Sports Basement

Charity Madness – West SF Division

by Clair McDevitt, Interim online community manager

As we gear up for Charity Madness, here’s some information on the teams playing for our West SF Division. Have you started your brackets yet?

Presidio YM CA: The YMCA is not your average gym. Oh no, this place is a glorified community center. The Presidio Y has chosen two areas of focus to support with their Charity Madness funds: their Earth Service Corps (ESC) empowers students to become effective, responsible global citizens by providing opportunities for leadership development, environmental education and action and cross-cultural awareness. The Presidio Y’s YBike teaches youth to ride bikes safely, get physically active and outdoors, and improve their community through bikes.

Avon Walk: Since 2003, inspiring Avon Walk participants have raised more than $740 million for breast cancer programs supporting research to find a cure and to provide all patients access to quality care. Join the Avon Walk in San Francisco on July 7-8, 2012, and you’ll walk for two unforgettable days of passion, power and pure fun! To register, start a team, or learn more about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer visit avonwalk.org or call (415) 834-0404.

Team In Training has trained over a half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers since 1988 and has raised over $1.2 billion to fund Leukemia and Lymphoma research. Participants bleed PURPLE and the GO TEAM chant follows them wherever they go. Team In Training is a fundraising monster with the ability to run the table!

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has a rich tradition of providing clean, safe and fun park experiences to the public. People are using San Francisco parks more than ever. Tens of millions of people visit the city’s parks every year, with an estimated 13 million annual visitors to Golden Gate Park alone. There are 25,000 registered families who use the Rec & Park programs, and volunteers dedicated more than 129,000 hours to the parks last year. With that kind of support, Rec & Park is a strong contender to dominate their division. We’ve chosen Rec & Park to participate because, like Sports Basement, they are dedicated to getting people outside and active.

The Guardsmen make a life-changing difference in the lives of at-risk youth by raising funds for scholarship, campership, and other youth scholarship programs. They mobilize the talents, energy and resources of members, friends, families and professional colleagues, and in doing so strengthen the entire community.

AIDS/LifeCycle is a fully supported, seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money and awareness for the HIV/AIDS services of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Every year, this landmark ride through beautiful California delivers a life-changing experience for thousands of participants from all backgrounds and fitness levels united by a common desire to do something heroic, while having a great time. ALC’s training season is in full swing and as one of Sports Basement’s original partners, dating back to 1998, they have the enthusiasm, costumes and committed community to dominate their division. We chose them for their on-going commitment to the community and introducing so many new faces to their undiscovered love of cycling.

Girls on the Run: This amazing organization educates and builds confidence in young girls through non-competitive running programs all around the Bay Area. They come into this tournament as an underdog looking to take down heavy favorite AIDS/Life Cycle. As a close partner of Sports Basement we think this up-and-coming charity might be able to do it if they mobilize the thousands of girls and supporters they have around the Bay Area.

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco is the largest provider of out-of-school services to at-risk youth in San Francisco impacting the lives of 17,000 youth annually in nine locations in San Francisco’s most challenged neighborhoods. Whether its leadership development, opportunities in the arts and sports, homework help, or volunteering in the community, Boys and Girls Club members are learning to do better in school, stay physically fit, make healthier food choices and prepare for the workforce. These are the skills they need to have great futures. Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco are ready to accept our next challenge – domination of Sports Basement’s Charity Madness!