Promoting your good work is one of the more important things you can do. These resources will help you with this critical task.

Develop Your Own Website

We require that each chapter develop its own website to promote its program and recognize our national sponsors. We will provide a link to your site from the Find a Chapter page.

Some helpful tips include: writing in general terms so you don't have to make constant updates, describing why your program is unique, adding a paragraph about yourself and why you decided to start a Trips For Kids^® chapter, posting a few photos of rides and at least one photo of you, and listing your contact information.

To recognize our sponsors, we require that you provide a link from your website to the Trips For Kids Sponsors page. On this page, we list ALL our sponsors including those that donated outdated/overstocked product to us. By adding this link you WILL NOT have to update your page when the sponsors list changes. However, if desired, you can place some (or all) of the companies' logos directly on your own site. You can find company logos and links to their websites on the Promoting Our Sponsors page.

If your chapter is part of a larger organization, you can develop and manage a Trips For Kids page on the parent organization's existing web site.

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Promotional Materials

It's never too early to start marketing. Even before you do your first ride, you might want to start putting together materials to market yourself to funders, volunteers and the youth groups that you want to serve. The first step is to develop a brochure, either simple or fancy.

One-Page Fliers

• TFK Charlotte (MS Word)
• TFK Vancouver (PDF)
• TFK CAT (PDF)

Tri-Fold Fliers

• TFK Vancouver (PDF)
• TFK Marin (PDF)
• TFK Charlotte (MS Word)
• TFK Denver (PDF)
• TFK Southern Arizona (PDF)

You also may want to write to agencies to introduce yourself. This introduction letter (courtesy of TFK Metro New York) is a good model. And you can augment the letter with a detailed ride brochure like that developed by TFK Rio Grande.

Videos

Using volunteer labor, a lot of Trips For Kids chapters have produced videos showing them in action. Some examples includ:

• TFK Metro DC
• TFK Charlotte
• TFK Triangle
• TFK Denver
• TFK CAT

If you do develop a video, Trips For Kids chapters are invited to submit video material to Starfish Television Network, which airs on DISH network. Starfish does not charge non-profits for airing videos, nor does it pay them. The information on how to submit your video does not appear on their site, but if you are interested in contacting them, email us and we will send you the necessary forms and information.

Sample Presentations

• TFK Detroit
• TFK Triangle presentation to schools (7MB)

Sample Newsletters

• TFK Marin
• TFK Charlotte

Sample Promotional Materials

• Displays
• Letterhead
• TFK Charlotte's ad
• TFK Vancouver’s leadership program poster
• TFK Chicago’s Business Card
• TFK Utah Valley’s Banner
• TFK Tampa’s Banner

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Press Releases

Here are some tips from Dave Hurst of TFK Detroit on writing press releases: Press releases should not be on letterhead. If mailing the press release, include a brief cover page on letterhead. Keep it short (one page, about 500 words). Make it look as eye-pleasing as you can. Appearance is half the battle. Always call editors first to ask them if you may send the press release or to tell them it’s coming. Then e-mail, fax or mail it them. Send out the press release about 10 days before you want the story to run. Paragraph one must summarize the entire story in about 2 sentences, while capturing interest. Always end with contact info. Make sure to use the important names (Trips for Kids, Director names, whatever) early on in the release. Include quotes whenever possible and feel free to quote yourself. For even more tips on marketing your program, check out Dave's Public Relations presentation.

Sample Press Releases and Public Service Announcements

• Introductory Press Release that can help introduce Trips For Kids in your community (courtesy of Dave Hurst, TFK Detroit)
• Another Introductory Press Release from Pat Childers, TFK Metro DC
• First Ride Press Release, courtesy of Dave Hurst, TFK Detroit
• Inaugural Ride Media Advisory
• Event Public Service Announcement (PSA) from TFK Marin
• "Invite the Press" Press Release from TFK Seattle

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Sample Photo Permission Releases

To protect the children, and to eliminate any legal liability for Trips For Kids, you should always have signed permission from anyone who appears in a Trips For Kids photo or video that will be available in a public place, in print or on-line. We have English and Spanish-language versions of a permission form that you can use.

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