FAQs

This Year's Event

What's the difference between in-person and virtual participation?
In-person participants:

  • are welcome to attend the​ event itself
  • will receive a bib at bib pick-up
  • will receive a mug at the event.

Virtual participants

  • ​should not attend the event itself (if you want to attend, you will need to switch from Virtual to In-Person by emailing us no later than December 2nd at hotchocolaterun@safepass.org).
  • will not receive a bib
  • will receive a mug and any qualifying fundraising recognition in the mail. If you are local, you can also opt to pick up at our office after event day.


COVID Considerations

The Hot Chocolate Run is a community show of support for survivors of domestic violence. As a community, we take care of one another. 

More than ever, community safety is a shared responsibility as we plan to gather together in December. As a registered participant, it's your responsibility to follow these guidelines. Please stay home if...

  • you feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, a sore throat, chills, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, nausea, or vomiting);
  • you have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 after December 2;
  • you've been directed to self-isolate or quarantine by a health care provider or public health official;
  • you are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

Fundraising

What do I do with cash/check donations?
Log in to your page and then choose "Manage my page" from the menu on the upper right. Then click the menu item referring to fundraising on the left side of the page, then "Enter cash/check donations." Follow the instructions on that page. You will need to fill out this form to record your cash/check donations.

What about donations I raise through a Facebook Fundraiser?

Be sure to connect your HCR fundraising page to Facebook so donations you raise on Facebook show up on your HCR page. To set this up, log in to your page and click "Manage my page." Then click "Create a Facebook Fundraiser" on the left-side menu and follow the prompts from there.

If you do not follow these steps, any donations raised on Facebook will not appear on your page. They will not count towards your total unless you record the donations manually. To do so, follow the "cash/check donation" instructions above, so your fundraising page reflects all of your support. Please also send us a note letting us know you're doing this, so we can keep track: hotchocolaterun@safepass.org 

What are this year's prizes?

We will recognize our top 3 individual fundraisers, top 3 fundraising teams, and top 3 youth fundraisers (ages 10-18) at the event. We have wonderful prizes for our top fundraisers! Please note that our deadline for purposes of our top fundraisers is the Friday before race day (12/6/24) at 8:59 pm. Donations will be accepted through December 31, but if you're competing for prizes, please make sure your donations are in by Friday evening.

Are there hats and buttons this year?
We love our fundraisers, so we have thank you gifts for participants who raise $150 or more: 

  • At $150 or more, you will receive our iconic red hat and custom enamel pin.
  • We thank anyone who reaches $500 or more in donations with a long sleeve t-shirt, featuring this year's mug art.
  • If you fundraise $750 or more, you'll receive a pair of polar bear and penguin socks - to keep your toes warm on event day.
  • Our top 20 fundraisers will receive a custom, special edition prize!

All thank you gifts can be picked up on event weekend or will be mailed if you are a virtual participant.

How do I find my friend's fundraising page?
Search for their name here. After searching you can click on their name to take you to their public donation page.

I want to fundraise, but don't know how!
Thank you for taking this step! Start by sending a quick email to your friends and family with your fundraising page link. You can also post your link to Facebook with a short message about why you're participating this year. Check out a list of more tips here...and don't hesitate to get in touch at hotchocolaterun@safepass.org if you have any questions. We'd love to help you get started or talk to you more about the programs that you support with your fundraising. Thank you!

Why are you asking me to fundraise on top of the registration fee I paid? 

Registration fees primarily cover our costs, like equipment, rentals, and services that ensure a fun, well-organized and safe event. Only a few dollars of your registration fee support Safe Passage's programs. We rely on you to fundraise to help us run year-round services to survivors: our helpline, our housing advocacy, legal/immigration advocacy, bilingual counseling services, and more. Your fundraising helps us do more each year to meet the needs of our community. That's why it's important for you to get involved.

Registration

Do I need to register my child/family members?

Yes, anyone who participates needs to be registered. If you want to register your whole family at once, you can only do this during the first registration of the season. Otherwise, you will have to register each person individually. 

I already registered, but now want to join a team. Is it too late?

Not too late! Log in to your page and then choose "Manage my page" from the menu on the upper right. Then click "Join a team (or form a new one!)" on the left side. 

How do I register a team?
The best way is to have each individual follow the "Register" link on the homepage. Everyone will have an option to join an existing team or form a new one. If you've formed a team and want people to join, just be sure they know the name of the team

Registration fees out of reach?

Safe Passage is committed to ensuring access for all participants, regardless of their financial circumstances. We believe in creating an inclusive and equitable experience for all, and we encourage participants to contact us if the current registration fees are out of reach for you and your family. Email us at hotchocolaterun@safepass.org.