader candidate with our MAPS Program Director, Katelyn Rockwell. •Once accepted, a confidentiality waiver is signed by the participant and a CAL SQUAD LEADER Package will be sent via •You will be assigned to your Squad and calls will commence.
16 Our team at CAL thanks you for your volunteer interest! Know that your efforts are needed and very much valued at CAL! 2014 and 2015 Audit results- 90% of every dollar goes to our veterans programs. Catch A Lift is a 501 C3 non-profit organization. Tax ID# “Shake off any dust that may accumulate from stagnation of purpose” Cpl. Chris Coffland K.I.A