San Francisco's Largest AIDS Fundraising Event Goes GREEN with Online
Communications, Recycling and Awareness
SAN FRANCISCO, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Francisco AIDS Foundation
and AIDS Walk San Francisco announced today key initiatives to 'Green' the
HIV fundraising event that is already a San Francisco institution. The
initiatives include the introduction of Green Walkers, composting, and
enhanced recycling.
"With the Foundation's focus on the overall health of our community, as
well as our commitment to preventing new HIV infections, 'greening' AIDS
Walk made great sense," said Mark Cloutier, Chief Executive Officer of the
San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "Every person who participates will walk
towards a future where people and our shared environment are both
healthier."
The Green Walker program recognizes those participants who opt-out of
printed/mailed materials. This not only saves precious resources, but
reduces costs, yielding more fundraising dollars for HIV/AIDS services.
Online fundraising has been growing in recent years, but tying it to the
environment is something new. On the morning of AIDS Walk San Francisco,
Green Walkers will be recognized by a green-ribbon participant button and
will be able to use a streamlined Green Walker sign-in and awards area.
"As one of the largest, most visible and most diverse public events in
San Francisco, and as a leader among fundraising events of any kind
world-wide, we recognize the importance of preserving the environment while
working to eradicate HIV/AIDS," said Craig R. Miller, President of MZA
Events and Producer of AIDS Walk San Francisco.
AIDS Walk San Francisco was already working to strengthen its 'green'
framework as the City of San Francisco announced its new waste reduction
policies. "My administration remains dedicated to maintaining San
Francisco's place as one of America's greenest cities," said Mayor Gavin
Newsom. "This means moving beyond mere goals into meaningful action as
exampled by AIDS Walk San Francisco's Green Walker Program. I commend AIDS
Walk San Francisco for its invaluable contribution toward San Francisco's
commitment to a 75 percent recycling rate by 2010." This year, AIDS Walk
San Francisco hopes to use recycling and compost receptacles and an
electronic 'green' sign-in to reduce 80 percent of waste.
"We continue to see that our most successful participants are using our
web-based fundraising tools to expand their outreach and raise more money,"
said Serafina Palandech, AIDS Walk San Francisco Event Director. "With the
Green Walker Program, we can both encourage fundraising and help the
environment."
The 2008 AIDS Walk San Francisco, to be held Sunday, July 20th,
traverses Golden Gate Park on a 10K (6.2 mile) route. Organizers are
looking to consume less and recycle more as they support the walkers on
their journey. "From product selection, to packing, to distribution, to
disposal, we provide more than 150,000 servings of donated food and
beverage," said Colin A. Weil, MZA's Chief Operating Officer. "We're
working with our in-kind sponsors, including PepsiCo, Safeway and Green
Growers, to deliver product via low-resource utilization methods. Zipcar, a
new sponsor this year, promotes a car-sharing lifestyle rather than owning
or renting vehicles. Zipcar has provided many of the vehicles AIDS Walk
will use this year."
Keeping the Golden Gate Park route pristine will be no easy task, but
with the support of in-kind donors such as the Conservation Corps and
Norcal Waste Systems, the prospect is an exciting one. "AIDS Walk has the
opportunity to be a green leader for events in San Francisco," said Donnie
Olivera, Special Events Coordinator at Conservation Corps. "That's why this
event is so great, for its ability to involve so many people in this
sea-change. When an event like this succeeds, big ideas stick."
About AIDS Walk San Francisco: Since 1987, AIDS Walk San Francisco has
raised nearly $65 million for HIV programs and services in the Bay Area,
and has grown into one of the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world.
In 2007 alone, 25,000 participants, many of whom were members of 800
corporate and community teams, raised a record sum of more than $4.6
million for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and 42 other Bay Area
AIDS service organizations. For more information, visit
http://www.aidswalk.net.
About San Francisco AIDS Foundation: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation
provides leadership to prevent new HIV infections. Linking community
experience with science, the Foundation develops ground-breaking prevention
programs and bold policy initiatives to promote health and create
sustainable progress against HIV. Established in 1982, the Foundation
refuses to accept that HIV transmission is inevitable. For more
information, visit http://www.sfaf.org.
About MZA Events: AIDS Walk San Francisco was founded in 1987 by Craig
R. Miller and his organization of activists, MZA Events. Miller is the
originator of the AIDS Walk fundraising model and has raised more than $300
million for leading AIDS charities nationwide. For more information, visit
http://www.mzaevents.com.
SOURCE AIDS Walk San Francisco
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.aidswalk.net
http://www.sfaf.org http://www.mzaevents.com
CONTACT:
Colin A. Weil of MZA Events, +1-213-201-9255;
or Serafina Palandech of AIDS Walk San Francisco,
+1-415-615-9255; or David Ellison of San Francisco AIDS
Foundation, +1-415-487-3071
|
