The San Francisco Giants have announced that all proceeds from their Fourth Annual "Until There's a Cure Day" on Sunday, Aug. 31 will be donated to the UC San Francisco AIDS Program at San Francisco General Hospital to renovate the AIDS outpatient clinic on SFGH's Ward 86. This is the first time the Giants have donated all the funds raised from the special day to one AIDS program.

"Until There's a Cure Day" will be held at 3Com Park, with ceremonies taking place before the Giants play the Anaheim Angels at 1:05 pm. Members of the campus may order upper reserved tickets from EMPACT for $7.50/adults and $5.50/children 14 and under. Click here for more information or to print out an EMPACT ticket order form. The deadline for advance ticket purchases is Aug. 22. Free Muni buses will transport fans before and after the game from and to UCSF/Parnassus and SFGH.

As in previous years, the Giants will donate $1 from each ticket sold for the game. In addition, funds will be raised through the sale of "The Bracelet," which is designed and marketed by the non-profit Until There's a Cure Foundation. The bracelet and a special line of clothing merchandise featuring the combined Giants/AIDS ribbon logo will be available at 3Com Park and at all Giants Dugout stores in Northern California.

In 1994, the Giants were the first professional sports team to stage a benefit game for AIDS research, education and care or services. The games have attracted 110,000 fans and more than $350,000 has been donated to AIDS causes since the first Until There's a Cure Day.

Ward 86 at SFGH sees approximately 3,000 patient visits each month, and the staff has cared for approximately 300,000 patients since the outpatient clinic opened in 1983. Under the direction of Paul Volberding, MD, UCSF professor of medicine, the UCSF AIDS Program at SFGH has become recognized internationally for its outstanding patient care and clinical research.

"We are very grateful for the Giant's continued support,"said Volberding. "Being the sole beneficiary this year is a very special honor and privilege. The Giants are to be commended for taking the leadership among professional sports organizations and for showing such a strong commitment to defeating this disease. They are one more example of San Francisco's unique approach to the AIDS epidemic; taking the lead with courage and conviction and asking their fans to help and support their effort. We are proud to be involved with Until There's a Cure Day."

San Francisco General Hospital, which is part of the Community Health Network of San Francisco, received the #1 ranking for AIDS care from U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" for the seventh time this year. The outpatient clinic on Ward 86 is one of several AIDS programs at SFGH that contributed to the hospital's being ranked best in AIDS care in the nation. The UCSF AIDS Program at San Francisco General Hospital is a program of the UCSF AIDS Research Institute.

By Alice Trinkl

1st appeared 7/31/97