What is the minimum fundraising commitment? Each individual We’ve Got Your Back, Babe! (WGYBB) member commits to raising $200 per challenge.  A family can register together with a fundraising minimum of $300.  Note: A family is no more than two adults in the same household and an unlimited number of children. Fitness Instructors can register for $25 and host their own event.  See below for additional information.

Who are the 2014 We’ve Got Your Back, Babe! partners? Best for Babes, the host partner, is the only mainstream, independent 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to changing the cultural perception of breastfeeding and to removing the cultural, legal and institutional barriers - -the Booby Traps® — to healthy infant feeding. Breastfeeding USA provides evidence-based information and support in U.S. communities through over 70 chapters nationwide and a network of accredited breastfeeding counselors. The United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) is comprised of over 4000 lactation consultants nationwide. KellyMom is our primary Outreach Partner.  KellyMom has been a trusted “go-to” for online evidence-based breastfeeding information and support for over a decade.

Where does the money go? Donations are split between Best for Babes and your choice of either Breastfeeding USA or USLCA, the two beneficiary-partners. Breastfeeding USA provides evidence-based information and support in U.S. communities through over 40 chapters nationwide and a network of accredited breastfeeding counselors; USLCA is comprised of over 4000 lactation consultants nationwide. Best for Babes will use its share of proceeds to continue to create and implement campaigns that raise awareness of the prenatal barriers and harness consumer-driven demand for change. Read more about how Best for Babes uses your donations here.

Are donations to WGYBB  tax-deductible? Yes. Best for Babes and Breastfeeding USA are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations as designated by the Internal Revenue Service. USLCA is a professional member nonprofit. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. KellyMom is not a nonprofit and cannot accept donations by law. Donors receive an automatically generated letter from Best for Babes (via First Giving) for their tax records. Donations benefit Best for Babes and your choice of either Breastfeeding USA or USLCA.

What do I get for participating? In addition to the satisfaction that comes from knowing you are helping grow the Mother of All Causes and make America more breastfeeding-friendly by supporting Best for Babes, USLCA, and Breastfeeding USA, everyone who participates and raises funds, regardless of whether they meet their minimum, is eligible to participate in our contests on our Facebook Event page and win prizes!  Check out the Prizes page here.  When you meet your goal, you will receive a Finisher Gift from Leading Lady. If you exceed your goal and raise $300 or more (or $400 or more as a family) you are eligible to receive a special overachievers gift -the event shirt in technical fabric so that you can keep sweating for the love of moms and babes in style!

What if I don’t raise the prescribed minimum? We will not hold you accountable for any shortfall.   However, you will not be eligible for the Finisher Gift and you will miss out on the unparalleled feeling that you could leap tall buildings in a single bound, knowing that you blazed a new trail on the “fitness for a cause” highway in the name of breastfeeding and human milk. YOU can do this!! We’ve Got Your Back, Babe!

When are the funds due? All funds are due no later than November 14, 2014.

How do I get the official WGYBB t-shirt?  One shirt is included with a single Adult or Fitness Instructor Registration, and two adult shirts are included with a Family Registration.  You also can purchase extra shirts to benefit the event! Order for Babes, guys, or kiddos direct from Ink to the People. 

When you register you will be asked to indicate your tshirt size(s).  NOTE: Ladies’ shirts (to the right) are shapely but have a roomier fit. Men’s and youth unisex are crew necks fit true to size. T-shirts will be shipped directly from Ink to the People every three weeks. Please allow for transit time if you are planning on wearing a shirt to your event.

How do I join or start a team?  You can join or start a team as either an individual, family or a Fitness Instructor to Host a Challenge or Class (see special rules below). Click the register button on the main Event page here.   You will be asked to choose the type of registration and as you go through the process you will be asked whether you are joining an existing team or starting a new one. More questions and answers can be found on First Giving’s FAQs here. Or contact us @ gotyourback@bestforbabes.org.

Do I need to be on an established team or start a team to participate? No, anyone can sign up as a solo Fundraiser and get a fundraising page or join the Virtual Team and participate solo along with others around the country.

I’m a fitness instructor interested in hosting a challenge. What’s involved? New this year is an option for fitness instructors to offer a class (single or series) or a challenge of your own devising — as a “mini-fundraising” event for class takers to help support the Mother of All Causes!  To get going, click Register on the main Events page here, and register as a Fitness Instructor for the same $25 fee individual registrants pay. The difference is that instead of asking your friends and family to support you in meeting a personal fundraising goal of $200, you will raise at least $200 from those who take your class or challenge.  For example, you could offer a complimentary class and ask everyone who wishes to attend to donate $25 to your WGYBB team page.  Contact gotyourback@bestforbabes.org if you have more questions.

