The United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan Presents…
Sponsor Guide
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Walk For No Limits
April, 2013, will be the first official Walk For No Limits
for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan (UCP MI). UCP
MI anticipates this event will raise $90,000 to support
services and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Neil Sauter is a person with cerebral palsy who will
walk through Michigan… on stilts!
Neil is The
Michigan Stiltwalker. He is an example of living
successfully with a disability and he raises funds to
help people live a life without limits.
The Walk For No Limits will kick off on April 12 and
conclude on May 19. Neil will be doing six weekend
walks starting Fridays and ending on Sundays, with
local residents joining him during his travels. Neil will
be walking about 25 miles a day on his stilts through
these areas:
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Ann Arbor to Lansing
Saginaw to Flint
Grand Rapids to Holland
Traverse City to Petoskey
Marquette to Escanaba
Battle Creek to Jackson
This exciting event will kick off with a celebration on
April 12. There will be three components to each
Walk For No Limits: As Neil travels from town to
town, he will invite local residents to join him for the
first mile of his journey.
He will be meeting local school children to share his
personal experience of living with cerebral palsy (CP),
and provide education about disability issues.
Neil will also invite people to join him at local
restaurants for Dine to Donate events; a percentage of
the profits will be donated to UCP MI.
Neil Sauter, The Michigan Stiltwalker
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Why UCP MI and the Walk For No Limits?
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is one of the largest health charities in the United States; it is also
among the most respected. This organization was founded over 55 years ago. Today UCP
affiliates help thousands of people with disabilities all across the country.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “cerebral palsy is a group of
disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.” CP is the
most common motor disability in childhood. CDC estimates that an average of one in 303
children in the U.S. have CP. The symptoms of CP vary from person to person. A person with
cerebral palsy may exhibit one or more of the following effects: muscle tightness or spasticity;
disturbance in gait or mobility; involuntary movement; difficulty in swallowing; and problems
with speech. (CP Fact Sheet ucp.org)
Partnership with United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan makes good business sense
In the United States the disability community represents $1 trillion in income and more than
$220 billion in discretionary spending. Consequently, many corporations are interested in ways
to market to the disability community. Over 54 million Americans have some form of disability
and one in six Americans will be disabled sometime in their
lives.
People with disabilities in Michigan:
 13.1% of people in Michigan are disabled
 The employment rate for working people with
disabilities (ages 21-64) is 30.4%
 The annual income of working people with
disabilities is $35,000
 31.5% of disabled people in Michigan have a college
degree
(See 2010 Disability Status Report, Cornell University,
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/gladnetcollect/558/)
Marketing that supports philanthropic causes is important
to consumers:
 83% of consumers want more products and the
retailers they use to benefit causes
 85% have a more positive image of a product or
company when it supports a cause they care about
 80 % are likely to switch brands, similar in price and
quality, to one that supports a cause
(See 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study,
http://www.causemarketingforum.com/)
The Michigan Stiltwalker with an admirer.
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Sponsorship Opportunities
By sponsoring the Walk For No Limits, your company can partner with UCP Michigan to help
people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Michigan live a life without limits.
Walk For No limits launch event Presenting Sponsor - $10,000
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Opportunity to set up promotional area the day of the launch
Opportunity for company spokesperson to speak at launch event
Company logo on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Lead position of company logo and on Walk For No Limits website
Company logo on event posters and materials
Company recognition on all media and publicity releases
Opportunity for company spokesperson and employees to walk at each event
Platinum Sponsor - $5,000
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Company logo on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Lead position of company logo and on Walk For No Limits website
Company logo on event posters and materials
Company recognition on all media and publicity releases
Opportunity for company spokesperson to speak at launch event
Opportunity for company spokesperson and employees to walk at each event
Gold Sponsor - $3,000
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Company name on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Company name on Walk For No Limits website
Company name on event materials
Opportunity for company employees to walk at each event
Silver Sponsor - $1,000
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Company name on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Company name on Walk For No Limits website
Opportunity for company employees to walk at each event
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Additional Sponsorship Opportunities
Dine to Donate and Hospitality sponsorships are available
Dine to Donate Platinum Sponsor - 15% or more of proceeds for the six weekends of the
event
Hospitality Platinum Sponsor – lodging for The Michigan Stiltwalker for all six weeks of the
event
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Company logo on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Company logo on Walk For No Limits website
Company logo on event posters and brochures
Company recognition on all media and publicity releases
Opportunity for company spokesperson to speak at launch event
Opportunity for company spokesperson and employees to walk at each event
Dine to Donation Gold Sponsor – 15% or more of proceeds for one weekend of the event
Hospitality Gold Sponsor – lodging for The Michigan Stiltwalker for one weekend of the event
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Company name on Walk For No Limits event t-shirts
Company name on Walk For No Limits website
Opportunity For company employees to walk at each event
Thank you for considering a partnership with Walk For No Limits. We wish to meet with you to
discuss your interest in supporting Walk For No Limits and will contact you soon.
Phone: (517) 203-1200 ext 304
Email: ucp@ucpmichigan.org
Website: walkfornolimits.org
Mailing Address: 3496 Lake Lansing Road, Ste. 170
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The Michigan Stiltwalker’s Fundraising Success
In 2008, Neil Sauter walked 830 miles across Michigan on stilts. He accomplished this amazing
task to inspire others who have a disability and raise money for services to people with
disabilities.
Neil had no corporate support for the 2008 event and still raised many thousands of dollars
from individuals and small businesses. Those donations helped UCP MI attract matching funds
for a total of $85,000. Neil garnered a lot of press coverage during the 2008 event and was
interviewed many times for television news segments and newspapers. His progress is also
broadcast via social media with photos and Facebook posts.
Neil frequently visits schools, churches, and other events to share his story. Recently he
entertained at the Lavender Dinner…
“We expected to be entertained by a circus performer, but got so much more
from Neil’s inspirational message. Our Lavender Dinner honors United Methodist
women over age 70 and our oldest is 104. Watching Neil and the faces of the
women, I thought of the many handicaps they may have overcome and yet, they
were so moved as they listened to Neil. He has a way with words, a knockout
smile, and a kind personality that will take you anyplace he wants to go – even
across Michigan on stilts! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.” Judy
Burns, First United Methodist Church, Gaylord.
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