Amazing Sacramento Events

NorCal AIDS Cycle Sets New Registration Record

2011-12-16T22:03:58Z

NorCal AIDS Cycle, which raised a record-setting quarter-million dollars for local HIV/AIDS service agencies in 2011, has more than doubled in number of cyclists and crew members leading into the May 2012 ride.

The Sacramento-based four-day, 330-mile HIV/AIDS fundraising ride registered a record number of cyclists and volunteer crew members—85 cyclists and 61 volunteer crew members—in a one-day Dec. 1 World AIDS Day campaign. With another three cyclists signing up since Dec. 1, the 2012 ride, which will be held May 17-20, now has a total of 212 participants registered. In comparison, only 72 cyclists and crew had registered for the 2011 ride as of Dec. 15, 2010.

In a Facebook-organized drive to jump-start their fundraising for 2012, on Dec. 15—which participants dubbed “Throw Down Thursday”—cyclists and crew members raised a total of $5836.58 in a single day.

Even with fewer than 100 cyclists, the 2011 event raised more than $250,000 for regional HIV/AIDS service organizations, 72 percent of which was returned to non-profit organizations in Sacramento, Auburn, Redding and Chico. Each cyclist commits to raising a minimum of $1,500; each crew member to $250.

“This is a remarkably large number of cyclists and volunteers signed up so early, and we expect more people to register over the next few months,” said Emily Tsuchida, a nurse practitioner at Sacramento HIV/AIDS clinic CARES and an NCAC cyclist and board member. “The success of our World AIDS Day registration drive is particularly encouraging at a time when funding is so badly needed for HIV outreach and education, particularly among youth.”

At CARES, which received $50,000 from NCAC for its Positively Speaking outreach program in 2011, 111 people under age 25 currently are being treated for HIV, 99 boys and 12 girls.

An estimated 56,300 adolescents and adults were newly infected with HIV in 2006 in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. There were 111,100 Californians living with HIV as of June 30, 2011, according to the California Office of AIDS. There are some 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Sacramento region, according to CARES—an estimated 1,000 of whom are unaware they are infected.

Craig Spatola, executive director of Sacramento-based Breaking Barriers, which provides people living with HIV/AIDS with transportation to medical appointments and Rapid HIV Testing and Prevention services, said NCAC funding has been vital to his agency at a time when government funding sources have been severely reduced. “With cutbacks in funding for HIV/AIDS organizations at the federal, state and local levels, private fundraising efforts such as NorCal AIDS Cycle are literally what is keeping agencies like ours, and the individuals we serve, alive. We wouldn’t be open today if not for the support of NCAC. It is amazing what a small group of dedicated people can accomplish!” said Spatola, who has crewed NorCal AIDS Cycle since the ride’s inception in 2005.

NorCal AIDS Cycle supports organizations throughout Northern California working to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to care for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the region and works to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, the needs of the community and the benefitting organizations. For more information about NorCal AIDS Cycle, or to register for the 2012 ride, visit http://www.norcalaidscycle.org.

Disclosure: Bonnie Osborn is a writer and PR professional working on behalf of NorCal AIDS Cycle.

NorCal AIDS Challenge Waives $75 Registration on World AIDS Day Dec. 1

2011-11-28T17:26:07Z

NorCal AIDS Cycle, the Sacramento-based four-day, 330-mile HIV/AIDS cycling fundraiser, will mark the 23rd annual World AIDS Day by waiving the $75 registration fee for cyclists or crew volunteers who sign up on December 1.

To qualify for the free registration, simply visit norcalaidscycle.org on Dec. 1, click on Register Now, and enter code CURE.

Ride organizers hope the opportunity to register free will inspire cyclists and volunteer crew members to sign up, get a jump on training and help the event exceed last year’s record-breaking success. The 2012 NorCal AIDS Cycle will be held May 17-20.

With nearly 100 cyclists, NorCal AIDS Cycle (NCAC) had its most successful year in 2011, raising nearly $250,000, with $190,000, or 72 percent, donated to local HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Each NCAC cyclist commits to raise a minimum of $1,500, although some cyclists raise far more. Crew members commit to raise a minimum of $250 each and often raise more as well.

In addition to helping fund services for people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as prevention, education and testing, the bike ride plays an important role in raising awareness of the continuing epidemic.

Paul Weubbe, who rode in NorCal AIDS Cycle for the first time in 2008, has been impressed by the attention the NCAC ride generates in remote Central Valley towns and Sierra foothill communities along the route. “When you have 100 cyclists come through town, people want to know what’s going on,” Weubbe says. “When you stop at rest stops, they ask questions about why we are riding. It starts a conversation that otherwise might never happen.”

