General

What is Over the Edge?

Over the Edge is a Canada-based special events company that provides signature events for non-profit organizations anywhere in North America. Participants are invited to raise pledges in exchange for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of repelling over the edge of a local building. The Over the Edge crew handles the technical aspects of the event and The Arc of Essex County recruits rappelers to participate in the event and raise money on their behalf. For more information about Over the Edge USA, please visit www.overtheedgeusa.com.

How does it work?

To go Over the Edge, individual participants must raise a minimum of $1,000. “Toss Your Boss” groups/teams must raise $2,500, and will receive sponsorship recognition based on fundraising goals. The majority of fundraising is done online through the event website.

Is there a registration fee?

Yes, all participants must pay a $100 non-refundable donation deposit to reserve their spot and begin the fundraising process (Toss Your Boss organizations should contact Heather Comstock before registering, so sponsorship benefits can be discussed). The individual participant must only raise an additional $900 to go Over the Edge (Toss Your Boss teams raise an additional $2,400), since the $100 non-refundable donation counts towards your fundraising goal.  Donate or raise a total of $1,500 to upgrade your rappell to a GoPro experience.

What does the money from Over the Edge benefit?

Fundraising

I don't have any experience fundraising, how do I do it? 

Thanks to our online fundraising portal, you can easily share your Over the Edge endeavor with friends and family near and far! When you register to go Over the Edge you will be prompted to create your own personal fundraising web page. You can add photos, upload videos, and change the text on the page to help encourage your friends and family to support your Over the Edge efforts! Share your web page via email, on social media, or more to reach your goal.  Each participant will also recieve The Edger Toolkit full of ideas to get you to your goal. 

How do I raise enough money to go Over the Edge?

• You can collect “online” credit card donations by sending your friends and family a link to your personal fundraising page.
• You can also collect cash and check donations.. “Offline” donors should include your name in the memo line of checks, and checks should be made out to The Arc of Essex County.  The Arc will add your 'offline' donations to your fundraising total. 
• Cash and check donations can be mailed to The Arc of Essex County at 123 Naylon Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039 up to one month before event day. We don’t encourage you to mail cash — either drop it by our office, get a cashier’s check to mail, or turn it in on event day.
• Before you know it, your friends, family and contacts will have helped you reach your fundraising goal and you’ll be rappelling down the side of the 7-story Hyatt Recengy Morristown!
• Our office location for mailing: 123 Naylon Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039

Does the $100 non-refundable donation deposit count toward my fundraising goal? 

Yes! Essentially, you are contributing $100 toward your own goal and asking friends and family to help with the remaining. When you register, the $100 fee will be added to your fundraising webpage and you will receive an e-mail confirmation from Qgiv letting you know that The Arc of Essex County has confirmed an “offline gift” in your name. The $100 non-refundable donation deposit will appear among your other donations.

What if someone wants to write a check or donate cash?

• Checks should be made out to The Arc of Essex County and your name (the rappeller or Toss Your Boss company name) should be written on the memo line.
• You should collect checks and cash from your donors and mail them to The Arc of Essex County
• We don’t encourage you to mail cash – either drop it by our office, get a cashier’s check to mail, or turn it in on event day.
• It is important that we know that the check/cash donation should be credited to you, so make sure that information is available when you send in cash or checks. After May 20, 2022, please hold on to any cash/checks you receive as donations, and bring them when you to check-in on event day.
• If you have questions about donations or the accounting process, please email Heather Comstock at hcomstock@arcessex.org
• Our office location: 123 Naylon Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039

Are donations tax deductible? 

Yes, online contributions and checks are tax deductible. Online donors will automatically receive a receipt for their gifts. This receipt can be used as support for a tax deduction.  The Arc of Essex County will issue a receipt to your donors who contribute by check or cash. 

What happens if I do not raise $1,000?

• Minimum Fundraising Clause: Each individual participant must reach the minimum $1,000 to go Over the Edge. Teams/Toss Your Boss participants must reach the minimum $2,500 to go Over the Edge.
• If minimum is not reached by 30 days prior to event day (May 4, 2022), to secure your spot on the rope you must complete a credit card guarantee form that will be charged the remaining balance if minimum is not achieved by event day, June 4, 2022.
• Each participant will have up to 30 days post event (July 4, 2022) to reach the minimum $1,000 or $2,500 and the credit card charge (if applicable) will be refunded.

Participants

Is there a minimum age to rappel? 

No, but minors must have their waiver signed by a consenting parent or guardian.

Are there weight restrictions for rappelling? 

Yes, participants must be between 100-350 pounds to safely fit into the harness equipment.

What should I wear for the rappel? 

You’re going to be walking down the side of the building so wear good shoes. No sandals, slip-on shoes, slippers, flip flops, high heels or steel toed boots are permitted. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. The harness goes around your legs, waist and shoulders, so it is best to avoid anything too bulky. Long hair must be tied back. You will be given a pair of gloves and a helmet to wear while you rappel.

Can I rappel with my camera or other valuables?

• We constantly worry about objects being dropped over the side, so personal cameras are not permitted. You won’t have a free hand to take photos anyway!
• We will have professional photographers on the roof and you’ll receive the images after the event.
• On event day, you will check-in droppable items like keys and cell phones, or jewelry that can get caught on things. No phones are allowed on the roof!
• If you are using a GoPro it must be securely fastened to you to the satisfaction of the rappel staff. If you don’t have access to a GoPro one can be provided for your descent if you reach the $1,500 fundraising goal. That said, we hope you will share your experience on social media outlets using the hashtag #OverTheEdgeNJ.

Can I wear my glasses when I rappel? 

If you want to wear glasses, you will need to use Croakies or some other eyewear retainer to keep them from falling.

Can my friends or family take pictures of my from the roof?

Unfortunately friends of the participants will not be allowed on the roof top. The roof is a restricted access area. The Arc of Essex County will have an event photographer taking pictures from the roof, ensuring that each participant gets a picture of himself or herself going over. However, your family and friends can watch from the "Chicken Coop" which is located in a prime viewing area, steps from the landing zone.  Friends or family who wish to have access to the "Chicken Coop" must make a $100 or more donation to your fundraising efforts to receive access. The "Chicken Coop" will have the best view for photographs!

What else should I expect on rappel day? Watch this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg4sWV2rjdM&feature=youtu.be

Technical

Is Over the Edge safe?

Absolutely! Over the Edge has never had a single incident or accident at any event since their inception in 2003. Every Over the Edge event is set up as an industrial worksite and as a result is compliant with all federal and state OSHA Fall Protection Standards and OSHA Federal and State Laws. Further to this, our policies and procedures adhere to the best practices identified by IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) counsel. This counsel is a strict regulatory body that has regimented guidelines and safety protocols that far exceed the OSHA, Workers Compensation and state labor codes. To read more about safety, visit the Over the Edge site.

Who will be setting up the rappel gear and what are their qualifications?

All members of the Over the Edge technical team are IRATA and SPRAT certified industrial rope access technicians. We also rely on the help of volunteers from local fire departments, SWAT teams and AMGA Guides to assist with the ropes. All have extensive training in areas like rope rescue and/or are instructors in rope rescue or climbing.

How old are the ropes? How often are they inspected and by whom?

The Over the Edge technical team regularly orders new ropes. They are inspected by our qualified technical staff at the start and end of each event. During the event, safety checks are performed for each person before they rappel, and every 2 1/2 hours the team re-inspects all the rigging.

Do I get to practice before the big rappel?

Yes! You will have the opportunity to practice before your big rappel. This practice session will help you get used to the harness, rappel device and technique for descending the building!