Arthritis Foundation Florida Chapter Raises More Than Half A Million Through 2011 Jingle Bell Run/Walk

With support from The Patterson Foundation, the Arthritis Foundation Florida Chapter raised more than $516,000 through its 2011 Jingle Bell Run/Walk events. For the second year in a row, The Patterson Foundation partnered with The Arthritis Foundation Florida Chapter (AFFC) with a goal to inspire philanthropy, generosity and improved participation in AFFC’s nine statewide Jingle Bell Run/Walk events.

In November, The Patterson Foundation announced a $250,000 dollar-for-dollar match for all new or increased donations made to the Jingle Bell Run/Walk events. To qualify for the match, each event location had to raise money beyond the 2010 totals. Through its strategic partnership with the AFFC – the leading health organization addressing the needs of 50 million adults and 300,000 children living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability – The Patterson Foundation has discovered a unique avenue to make a positive difference for people living with arthritis and their families.

To help the AFFC increase its fundraising by generating greater awareness, The Patterson Foundation’s strategic communications partner conducted a series of webinar trainings to boost AFFC staff capacity in public relations, sponsorships strategy, media leveraging, and social media.

As of February 2012, the total raised through Jingle Bell Run/Walk prior to the matching gift is $516,017.97. In 2010, through a partnership with The Patterson Foundation, AFFC increased its Jingle Bell Run/Walk fundraising 318 percent over 2009 events.