Buddy Walk - Family Connection of South Carolina

Buddy Walk 2024: Sunday, October 27th Saluda Shoals Park Athletic Fields

11 a.m. Gates open for Vendors and Tailgating

12 – 2 p.m. Family Fun activities

2 p.m. Walk around athletic fields followed by ceremony

Buddy Walk is held each year in honor of families who have a child with Down syndrome. Starting in September, families, individuals, and businesses are invited to start fundraising, then, on October 27 we will gather together for an afternoon of fall festivities, family-fun, a mini-walk, and an awards presentation to honor each of our participating Buddies and our top fundraisers!

Starting a fundraising team is a great way to support Buddy Walk. Here are other ways you can engage with this important community event!

Become a sponsor or vendor.

Make a donation.

Serve as a volunteer leader and help plan our event!

For more details, contact Jacki Garbinsky!

Start your Buddy Walk Team!

Decide on a fun team name you love! Start your team!

Set a fundraising goal and make your own donation—it’s easier to ask others to contribute to your cause when they see you are setting the example! Add additional team members to your team.

Order a complimentary Buddy Walk T-shirt for your Special Buddy.

Customize your team page and your personal page to let the world know why you are supporting Buddy Walk. Include a profile photo on each page!

Build Momentum

Now that you’ve got your team started, let’s have fun with fundraising!

Recruit! Add more members to your team and build excitement—ask your neighbors or co-workers if they want to be part of Buddy Walk by joining or making a contribution to your team.

Matching Gifts! Ask your employer if they offer a matching gifts program. Many companies will match their employees’ charitable donations. Just like that—you’ve doubled your impact!

Support from the Top! If your employer doesn’t offer matching gifts, ask your manager or HR contact if the company is interested in sponsoring the event or contributing to your team.

Clean up for a cause! Get your closets, drawers, and garage cleaned out and host a family or neighborhood garage sale. Donate proceeds to your Buddy Walk campaign—it’s a win/win!

School Spirit! Ask child’s school to support Buddy Walk. They can create their own fundraiser or sell Buddy Walk Stars.

Percentage Events: restaurants or other businesses you support can support you by hosting a Buddy Walk Day (or Night) and donating a percentage of sales to your team. Or they can simply make a donation to your team!

Reach for the Stars! Start a Star Campaign by selling Buddy Walk Stars for $1 and $5. Sell them as a family and ask local businesses if they will sell them too! This is a great opportunity for schools and businesses to create an awareness wall of Buddy Walk Stars—each star has a place for the purchaser to add their name. We’ll get you the stars—you make them shine! Proceeds from the star sales will be added to your team total!

Get creative—and let the kids join in! Kids come up with great ideas to support Buddy Walk—use blue and yellow to create projects kids can sell to friends, family, and neighbors to support their Buddy Walk team. (Anything from painted rocks to cookies or cupcakes!)