World AIDS Day was established by the World Health Organization in 1988 to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the early years of the epidemic, grassroots organizations rallied in a massive effort both to provide critical health services and to educate the public about the critical importance of testing and safer-sex practices. But as the years passed, HIV/AIDS service organizations struggled to overcome “message fatigue,” media coverage dwindled, and the development of life-saving new treatments meant HIV was no longer an automatic death sentence. A new generation grew up without the sense of crisis that their elders had experienced. As a result, the rate of new HIV diagnoses has remained flat for years—no higher, but no lower.

An estimated 56,300 adolescents and adults were newly infected with HIV in 2006 in the United States, about 22.8 new diagnoses per 100,000 population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. There are some 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Sacramento region, according to CARES—an estimated 1,000 of whom are unaware they are infected. There were 111,100 Californians living with HIV as of June 30,2011, according to the California Office of AIDS.

At CARES (Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services), a Sacramento HIV/AIDS clinic and service provider that received $50,000 from NCAC for its Positively Speaking outreach program in 2011, 111 people under age 25 currently are being treated for HIV, 99 boys and 12 girls.

“I have been working in HIV for many years and never has my patient case load been so young,” says Emily Tsuchida, a Nurse Practitioner at CARES. “It seems the youth are not using condoms, and that is what is so concerning. HIV is completely preventable in this country, and yet the rates of infection are not coming down.

“The ride is a reminder that this epidemic is still here,” says Tsuchida, who is an NCAC cyclist and board member. “When we ride through towns, raise money, and train, it starts a dialogue that makes people think, makes them remember, and hopefully inspires someone to test and prevent infection.”

The mission of NorCal AIDS Cycle is to support organizations throughout Northern California working to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to care for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the region through fundraising; to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, the needs of the community and the benefitting organizations; and to encourage a positive environment for the dignity, quality of life, and acceptance of people affected by and infected with HIV/AIDS. For more information about NorCal AIDS Cycle, visit http://www.norcalaidscycle.org.

Disclosure: Bonnie Osborn is a writer and public relations professional working on behalf of NCAC

Local Attorney Has Photograph Accepted in Sacramento Fine Arts Center Show

2011-11-10T22:13:38Z

A photograph by Sacramento attorney Jane A. Ryan, entitled “Negative Fringe Element,” has been accepted in the Sacramento Fine Arts Center show, “Visions,” which runs from now through November 19. The center (http://www.sacfinearts.org) is located at 5330-B Gibbons Drive in Carmichael. A Second Saturday Artists Reception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, with an awards presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Ryan's paintings and other artwork also has been displayed in other local arts shows, most recently in the Art Bra Show held in August at the 40 Acres Gallery in Oak Park. Ryan is an attorney in private practice, with a focus on prenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements (www.Sacprenup.com).

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center is open Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sacramento AIDS Ride to Distribute $190,000 to Area HIV/AIDS Organizations

2011-08-05T20:16:34Z

The NorCal AIDS Cycle had a record-setting year in 2011, raising more money for area non-profit organizations than any HIV/AIDS fundraising organization in recent Sacramento history. The event is among the most successful Sacramento charity fundraisers in history based on total dollars raised.

The organization will distribute a total of $190,000 to area HIV/AIDS service organizations, returning 70 percent of total funds raised to beneficiary organizations at a check presentation ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at Hot Italian, 1627 16th Street, Sacramento.

A record 96 cyclists, along with 30 volunteer crew members—who also raised money—participated in the four-day, 330-mile cycling fundraiser in 2011. Established in 2005, the event has raised more than $1 million for non-profit HIV/AIDS service organizations in Sacramento and Northern California. Beneficiary organizations in 2011 are CARES, Breaking Barriers, and Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center, all of Sacramento; Sierra Foothill AIDS Foundation of Auburn; Caring Choices of Chico; Shasta Trinity Tehama HIV Food Bank of Redding; Golden Rule Services of Sacramento; and HARM Reduction Services of Sacramento.

In addition to the challenges of fundraising during an economic recession, organizations dedicated to HIV/AIDS services face the public misperception that advanced new treatments have ended the danger of infection. According to Emily Tsuchida, a Nurse Practitioner at CARES, a Sacramento health care provider for people living with HIV/AIDS, such misinformation may result in new infections, particularly among youth. Currently CARES treats 92 HIV-infected youth under age 25—82 males, most of whom are gay, and 10 females, most of whom are heterosexual. Nationally, one quarter of new HIV infections occur among adolescents and young adults ages 13-29, according to the CARES Website.

“I have been working in HIV for many years and never has my patient case load been so young,” Tsuchida said. “It seems to me that the youth are not using condoms, and that is what is so concerning. HIV is completely preventable in this country, and yet the rates of infection are not coming down. The attitude of many young people is either that HIV is not really here or ‘If I get it, it’s not a big deal.’ Perhaps the message that the treatment is so good has curbed the fear".

