Sunday, September 18, 2016

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1 Sunday, September 18, 2016 Minute Maid Park 501 Crawford Street Houston, TX Registration- 10:00am (at Union Station Lobby) Opening Ceremonies- 12:30pm (seating in sections along the 3 rd base line for the program) Walk Steps Off- 1:00pm (Start Line at Section 103) Houston Walk Day What to Expect. This What to Expect list was created especially for the Autism Speaks Houston Walk. We understand the more information you have going into a new experience or activity, the better your overall experience will be. This event is more than just a Walk event; it s an opportunity to truly celebrate our loved ones touched by autism. You can let your guard down, relax, and enjoy a family outing. If there is a meltdown or transitional issue, don t worry about what everyone is thinking, because we all get it. Thank you for being an active warrior in the fight to improve the lives of those touched by autism spectrum disorders. Sincerely, Kaitlin Hart Manager- Houston, TX Autism Speaks Brazos Town Crossing, # Rosenberg, TX (713) TX Chapter Toll-Free Number: (866) kaitlin.hart@autismspeaks.org

2 The Day of the Walk Getting to the Walk One of the benefits of holding our event at Minute Maid Park is the ease in getting to the venue. The address is 501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX for your GPS. Parking will be available in lots A, B, and C located at the corner of Texas and Chartres for $10. Parking volunteers will be available to direct you as you enter the ballpark in Union Station Lobby, located on Crawford. When should I arrive? Our Registration Area, Resource Fair, and Kid s Zone open at 10:00am Other day of entertainment will begin at 10:30am. Opening Ceremonies will begin around 12:30pm. Walk begins immediately following Opening Ceremonies (approx. 1pm) I may not make it to the Walk when registration opens. Can I arrive late? Yes. Registration will be open until the Walk ends. Please go directly to the registration area when you arrive. It will be located in Union Station Lobby at Minute Maid Park. Once at registration, volunteers will assist you in getting to the proper line: VIP, Express Check-In, or the Registration line for those who need to register on-site. What entertainment will be at the event? Our entertainment will begin just around 10:30 am, and you won t want to miss it! Our Walk Day emcee will be Sarah E! from CBS Radio. We do understand that some of our guests may experience some sensory discomfort to sound, so we will keep the music at a reasonable level. There are also many places throughout the general area you can go for some quiet time. Orbit, the Houston Astros Mascot will be there to join in on the fun! Joined by his friends the Stormtroopers, Disney Princesses, and a few of the Landry s mascots Home Depot will have wooden crafts for the kids to create. Microsoft will have a gaming station at the event for kiddos to play on and learn. Team Pictures will be taken in a designated area on the concourse near the 3 rd base foul line and available through Facebook a week or so after the walk.

3 Is there a quiet room/place on Walk Day? A quiet zone will be located on the second floor of Union Station Lobby in the Valley Eagle conference room. Elevators and stairs are located in Union Station Lobby for your convenience. What if my child wanders off? In the case of a missing child, please come directly to Fan Accommodations in Section 112 or locate one of our volunteer committee members in a bright blue shirt. In addition to our volunteers having radios, our volunteers will be on duty throughout our entire event, and we have the ability to make announcements utilizing our sound system. Will there be food & beverages? We will have bottled water and light snacks available and these are FREE for all walk attendees. We wouldn t be able to offer these wonderful snacks and refreshments without the support of our wonderful sponsors and contributors including Pepsi, Frito Lay, and Quaker Oats. If you or someone on your team has a special diet, please feel free to bring something for them, but please, no picnic lunches. Are pets allowed at the walk? Sorry, but pets are not allowed at the walk. Many children on the autism spectrum have a fear of animals and even the sweetest pet could negatively affect another participant. Please be sensitive to this issue and leave your pets at home. Only service dogs are permitted at the walk (search and rescue dog(s) may be in attendance). Are strollers and wheelchairs allowed at the Walk? Yes. Strollers, wheelchairs, and even wagons for the little ones are all welcome. The walk route is on the concourse, the outside of the stadium, and on the field of Minute Maid Park. Where is the Walk route? The Walk will take place on the concourse of Minute Maid Park, on the exterior of the building, circle on down to the field and back up to the concourse. The Walk starts at Section 103 and will end at Section 109. Are bikes, rollerblades, scooters or skateboards allowed at the Walk? For everyone's safety, we cannot allow any of these items. Team t-shirts and any other banners or signs you may have to identify your team are allowed, but helium balloons are not permitted. Walk Day Commemorative T-shirts How much do I need to raise to receive a t-shirt on Walk day? Volunteers will distribute t-shirts to those Walk participants who have turned in a minimum of $150 through Walk day (both pre-event and day of event donations will be counted). These can be picked up at the event on the concourse near Union Station Lobby. Can I purchase a Walk day t-shirt? The t-shirts are an incentive to walkers who have reached the $150 level. You are able to purchase Autism Speaks t- shirts and other merchandise at our online store: g-top-nav What happens if it rains on the day of the Walk? All walks will be held on the date scheduled "rain or shine." In the rare case of dangerous weather, we will consult with authorities in order to ensure the safety of our walkers and families.

