GeoPalz Launches New Donation Platform for Health-Focused Fundraising
Kids can now “Walk to Win” in support of schools and charitable organizations
(3BL Media) Boulder, CO - March 13, 2012 - GeoPalz, innovator of kid-friendly pedometers and active gaming, today launches its new donation platform during the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention in Boston, to help schools and other charitable organizations raise money by getting kids and their families active. The new, healthy way to fundraise accepts pledges from donors in exchange for participants walking a required daily amount of steps to receive the money.
The donation platform is a user-friendly way to organize a fundraiser, with all donations, participants and goals tracked, managed and updated online through GeoPalz.com. Setup is simple and after an event is created, it can be easily found by participants to join, or by donors to pledge to the cause. Additionally, administrators of the event have the option to post updates regarding the total steps and goals to a designated Facebook page.
Most importantly, the GeoPalz donation platform keeps the focus on staying fit and active for the cause, rather than asking people to sell products or snacks door to door. After joining, participants select which GeoPalz pedometer they would like to receive to track their steps during the event. GeoPalz advances these devices for free to the organization to use for the event, and deducts the expense of the device at the end of the event. The participants can then continue to use GeoPalz pedometers after the event to earn free prizes and awards.
“We want to give schools a way to raise money while continuing to promote physical fitness to the students,” said Rich Schmelzer, CEO of GeoPalz, LLC. “Beyond schools, though, the donation platform can be used by any number of charitable organizations for healthy fundraising.”
Sparked by current legislation like the Physical Education for Progress Act (PEP) and the Personal Health Investment Today Bill (PHIT), GeoPalz aims to encourage schools, teachers, parents and students to continue to fight for their physical education programs. The new donation platform will serve as an invaluable tool for promoting physical activity while raising those funds.
“It’s our hope that through the new GeoPalz donation platform, physical activity can really empower the schools,” Schmelzer said.
The traditional GeoPalz activity trackers are 3D Tri-Axis Accelerometers for the shoe that gauge MVPA (Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity) for tracking a child’s daily activity. Steps are entered online through the GeoPalz online community to redeem a variety of prizes and awards. Through the donation platform, daily steps are tracked to work toward the overall mileage goal for redemption of pledged donations.
For more information, or to create a new fundraising event, please visit www.GeoPalz.com/donations.
About GeoPalz
GeoPalz is a family-owned business founded in 2008 by Rich and Sheri Schmelzer and Alexandra O'Leary, the creators of Jibbitz™ - the stylish shoe accessories for Crocs™. As parents, the creators of GeoPalz wanted their mission to align with current and developing national campaigns to combat childhood obesity by encouraging youth to lead active lifestyles. GeoPalz kid-friendly activity trackers feature unique, fun designs and a safe online community that motivates children by converting physical activity and “vigorous activity points” which can be redeemed for free, gift cards, activity-based toys and awards. www.geopalz.com - www.facebook.com/GeoPalz - www.twitter.com/GeoPalz
