The campus community is encouraged to participate in AIDS Walk San Francisco, the annual trek through Golden Gate Park on Sunday, July 20.
AIDS Walk San Francisco is a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) walkathon that benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, in addition to several other local AIDS service organizations, including the UCSF AIDS Health Project and the Lesbian Health & Research Center at UCSF.
As in past years, UCSF has formed a number of teams that are busy trying to raise the most money in a friendly competition to win the UCSF AIDS Walk Trophy, a bronzed New Balance running shoe formerly worn by Chancellor Mike Bishop, MD.
Last year, the UCSF Campus Team led by Lydia Derugin, director of administration and finance for University Advancement and Planning, raised the most funds. Derugin, who is leading the same team this year, accepted the trophy from Julia Clark, whose Graduate Division team raised the most money in 2006.
This year, there are seven teams actively recruiting members and raising funds. The teams, which are posted on the AIDS Walk San Francisco team webpage with a tally of funds raised to date are:
• UCSF Campus Team No. 0094
• UCSF Friends and Family Team No. 0089
• UCSF Graduate Division Team No. 0096
• UCSF School of Dentistry Team No. 0090
• UCSF School of Medicine Team No. 0091
• UCSF School of Pharmacy Team No. 0093
• UCSF Residents and Clinical Fellows Team No. 9921
Amy Day, manager of Resident and Fellow Affairs in the Office of Graduate Medical Education at UCSF, just signed up yesterday as the leader of the newest team for UCSF Residents and Clinical Fellows.
It’s not too late to start another team for those who want to represent the School of Nursing or UCSF Medical Center, for example. To form a team, go here.
In addition to the team trophy, individual awards will go to the person who raises the most money and the first-time walker who raises the most money. Prizes will be announced soon.
Again this year, everyone who participates in the AIDS Walk in one way or another will receive a free UCSF T-shirt. Each T-shirt will be emblazoned with the UCSF mission of advancing health worldwide™, mirroring the striking design seen on UCSF banners and posters around campus and the City.
All walkers and volunteers will receive a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch at the event as well. Parking will be available at the UCSF garage on Irving Street for a flat $5 fee to those participating in the AIDS Walk.
Those who want to volunteer on July 20 to register walkers, serve breakfast and lunch, and enjoy entertainment and conversations with their UCSF colleagues at the UCSF meeting station should contact Joey Convento, volunteer coordinator for Arts & Events.
A Worthy Walk
Since 1987, AIDS Walk San Francisco has raised nearly $65 million for HIV programs and services in the Bay Area. For 21 years, the event has been a model of cost-effective fundraising and extraordinary community activism. In 2007 alone, 25,000 participants, many of whom were members of more than 800 corporate and community teams, raised a record sum of $4.6 million for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and 42 Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations.
UCSF’s participation in the 2007 AIDS Walk San Francisco helped contribute to a successful event. UCSF teams together raised $61,150 last year. In addition, UCSF volunteers sold the UCSF AIDS Walk T-shirt, netting another $815 in cash for the cause.
Despite bringing in less than in 2006, when UCSF teams collectively raised $69,323, UCSF still finished in eighth place among the top 10 fundraising teams.
The other top teams were: Gap Inc., AT&T, Starbucks Coffee Co., Levi Strauss & Co., Williams-Sonoma, Inc., bebe, Chevron Corp., UCSF, LVMH and Kaiser Permanente, according to Isaac Rodriguez, team coordinator for AIDS Walk San Francisco.
With the help of family and friends, Jon Giacomi, director of resource planning and management for Capital Programs and Facilities Management (CPFM), raised the most money to win the MacBook computer, donated by Campus Life Services and Financial and Administrative Services.
“It was both a solemn and uplifting event at the same time,” Giacomi recalls. “Both those two emotions are going on during the event.”
For more information about the event, please contact Lisa Cisneros, AIDS Walk coordinator at UCSF Public Affairs.
