Over the Edge 2021

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. In Knoxville, the Over the Edge crew handles the technical aspects of the event and The Restoration House recruits rappellers 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 our donation portal, Qgiv (see below). For more information about incentives, please click here.   Think of it like any fundraising walk or run event - your frineds, family, co-workers donate tp help you reach your goal

Is there a registration fee?

Yes, all participants must pay a $35 ($50 after Agust 1st 2019) registration fee to begin the fundraising process (Toss Your Boss organizations should contact Daniel Watson before registering, so sponsorship benefits can be discussed). So, essentially the individual participant must only raise an additional $965 to go Over the Edge (Teams then raise the additional $2,465), since the $35 fee counts towards your fundraising goal.

What does the money from Over the Edge benefit?

Over the Edge Knoxville benefits low-income single mothers and their children through the work of The Restoration House. Single parent families represent over 35% of households in Knoxville, and the majority of them are single mother families who are living below the poverty line. The Restoration House (TRH) was founded in 2007 and provides supportive transitional housing and Ally-Teams to help bridge the gap between existing services for low-income single mothers and their children while helping them break the cycle of poverty and giving them an opportunity to restore life’s four key relationships through a personalized, guided plan.

At its core, The Restoration House (TRH) believes that God intended for us to live in community. In order to come alongside more families, TRH is developing The Village – a 24-unit community for low-income single mother families.  Families, like Kimyade and her son, who experience tremendous restoration and relationship through TRH. You can see Kimyade’s video above.

The Village provides The Restoration House and Emerald Youth Foundation the opportunity to strategically partner together to leverage their 35 years of combined experience utilizing best practices in supportive transitional housing, team mentoring, family advocacy, and robust youth development to holistically empower low-income single mothers and their children to break the cycle of poverty!

100% of the funds raised from Over the Edge goes directly to benefit the single-mother families living at The Village.

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

Thanks to our online fundraising portal at Qgiv.com, 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 that we have already created the template for. 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 to benefit The Restoration House! Also, be sure to check out our Edger Toolkit when you register for additional fundraising resources and ideas

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 by using an offline form we will provide to you. “Offline” donors should include your name in the memo line of checks, and checks should be made out to The Restoration House. And don’t forget to record these donations on your personal fundraising page by entering in the amount by logging in, clicking the Funds link, and clicking “Add Offline Donation”.
• Cash and check donations can be mailed to The Restoration House or dropped off at our offices regularly up 1 week before event day.
   We don’t encourage you to mail cash — either drop it by our office, or turn it in on event day. Getting checks in quickly will assure your doors see those clear their banks in a timely manner.
• 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 16-story Trotter Building!
• Our office location for mailing: 2205 Village Place Way, Knoxville, TN 37923.

Does the $35 registration fee count toward my fundraising goal? 

Yes! Essentially, you are contributing $35 toward your own goal and asking friends and family to help with the remaining. When you register, the $35 fee will be added to your fundraising webpage (this won’t be instant, but it will appear on your page within a few days). When the fee has been added, you will receive an e-mail from Qgiv letting you know that The Restoration House has confirmed an “offline gift” in your name. The $35 registration fee will appear among your other donations as, “Your first name, your last name initial, (RF)” – RF meaning registration fee.

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

• Checks should be made out to The Restoration House 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 get them to The Restoration House.
• 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 Sept 21st please hold on to any cash/checks you receive as donations, and bring them when you to check-in on event day. - Sept 28th
• If you have questions about donations or the accounting process, please email Vicki Arpino at vicki@therestorationhouse.net.
• Our office location: 2205 Village Place Way, Knoxville, TN 37923.

How do I add offline donations to my fundraising page? 

• If you receive cash and checks from donors, you can add these donations to your fundraising total by logging in to the backend of your Qgiv page.
• Next, click the “Funds” link, and select “Add Offline Donations”
• You’ll be prompted to enter the amount donated, the name and email address of the donor, the type of donation (check or cash), and the date. Once you click “Add Donation” button to complete the entry. The donation will appear on your fundraising page and it will be counted in your total.
• If The Restoration House receives any donation at our location that you havent sent in we will add those in for you in your name 
• If you have questions about that process, please email Vicki Arpino at vicki@therestorationhouse.net.

Are donations tax deductible? 

Yes, online contributions and checks are tax deductible. Qgiv will automatically issue your donors a receipt for their gifts. This receipt can be used as support for a tax deduction. The Restoration House will issue receipts to donors contributing by check. Cash donations will not be issued a receipt unless presented on-site on event day.

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. With TRH being limited to a maximum number of rappelers we can get down the roped during the event this ensures our event raises the minimum goal. Also we want to be fair to everyone raising funds.
• If minimum is not reached by by Sept 21st please reach out to marisa@theretorationhouse.org to see what options you might have. Whatever you do, dont stop communicting with us - we cant help you otherwise!

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 #OverTheEdgeKnox.

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 Restoration House 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 Block Party celebration which will take place down below on Market Street. This area will have the best view for photographs!

What else should I expect on rappel day? 

Access more detailed information about what to expect on event day.

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!