In fact, although HIV today is commonly treated as a chronic condition rather than a terminal illness, the new treatment regimens have created a new set of problems: medication side effects and health impacts, costs of long-term medical care, and a new generation of at-risk individuals who are unaware of the hazards. “There is so much more that needs to be done with the HIV negative youth as well as the positive folks who continue to spread the virus,” Tsuchida said. “That is the power of the NCAC ride, as it can provide funds for education and discussion that would otherwise be unavailable.”

Craig Spatola, executive director of beneficiary agency Breaking Barriers, which provides transportation to medical appointments to people living with HIV/AIDS and Rapid HIV Testing and Prevention services, has crewed NorCal AIDS Cycle since its inception. “With cutbacks in funding for HIV/AIDS organizations at the federal, state and local levels, private fundraising efforts such as NorCal AIDS Cycle are literally what is keeping agencies like ours, and the individuals we serve, alive. We wouldn’t be open today if not for the support of NCAC. It is amazing what a small group of dedicated people can accomplish!” Spatola said.

Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center board member and first-time NorCal AIDS Cycle cyclist Jacob Rowe said he has been inspired by the generosity demonstrated by cyclists, crew members and donors. “As a first-time cyclist, I was blown away by the generosity of our donors and the cyclists and volunteers who devote many hours in training and fundraising to this critically important cause,” Rowe said. “It’s inspiring to realize that, even in such a tough economic environment, individuals are willing to sacrifice in order to help provide essential services and life-saving care to people living with HIV/AIDS.”

There are some 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Sacramento region, according to CARES—an estimated 1,000 of whom are unaware they are infected. Minority ethnic communities are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS with higher infection rates and lower long-term survival rates. One-fourth of U.S. residents living with HIV are women, and Black women are more than 19 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white women.

WEAVE Clients, Staff to Benefit from Oz Sing-Along

2010-08-19T17:17:22Z

Clients, staff and volunteers of WEAVE (Women Escaping A Violent Environment), the primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County, will have an opportunity to sing along with Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch and all their Oz friends Sunday, August 22, at Sacramento’s Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. in Sacramento.

Outword Magazine and Crest Theatre, co-producers of “The Wizard of Oz Sing-Along at the Crest,” are providing complimentary tickets to WEAVE for the family-friendly festivities. The event will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday with Karaoke in the Lobby, followed at 2 p.m. by an Oz Character Costume Contest and screening of the 1939 MGM classic film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The Crest Theatre will be transformed into the Land of Oz for the occasion, complete with Yellow Brick Road, Emerald City, and Tornado Trivia. Glinda the Good Witch will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Contestants of all ages are invited to come dressed as their favorite Oz characters to compete for prizes including Barnum & Bailey circus tickets, cash, and ruby-slipper themed commemorative trophies.

Outword Magazine and the Crest Theatre co-produced a highly successful ‘Grease’ Sing-Along event in August 2009. Dozens of leather-jacketed, poodle-skirted Pink Ladies, T-Birds and Scorpions wanna-be’s competed for prizes and crowd applause.

The Wizard of Oz is a musical film directed by Victor Fleming and based on the children’s novel of the same name by L. Frank Baum. The Metro Goldwyn Meyer production was filmed using a combination of black-and-white, sepia and Technicolor. Although it won few honors when it came out, it became the best-known film of then 16-year-old ingénue Judy Garland and launched a number of still-popular songs such as “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” “Ding-Dong the Witch Is Dead” and Garland’s signature classic, “Over the Rainbow.” It has been the inspiration for numerous sequels and spinoffs, including the Broadway hit play “Wicked,” and has weathered the decades to become one of the most beloved films of all time.

For more information about the event, call the Crest Theatre at 916-44 CREST (916-442-7378) or visit the Outword Magazine or Crest Theatre Websites.

Author Bonnie Osborn is a writer for Outword Magazine and assists Outword in promoting community events, including its monthly Drag Queen Bingo events, which benefit local non-profit organizations.

'Wizard of Oz’ Sing-'Along at the Crest

2010-08-01T01:47:33Z

You'll know you're not in Kansas when Outword Magazine and the Crest Theatre present "Sing Along with 'The Wizard of Oz'" on Sunday, August 22. The historic Sacramento theatre, located at 1013 K Street, will be transformed into Oz, complete with Yellow Brick Road,Tornado Trivia and Emerald City backdrop, with Glinda the Good Witch presiding over all.

The family-friendly festivities will begin at 1 p.m. with Karaoke in the Lobby. At 2 p.m. participants of all ages will compete for cash and gift prizes and ruby-slipper trophies in the Oz character Costume Contest, followed by a sing-along screening of the 1939 MGM classic film.

