Thanks. Giving.
We can do good for others, while having a good time ourselves. Join us Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 23 and find out.
Thanks to the generosity of Applied Materials CEO Mike Splinter, we will be hosting the second annual Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot – run or walk, for “health, hope and a home.”
Set aside the guilt of knowing that the average American gains six pounds between Thanksgiving morning and New Year’s day. Instead, enjoy the opportunity to join 3,000 friends, family members and neighbors – plus 300 community volunteers – as we raise more than $200,000 for three great local non-profits: The Second Harvest Food Bank, the Housing Trust Fund and the Children’s Health Initiative. These three non-profits provide health, hope and a home to tens of thousands of our most needy families, kids and seniors.
The highlight of the morning is the “Kids Fun Run,” – open to children ages 2-9 – sponsored by the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. Not only does it teach fun and fitness to kids in a culture in which nearly 40 percent of our youth are overweight or obese, but it also instills in children the spirit of giving to those less fortunate than themselves.
Companies are toeing the line for the “Fittest Firm Competition.” In this race, quantity of participants is rewarded over quality.
Proving once again that you cannot out-run the law, KB Home is sponsoring our “Quickest Cop/Fastest Firefighter Competition,” with Sheriff Laurie Smith, San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis and San Jose Fire Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld encouraging police and fire departments from all over the region to join us on race day.
Nearly 100 CEOs, elected officials and local celebrities will be putting their reputations on the line for a special “CEO/Celebrity Charity Challenge” sponsored by SAP.
Seagate and Santa Clara Valley Bank sponsor an “Elite Athlete” and local elite 5K race with some of the best runners in the world, including a field of men that has drawn three Olympians.
Silicon Valley is more than just great companies and a great brand. It is inhabited by caring people and a can-do community. We modeled the Turkey Trot on a similar Sacramento event that our race sponsor Mike Splinter of Applied Materials and his family run each year. After 13 years, the Sacramento race draws more than 17,000 citizens to help feed the hungry. While our hats are off to them, I know that Silicon Valley has three times the population, twice the wealth and is at least as generous. Let’s come together this Thanksgiving for fun, for fitness, to benefit others, or just for the health of it.
Last year, with just three months to plan, the inaugural race drew 2,000 participants and 240 volunteers, clearing more than $132,000 to help serve the needy. This year, we know we will do even better. Join us on Thanksgiving morning along the beautiful Guadalupe River Park Trail in downtown San Jose.
Nov. 23. Give. Thanks.
Carl Guardino is CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and race founder/director of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. For more details or to register or volunteer, visit the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Web site at www.svlg.net or call (408) 501-7864.