What’s the Burpees for Booby Traps Challenge?  To help fast-track awareness and donations, this year we’ve added a viral challenge. Think of it as the Express WGYBB Challenge. Video of you doing 1 burpee + a minimum donation of $10  + nominate 3 people within 24 hours to do the same = wildfire awareness of the booby traps and the need to kick their butts:)  Join this challenge here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/BurpeesForBoobyTrapsBFB/weve-got-your-back-babe-2014

What if I can’t participate, but still want to help? We ♥ you! Get a shirt from Ink to the People and wear it proudly (your purchase is a donation!).  Or donate to a team, participant, or virtual team to support them and our mission of eliminating the prenatal Booby Traps®!

What is the role of the Team Leader? We intend for WGYBB to be a fun and fabulous program in an easy format!  When you register, you will be asked whether you wish to set up a new team and whether you are the Team Captain.  From there, you choose your fun fitness goal — anything you want (see more below for ideas) and state it on your Team Page.  Then you’re ready to get started sharing the link to your Team page with your network and community.  In addition to recruiting team members, Team Captains manage logistics of team members to get them to and through the fitness challenge, apprise them of upcoming EVENT prizes and awards, and keep them motivated and on track to reach their fundraising and fitness goals.   If you would like to have another member of your team be a co-captain email us at gotyourback@breastfeedingusa.org.

How do I choose a fitness challenge for myself or my team? The type of challenge is up to you, but be sure to choose something sporty that you think will resonate with your community and engender support.  You can use this challenge as an opportunity to cross one off your bucket list — do your first 5k,  have fun with friends on your first trail bike ride, or jump start a fitness habit, i.e., commit to practicing yoga 3x a week until October 31!  Any sport or fit activity will do.  We suggestwalk, bike, golf, run, or swim, but there’s also bowling, kayaking, Tae Kwon Do, rollerblading, whatever!  Click here for some other fun family activities.   NOTE:  If you choose to participate at an organized event - e.g. a run/walk, ride, we encourage you to get in touch with the Race Director to see whether (s)he is willing to reserve a block of entries at a reduced rate for your team (since we are a charity that often is the case). Any questions?  Contact us @ gotyourback@bestforbabes.org, and we’ll be glad to help you.

Do I have to organize any “training” with my team? Only if you want to!

Where can I go to get more information about awards, prizes, and heaps of inspiration from other Team Leaders and members?  Head over to the Facebook event page. 

Can I customize my team and personal page? Of course!  Just be sure that your content and message are in keeping with Best for Babes’, USLCA’s, KellyMom’s, and Breastfeeding USA’s shared credo of nonjudgmental, positive and evidence-based support for ALL moms whatever they decide about infant feeding.  Read about the Best for Babes credo here.  More info about how to edit your fundraising pages on First Giving: http://support.firstgiving.com/hc/en-us/categories/200100407-Fundraiser-FAQ-s.

Here are some tips for fundraising and sample language for your personal or team page.  Also  feel free to grab the event graphic at the top of this page to add to yours!

1. Get personal. Why do you want to sweat for moms and babies? On your profile page and in emails share why WGYBB’s mission of creating a more breastfeeding-friendly world around moms and babies speaks to you. Were you and your baby or a mom and baby you know sabotaged, humiliated, given sub-optimal care and advice?

2. State your Call to Action. Ex:  “I am running with Team WGYBB because I don’t want to see more mothers go through what I went through trying to breastfeed.” Your story is set in the bigger picture of millions of moms each year who set out to breastfeed and who have an unnecessarily difficult experience, most of whom give up before they reach their goals and are robbed of an incomparable enriching experience and of the lifelong health benefits it confers on them and their babies and IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. WGYBB is an opportunity to stand up for your own, or another mom’s and baby’s right to have good care, advice and 360 degree support for breastfeeding – the foundation of human health.  Say it if you feel it!

3. Share your fundraising and training goals. Sharing how you’re faring keeps people close to you and engaged.  Ex: “This is my first race since I had my baby six months ago and it’s my get-back-in-shape and give back debut! By cheering for me, you’re cheering on all moms and babies!  My goal is to follow a three-month training program which will have me running my 5k by September! My fundraising goal is also to raise $200 to help bring down the barriers to breastfeeding that prevent so many moms from succeeding. Donating to the Mother of All Causes will in turn help many causes focused on fighting for cures for other diseases because breastfeeding provides at least some protection for both mothers and babies for almost every major epidemic we face today!”

4. Post status updates on Social Media. Use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,  etc., to let people know how you’re doing.  Be sure to add your personal fundraising page URL.

5. Consider jump starting giving by making an $18 donation to yourself on your personal page. Why $18?  Because it’s good luck!

6. Thank your donors with a gracious note!

 REGISTER NOW!