"The Wizard of Oz" is a musical film directed by Victor Fleming and based on the children’s novel of the same name by L. Frank Baum. The Metro Goldwyn Meyer production was filmed using a combination of black-and-white, sepia and Technicolor. Although it won few honors when it came out, it became the best-known film of 16-year-old ingénue Judy Garland and launched a number of still-popular songs such as “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” “Ding-Dong the Witch Is Dead” and Garland’s signature classic, “Over the Rainbow.” It has been the inspiration for numerous sequels and spinoffs, including the Broadway hit play “Wicked,” and has weathered the decades to become one of the most beloved films of all time.

The August 22 event will be the second annual sing-along co-produced by Outword and the Crest. Last summer, a "Grease" sing-along filled the theater, as poodle-skirted and leather-jacketed contestants vied to be the most convincing Pink Ladies, T-Birds and Scorpions.

For more information about “Sing-Along With ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” call the Crest Theater, 916-44 CREST (916-442-7378) or visit outwordmagazine.com or thecrest.com.

Author Bonnie Osborn is a writer for Outword Magazine and assists Outword in promoting many of its events, including Drag Queen Bingo charity fund-raisers held monthly throughout the year.

Benefit Auctioneer Raises Big Bucks for Area Non-Profits, Despite Tough Economy

2009-11-05T18:42:47Z

Professional benefit auctioneer David Sobon raised more than $102,000 for charitable causes in a recent three-day weekend of back-to-back live auctions—defying recent economy-driven declines in charitable contributions that have decimated many Sacrament-area non-profits.

Sobon, a partner in Maximum Benefits Auctions, presided at a live auction Friday, Oct. 16, that raised more than $25,000 for Faces of Tomorrow, a Yolo County organization that funds facial surgery for Ecuadoran children with cleft palate. A second live auction Saturday, Oct. 17, raised more than $23,000 for the Woodland Sunrise Rotary’s project to provide cooking stoves for impoverished families in Guatemala; and a third live auction Sunday, Oct. 18, raised more than $56,000 for the Susan G. Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate.

Over the past year, Sobon has established an impressive record of exceeding prior year fundraising proceeds for nearly 20 charity events. “Ignore what everybody is saying about the economy,” Sobon says. “People still want to give; people still have money to give. You just have to ask them the right way.”

The Faces of Tomorrow auction that raised $25,000 was Sobon’s first for that organization; in comparison, the organization’s 2008 auction, which did not utilize a professional auctioneer, raised approximately $10,000. Both the Woodland Sunrise Rotary and Susan G. Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate had used Sobon’s services the prior year, yet both posted increased revenues at their October events, despite a tough fundraising environment. Proceeds from the Woodland Sunrise Rotary auction on Saturday were up slightly over last year; proceeds from Sunday’s Susan G. Komen auction—part of Rancho Murieta Country Club’s Tee Up Fore the Cure golf event—were up a whopping 300 percent over last year.

Sobon is one of fewer than 200 auctioneers nationwide trained as benefit auction specialists by the National Auctioneers Association. His auction clients have included SACTO (Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization), Sacramento Waldorf Schools, Families First, and and numerous Rotary and other service clubs. "David added tremendous value to our annual auction,” said SACTO Executive Director Barbara Hayes. “Not only did the auction proceeds more than triple under his leadership, the auction was handled professionally and tastefully, and our guests loved the show."

Indeed, for the charities, Sobon's live auctions become an exciting addition to the entertainment lineup. At the recent Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner, which raised nearly $20,000 for at risk gay and lesbian youth, he kicked off the live auction with a bidding frenzy of restaurant gift certificates. The crowd response was immediate and boisterous as bidders waved their paddles and volunteer “spotters” clacked noisemakers to signal each bid. In March, Sobon’s live auction at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center’s annual Lambda Awards grossed nearly $25,000.

“David's experience in working with nonprofits gives him a wealth of insights that add value to events he is part of. He made fundraising fun for our audience, and they responded,” said Kristen Kirkpatrick, development coordinator for Susan G. Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate. “David is truly committed to helping nonprofits succeed, and his passion for the causes he works with contributes to the event success.”

Sobon, who is a partner with veteran auctioneer Jack Young in Maximum Benefit Auctions, is one of fewer than 200 auctioneers nationwide trained as benefit auction specialists by the National Auctioneers Association. “I don’t do cattle; I don’t do cars,” Sobon says. “I only want to help people raise money for their non-profits.”

Upcoming Sobon live auctions include fundraisers for Gateway High School in San Francisco on Nov. 14, 2009, and for Folsom High School on Nov. 20, 2099.

Sobon, Young and benefit auction expert Michele Holman will present “Maximizing Your Benefit Event,” a free all-day workshop on planning and producing benefit auctions, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at the California Auto Museum in Sacramento. Visit www.maximumgiving.com for event details and registration.

For more information about David Sobon and Maximum Benefit Auctions, visit www.maximumgiving.com or call 916-730-3330.