I will ride in the 4th Southern Most AIDS Ride ("Smart Ride") from March 30-31, 2007 benefiting the 6 Florida based organizations listed below for the 3rd year in a row.
(20% of all proceeds will benefit the 6 organizations associated with The Smart Ride, please see below)
The Smart Ride, background and history:
Like all things that change us and the world in some way, it starts with a dream, a vision, and an idea. The Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride 4 is no different.
It was born out of a dream to make a real and significant difference in the lives of those infected, affected and at risk for HIV/AIDS.
It was born out of a vision that 100% of what the participants raise could go to charity, a vision that the participants could maintain some control over the distribution of their funds, and that volunteers could do it all.
It was with born with an idea that as Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed; it's the only thing that ever has."
With these three simple things, a dream, a vision, an idea a small group of friends and acquaintances met and created what is now the SMART Ride. In its first year, more than 200 people joined in traveling more than 165 miles over two days from Miami to Key West. By year 3 we had grown in numbers and revenue that we had never expected, more than 500 participants.
In the end, we contributed more than $169,000 to six direct service organizations in the state of Florida. We met all of our goals, which included giving the riders a degree of control over the money they raised.
Now in its 4th year, The Southernmost AIDS/HIV Ride 4 is getting bigger and better than ever and with your help we can raise more than $500,000 this year alone.. We're more ambitious than we've ever been and we're not stopping for anything! Join us!
A few words about the ride
The ride is fully supported and welcomes participants with all degrees of experience. It is NOT a race, it is a ride, so if someone gets tired, or feels they "just can't go on", we have SAG (support vehicles) that assist them and get them and their bicycles to safety. Each participant pays a $75 registration fee and each rider has committed to raise an additional $1250.
6 not-for-profit organizations benefiting from The Smart Ride, for complete information please see:
Broward House
http://www.browardhouse.org/
AIDS Help
http://www.aidshelp.cc/
HUG Me http://www.arnoldpalmerhospital.org/parents/child_health/phillips/hug_me.cfm
South Beach AIDS Project
http://www.sobeaids.org/
Trinity Charities
http://www.trinitycharities.org/, and
COMPASS (LGBT Community Center of Palm Beach) http://www.compassglcc.com/
I will walk in the 19th annual AIDS Walk Miami on April 22, 2007 benefiting Care Resource for the 3rd year in a row.
(15% of all proceeds will benefit Care Resource)
Care Resource is South Florida's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization serving both Miami-Dade & Broward Counties.
Another organization close to my heart, I worked for Care Resource in the capacity of PR and Marketing Manager in 2005 and helped organize AIDS Walk Miami where we raised over US$300,000.
I also had the pleasure of working closely with all of its employees and senior management and can say categorically that everyone works very hard on behalf of helping people of all races, creeds, religions and genders living with HIV/AIDS in Miami Dade and Broward Counties.
Care Resources "total care" approach includes working with our affected communities in creating and/or implementing prevention strategies, community outreach and education initiatives, testing, medical care, research protocols, as well as individual and family counseling and support services. This wide array of programs collectively strives to respond to every area of need of our HIV at-risk and infected communities.
Community AIDS Resource, Inc., d.b.a./ CARE RESOURCE is a 501[c](3) non-profit, multi-cultural, community based AIDS service organization, which "through prevention, education, care and treatment, research and support, strives to end the HIV pandemic." Rooted in the 1998 merger of Health Crisis Network (1983) and Community Research Initiative (1989), Care Resource is now South Florida's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization and a true leader in the community.
Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in South Florida and for more than 20 years, Care Resource has been dedicated to serving those suffering with or affected by HIV/AIDS and to meeting the changing demographics of the epidemic. The former Health Crisis Network (HCN), founded in 1983 by a group of dedicated volunteers, focused on providing a response to the epidemic with crisis intervention, social support and educational programs. Community Research Initiative (CRI), founded in 1989 pioneered the implementation of community-based clinical trials through its network of physicians across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Virtually all of the popular anti-retroviral drugs widely used today have been studied by the agency through its clinical research program.
Since merging, the agency has expanded and new services have been added in response to the needs of the epidemic. In 1999 primary medical care was implemented, creating a system to rapidly and effectively triage those identified as HIV positive into a comprehensive system for medical care and supportive services. Today, clients have access at a "one-stop" location to primary medical care, clinical trials and research studies, information and referrals, case management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, temporary assistance to needy families (TANF), transportation vouchers, and counseling and testing.
Furthermore, the agency's many prevention and education programs go out into the community and engage populations at high risk, affected and/or infected by HIV/AIDS, by disseminating prevention information and connecting those in need to the healthcare system. Prevention programs target youth, men who have sex with men, the incarcerated, African American, Haitian, and Hispanic men and women believed to be HIV positive or at risk of contracting the virus.
Care Resource has demonstrated excellence in the field of HIV/AIDS as it works to fulfill its mission and have a positive impact on Broward and Miami-Dade communities. Our work in the community has earned us the confidence of our clients and funding sources at local, state and federal levels. The agency currently has about 3,000 unduplicated clients and conducts more than 7,000 HIV tests annually, and fundraising activities and hundreds of invaluable volunteers help raise awareness, bring hope and build a sense of community.
The changing face of AIDS in this nation reflects a devastating number of people in South Florida. Fort Lauderdale ranks first and Miami ranks second in AIDS rates among metropolitan areas in the nation (followed by New York). As of 2005, more than 40,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS through out Miami-Dade and Broward Counties combined. A high percentage of HIV positive residents in South Florida are not in care and hundreds more do not even know their HIV status. The state of the epidemic continues to grow and change; therefore, the support of the community for HIV education, prevention, research and treatment is crucial.
Please review their site for more comprehensive information about our services, staff expertise, specific research studies, community programs, outreach efforts, education and testing dates and times.