4 Walk Day Registration What do I need to bring with me on the day of the Walk? Donations, along with a donation form for each, can be placed inside any envelope you have around the house. Seal the envelope and bring it with you. We will have envelopes at registration that you can fill out so that we make sure your team/walkers get the proper credit. Where do I get donation forms? Donation forms can be printed from each participant's individual webpage on your MY HQ. What is the cut-off date to register or join a team? You can register online up to the day before the walk event. Please have everyone register as early as possible to give us a good headcount so that we can plan for a better event. Registration is also available at the event. Some of my family would like to come, but not Walk. Do they need to register? Please make sure to register each person who will attend (even if they do not walk). It helps us know how many people to plan for. If I am registered, do I need to do anything else to be pre-registered? No, if you are already registered online, you are all set. Is it better to register online or register the morning of the Walk? There are many advantages to registering before the walk. 1. Knowing how many people to expect will help us plan for a better event for everyone. We order all items based on how many people we have pre-registered for the Walk. 2. Each person that registers will receive a webpage within the Autism Speaks website. This will give friends and family a place to go where they can donate directly to you online or get a donation form and mail a donation directly to us that will be credited to your page. You can also customize this page with a photo and special message. If I raised all of my money online, do I need to go to registration? Yes! These are the only doors to enter Minute Maid Park through. We have Express Check-In lines for anyone who has already registered and put all donations online. We plan on these lines being much shorter than the ones for anyone registering onsite and turning money in. Can I register and turn in money on Walk day? Teams and walkers can register that morning if they did not sign up online, but signing up online will save time Walk Day morning. Is there a registration fee? There is no registration fee. We just ask that everyone register either online or the day of the Walk and try to raise as much money as possible for our mission. Try to register as many people from your team as possible so that we have a better count of walkers for water, etc on Walk Day. Walk Day Donations Who should checks be made payable to? Please ask your supporters to make checks payable to Autism Speaks. Will the money turned in at the walk show up on my web page and my donation report? Absolutely! If the corresponding donation forms were filled out and submitted along with your donations at the walk, then you should see your fundraising efforts reflected on your web page and donation report within 2 weeks after the event.

5 I turned in donations at the Walk and do not see all the checks processed yet? Autism Speaks will be conducting nearly 100 walks around the nation in 2016, along with countless other fundraising events, all of which must be processed. All donations to Autism Speaks should be deposited, processed and posted to your web page within two weeks of the day of the event. If a few weeks or more has passed and you still do not see your donations on your web page, please contact kaitlin.hart@autismspeaks.org. Can I enter donations received via check to my webpage? How do I turn in cash and checks? There is no way to enter these on the website yourself. Please bring these with you on Walk Day or if you have more to turn in after the Walk you may mail them to the Houston address. It is safest and best for record-keeping that you convert all cash received to checks or money order. Please submit the corresponding donation forms with checks so you will be credited for your fundraising efforts. Once processed, the donation will show on your webpage. You may bring these with you to registration the morning of the Walk. What if my donors don't want to donate online? Please have them submit the corresponding donation forms with their checks so you will be credited for your fundraising efforts. If this is not possible, please have them indicate which walk they are supporting and your name on the memo section of the check. Checks should be made out to Autism Speaks and may be mailed to: Autism Speaks Attn: Houston Walk Brazos Town Crossing # Rosenberg, TX Do I have to fill out one donation form for each check? Yes. This is the best way to ensure that you receive the credit you deserve for all your fundraising efforts. Can I continue to collect donations after the Walk? Where do I send the checks? Absolutely! Please mail donations with the appropriate donation forms (or a note with whom to credit) by December 31 to: Autism Speaks Houston Attn: Houston Walk Brazos Town Crossing # Rosenberg, TX Are donations tax-deductible? Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law. Autism Speaks is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Our tax ID number is How will my donation to Autism Speaks appear on my credit card statement? Depending on the credit card, it might be listed as Kin*, Kintera, or KIN* AUTISM SPEAKS Are there any additional fees in addition to the donation amount? There are no transaction fees incurred by the donor. If you want to donate $ you will be charged $ If any additional fees are indicated on your credit card statement please contact Kaitlin Hart at so that we can work to address this issue with you. Other Event Information What is the resource fair? Our resource fair is made up of booths for local service providers who are there to talk to you and your family about products and services offered for the autism community in Houston. We have around 45 vendors confirmed at this time.

6 Who are the event s corporate sponsors? Our National and Local Walk sponsors support the efforts of our Walk event and help to facilitate a wonderful Walk Day experience for all Walk event attendees. Their financial support directly facilitates the mission of Autism Speaks. Thank you to this year s Corporate Sponsors: Local Sponsors If you still have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to us at your convenience to kaitlin.hart@autismspeaks.org or at (713) Thank you!

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