The 2010 Walk for the Animals will be here before you know it! We're looking forward to another beautiful day at FirstEnergy Stadium, and we hope to see you there.  Below you will find some great general information about all the awesome fun of the Walk & Walktoberfest.  Here are some quick links to get you the info you need:

• Register as an Individual, Pack or VIP Walker!  Click here...
• Form or Join a Walk Pack (Deadline is September 1- All Walkers must still register individually!):  Click here...
• Start your fundraising now with FirstGiving (this does not register you or your Pack): Click here...
• Download a personal pledge/fundraising form!
• Check out the Walktoberfest Music & Events Line Up: Click here...
• Want to be a Sponsor, Vendor or Non-Profit Exhibitor?  Click here...

We're Walking!  Are You? 

We sure hope so because Walk for the Animals & Walktoberfest are about as much fun as a person (or a dog) can have!  The Walk & Walktoberfest are free (although we hope you'll register, of course), open to the public, and features great music all day, great food and drink, exhibits and demonstrations from over 50 vendors and non-profits, and fun canine contests.  There is something for everyone and of every age!  The Walk for the Animals didn't grow from 200 walkers six years ago to nearly 4,000 walkers last year for nothing.  It's a total blast!

Of course, the Walk may be a fun time, but it also helps raise funds for some very serious needs.  The funds raised through registration donations and walk pledges go to help thousands of homeless, abused and injured animals right here in Berks and surrounding counties.  Walk registration is only $20 for adults and $10 for kids 17 and under and includes a cool custom Walk shirt!

If you can do more, consider being one of our VIP Walkers this year.  For a $100 registration donations, you get registration and shirts for two Walkers, VIP parking, entry to a special VIP section of FirstEnergy Stadium with complimentary drinks, beer and wine bar, and buffet (hey, this is Berks County so you know the buffet will rock!) and you'll be listed as a VIP in the 2010 Walk program book!  Shirts plus food and drinks?  That's worth the extra right there!  Plus, your registration applies to your fundraising goal.

And you totally need to have a fundraising goal: everyone who raises $200 or more also gets their very own Walk sweatshirt! Be part of our 200/200 Challenge and help us get 200 new fundraisers committed to raising at least $200 in pledges. 

Walkers can also join together to have an even bigger impact by joining a Pack (team).  Last year just the top ten packs raised over one third of the over $115,000 total raised by the Walk.  With the tough economy this year, your individual fundraising efforts are even more important as many businesses have cut back on corporate sponsorship.

Remember, we are not subsidized by the government or national animal groups.  We raise our donations one dollar and one person at a time.  Just check out our vital programs and services like emergency medical care, Ani-Meals On Wheels, cruelty law enforcement, PetNet, adoption services, humane education and more to see just how much we do and how much we need your help.

But enough about the money, let's talk about the fun!  After the Walk you can join us at the small stage for this year's canine contests: Biggest, Littlest, Best Trick, Best Tailwagger, Best Bark/Howl, Best Dressed, Owner/Dog Look alike and more.  There's sure to be a category for you and your pet!

Then mosey on over to the Animal Expo to talk to some of the best animal welfare groups and non-profits around, plus shop with some great vendors.

So, to recap:

• Please, register yourself and your family for the Walk today.
• Pretty please, if you have the extra bit of scratch, register yourself as a VIP Walker today.
• Pretty please with sugar on top, help us reach our 200/200 Challenge goal by committing to raise $200 or more in sponsorships for the animals.
• And don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter so you keep up to date with the 2010 Walk-O-Rama E-Newsletter!  Just click here.

Some important details:

• The Walk for the Animals is a rain or shine event!
• The Walk path is stroller friendly.
• Stadium rules prohibit bringing outside food or drink into the stadium.  However, full food and beverage services will be available all day.
• Bring a blanket so you can spread out on the field for the music and activities!  Or you can catch the action from the stadium seats.
• The Walk Route is 1 mile long.
• There is LOADS of free parking.
• You do not need to register for the Walk to join us (but we hope you will!).  Walktoberfest is free and open to the public so bring lots of friends and family!
• All dogs MUST be leashed and please don't bring unfriendly dogs or dogs in heat.
• If you are planning to take advantage of adult beverages, BRING A PHOTO ID.
• Prepare to have fun.  Or else.
• And please accept our sincere thanks for helping us have a successful Walk for the Animals!

Form or Join a PACK!

Get your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors together and form a PACK to get the team experience at the Walk! Walk PACKs have ranged in size from 2 - 52 people and have collected from $1000 to over $10,000 each! PACKS get cool perks like walk t-shirts with their PACK logo on the sleeve, signs with the Pack logo to carry during the walk, a banner with PACK logo to mark your cool tailgating area, and cool giveaways, drinks and snacks!

Packs must be officially registered using the form in our 2010 Pack-et or by calling Karel Minor at 610-921-2348, ext. 10.  The deadline is September 1 to register a Pack and get all the cool Pack Perks. All Walkers, whether part of a Pack or not MUST REGISTER online (click here) and Pack Walkers not registered by September 1 will not reveive Pack Perks.  However, any funds raised will be applied to your Pack totals.

Creating a FirstGiving page does not register you or your Pack for the Walk, it is just a super cool and easy whay to raise funds for the animals.

Click here to download the 2010 Pack-et to register your Pack.

Or join these packs already registered:

Is your Pack listed above without a link?  You need a FirstGiving page - click here to set one up!

Want to Be A Sponsor, Exhibitor or Vendor?

Perhaps you would like to participate in the Walk for the Animals and Walktoberfest by being an Exhibitor. Last year over 50 organizations joined this fun-filled event and had a great day presenting their programs, services, and adoptable animals to thousands of visitors. The Expo area features animal rescue groups, animal welfare agencies, community non-profits, artists & crafters, animal-related businesses, and other businesses from the community! There is something for everyone. Non-Profit agencies can exhibit for free! To learn more about the exhibiting opportunities, see the Exhibitor Application below.

Exhibitor Application & Sponsor Form: click here...

Walktoberfest Line Up

Band Lineup Just Announced!

Walktoberfest has always featured great live music, and this year is no exeption! We've got some great area favorites playing all day.  Music starts off at 11 with the Manatawny Creek Ramblers.  The Neo-Trio take the stage at 12:15, and we finish out the day with the Good Lovin' Jam Band, starting at 1:30.

Partial Schedule of events and activities:

Registration, check in & t-shirt pick up begins: 10 AM

Walk & Walktoberfest start: 11:00 AM

Canine Contests begin: 12:30PM (please note new time)

• Best Dressed, Owner/Dog Look-A-Like, Best Trick, Smallest, Biggest, Best Tail Wagger, Best Bark/Howl and more.

Music Schedule

11:00 Manatawny Creek Ramblers

12:15 The Neo-Trio

1:30   Good Lovin' Jam Band

Activities throughout the day:

Spike’s Doggie Bar & Buffet presented by Godfrey’s Welcome to Dogdom

Kid’s Play Area. Arts & Crafts presented by Face2Face Facepainting, RPhils Phunland!

Adoptable Pets! From 12-3PM Located in the Kid’s Play Area

Huge HSBC retail shop!

But seriously folks, the thousands of animals we help every year-- animals who need broken legs mended, who need rescue from abuse and torture, who just need a safe haven while their owner gets out of the hospital, or need permanent new homes-- need you to help us.  Please join us for the Walk, please raise funds, please share posters and flyers with friends and please help us to make a difference in even more lives!

Check out pictures from the 2009 Walk at SmugMug (and maybe buy a few to help us get a few dollars closer to our goal!).  Click here...