Arthritis Foundation Florida Chapter Jingle Bell Run-Walk Events Raise $710,598

In late 2010, The Patterson Foundation partnered with The Arthritis Foundation Florida Chapter (AFFC) to inspire philanthropy, greater generosity and participation in AFFC's eight statewide Jingle Bell Walk/Run events.

The Patterson Foundation issued a matching challenge to AFFC, offering to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000, raised through AFFC's 2010 Jingle Bell Walk/Run events.

As of March 2011, the eight Jingle Bell Run/Walk events raised  $331,249 - before the TPF matching gift. Included in the total money raised was $75,668 raised through AFFC's inaugural "Virtual" Jingle Bell Walk/Run event where teams and individuals could participate online. TPF's Facebook challenge to AFFC raised an additional $48,100.

After TPF's matching gift and the Facebook challenge donation, the AFFC raised a total $710,598, or a 318-percent increase from 2009. In addition, the number of event participants increased by 57 percent, the number of sponsors increased by 176 percent and the number of volunteers increased by 138 percent compared to last year's events.