Community Foundation Walk-a-Thon recruiting walkers for fundraiser

The Greater Green Valley Community Foundation is currently recruiting teams and individuals to participate in its Second Walk-a-Thon, kicking off its yearly campaign fund Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 a.m., starting from Silver Springs retirement community, 500 W. Camino Encanto in Green Valley to the Anza Trailhead.

The walkers will be traveling 1.5 miles north to the Anza Trailhead and return 1.5 miles back to Silver Springs traveling south. Pets are welcome to tag-a-long, too. For those unable to make the entire walk, Casa de Esperanza will be furnishing a van that will collect walkers not able to complete the three miles.

This year’s Walk-a-Thon theme, “Rainbow Promise,” centers around a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end of it. Town of Sahuarita Mayor Lynne Skelton will speak at the event.

“We want to invite everyone to be a part of our rainbow,” says Michelle Phillips, Community Foundation executive director. “The walk provides a chance to support the many agencies who receive GGVCF grants and to say ‘thank you’ to all our donors.”

Preregistration is today, Sept. 24, in the Silver Springs lobby from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; again on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. until noon and Wednesday, Oct. 1, from noon until 5 p.m.

Walkers can also register the morning of the walk or pick up a registration form at the GGVCF office, 210 W. Continental, suite No. 213. A $25 donation is the cost of participating in the Walk-a-Thon. Each walker receives a T-shirt and ticket for prizes and a light breakfast. Grand prize is a five-night certificate at California’s Costa Mesa Residence Inn by Marriott provided by KGVY-Radio.

Call 625-4556 or visit the foundation’s Web site at www.ggvcf.org for more information.

Back again to walk this year are fitness enthusiasts and twin sisters, Harriet Ward and Jean Sames, La Posada residents who are co-captains of their own team—La Posada Walkers.

Last year, La Posada Walkers won a prize for having the largest number of walkers, the twins said.

“The prize was a delicious lunch at Amado Territory Inn,” the sisters added. “Last year, our team raised $2,400 and we want to see if we can raise even more money this year for this worthy cause.”

The mission of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation is to raise, collect, manage and distribute charitable funds to meet human needs in the Greater Green Valley area.

Local agencies receiving grants include Green Valley Assistance Services, Green Valley Community Food Bank, Amado Community Food Bank, Arivaca Human Resources, Animal League of Green Valley, Carivaca Estates, Casa de Esperanza, L.I.N.K., Arivaca Community Gardens, Arivaca Area Health Services, PAWS Patrol and United Community Health Center. All are participating in this year’s walk.

The Walk-A-Thon is sponsored by various businesses, clubs and private donors, including Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.; Jim Click Automotive Team; the Green Valley News and Sun; and Wal-Mart Supercenter in Sahuarita.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740