The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is an event held at cities across the country, including the Bay Area this summer, to promote awareness and raise funds for breast cancer programs including, research, screening and diagnosis, treatment, and various services.

Locally, Team Willow Glen was organized so its members could train together in preparation for the Avon Foundation’s walk in San Francisco July 12 and 13. They have scheduled training walks up to the last week before the event.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer starts at Chrissy Field in San Francisco, crosses the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin, then back to Chrissy Field to camp for the night. The second day is through San Francisco ending at Golden Gate Park.

You may have a personal reason for taking part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a sister, mother, best friend, or even yourself. Men are encouraged to join and participate for someone they know or themselves. Janet Fouts, team captain of Team Willow Glen, pointed out to me that it is important to remember that men get breast cancer too.

Team Willow Glen has local fundraising events from yard/garage sales to a wine pairing dinner. The wine pairing dinner will be held at Fusion restaurant May 18 with 50% of the proceeds going to the Avon Foundation on the behalf of Team Willow Glen. Information about the dinner here.

Even though the walk is not until July, you my want to consider joining Team Willow Glen now so you can participate in those training walks. Training walks begin (carpool) and meetings are held at Elva’s Coffee Stop, 2206 Lincoln Ave. Willow Glen.

You need not live nor work in Willow Glen to join the team.

For more information about Team Willow Glen, joining, donating, upcoming events, and training walks, check here.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
San Francisco
Saturday and Sunday, July 12 - 13

Starbucks Press Room: On April 22nd Starbucks will donate 5-cents to Conservation International for every purchase made that day with a Starbucks Card. Read about it here. If you bring your travel mug (save the paper) into the Starbucks on Los Gatos Blvd today and tomorrow you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a fantastic Earth Day Basket. 14801 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032 Between Samaritan Dr/Burton Rd and S Bascom Ave - Look around back for the underground parking garage

This morning I dropped off some new pajamas at the Fairmont Hotel.
The PJ ladies will be out front happy to take donations until 10am.

I’m feeling warm love. It started today when I bought some new pajamas. They were on sale, which was nice. I left the tags on and tied a pretty ribbon around them. This Thursday, Valentine’s Day, I’ll take the PJs to The Fairmont Hotel in exchange for some freshly baked heart-shaped cookies. The pajamas will make their way to someone in need of a warm cozy feeling. The Pajama Program event is billed as ‘Pajamas for Kids Drive’ though there is a need for all sizes.

The Bay Area chapter of the Pajama Program has its headquarters here in San Jose, and the employees of the Fairmont Hotel are generously giving their time to our community. Pull your car up curbside - drop off the brand new pajamas - get cookies and a warm heart

The Fairmont Hotel
Thursday - February 14
6am to 10am

The Pajama Program

Let the Children Play Music Festival is a benefit concert for two beneficiaries, both global in reach to raise awareness to children and youth programs - Feed The Children and Debra and Carlos Santana’s Milagro Foundation.

Hosted by Bay Area radio personalities Greg Kihn, Morris Knight, Miranda Wilson and Ramon Johnson the event will feature three stages of live music including Jazz, Reggae World, Blues, and Rock artists. List of artist scheduled to appear.

The event will also feature a kid’s area (arts, crafts, games, giant slides, obstacle course, activities center), fine foods, arts and crafts vendors, and a Jazz Cafe. A percentage of the proceeds from all sales of food and beverages along with sponsorships are being directed to the beneficiaries.

The mission of Feed The Children is to deliver food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster.

Milagro (”Miracle”) is Deborah and Carlos Santana’s charitable foundation that supports underrepresented and underprivileged children and youth in the areas of arts, education and health.

Attendees can make donations at the information booth or at the charity booths as well.

Let The Children Play Music Festival
Guadalupe River Park, Discovery Meadow
W San Carlos Street and Woz Way, San Jose

Saturday, September 29
11:00am - 10:00pm

Free admission; parking, directions and transportation options here.

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Dogs, what do they want? They just wanna get out of the house and have some fun.  

To spend some quality time with your dog(s), while helping to benefit animal oriented charities, pack up the pups and join in the fun at the annual “Bark in the Park”.  

There will be dogs in costume, dogs doing silly tricks, and educational activities too. Best of all, who wouldn’t want to see the winner of the Pet - Owner Look Alike Contest?

Bark in the Park 2007
What a Dog Wants!

Saturday, September 15, 2007
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
William Street Park
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets
Downtown San Jose, San Jose, California

Admission free - $5 donation per dog is encouraged.

Please call the YELPline (408) 793-5125 for information.

All pets must be on a leash.

Metroblogging San José would like to thank Judy Conner for alerting us to this event.

The newly renovated The Plumed Horse restaurant in Saratoga officially reopens August 25th. To get a jump on the crowd come for a dinner that will benefit the solar initiatives of The Tech Museum of Innovation on Wednesday, August 22.

The Tech will install a new generation of solar panels and become greener by the power of the sun. It will inspire our kids, in the museum’s Energy Gallery, to become innovative and reinvent the Silicon Valley again and again and again. It takes 49 seconds of the sun’s energy to power the earth for one year. The big challenge for our generation is to harness enough sun beams to replace the use of fossil fuels.

The evening will feature a talk by T.J. Rodgers about “Silicon Valley: The Land of Chips, Solar Energy and Pinot Noir.” T.J.’s Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir will be poured during the evening.

Long time patrons and high tech entrepreneurs, Aki Fujimura, Gary Price, and Tony Zingale purchased the Plumed Horse to continue the tradition, significantly update the restaurant, and add to the already world-class wine program.

Completing the ownership team are the Executive Chef and Partner Peter Armellino, who was most recently Chef d’Cuisine at San Francisco’s Aqua, which earned a rare two Michelin stars, and the General Manager Joshua Weeks, whose face will be familiar to anyone who has dined at the “old” Plumed Horse in the past.

The suggested donation for the August 22nd event is $150 per person. RSVP to dinnerevent@thetech.org and include all guest names. Mail your tax deductible contribution to The Tech Museum, 201 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113 or call the Development Department at 408-795-6155 to use a credit card.

The Plumed Horse
14555 Big Basin Way
Saratoga Ca 95070
408 867 4711

Bay Area animals need your help. From now to the end of July* select locations are collecting pet food, treats, toys, and other supplies for dogs, cats, and rabbits that will be donated to local pet shelters and rescue organizations. These non-profit rescue groups and shelters operate on very limited budgets. Your donation helps free up monies in their budget so they can afford to spay/neuter more cats, provide for more vaccinations, help pay for emergency bills, general overhead, etc.

Drop-off locations include South Bay Pet Food Express, Whole Foods in Campbell, and For Other Living Things in Sunnyvale.

Some of the shelters/rescue groups include Humane Society of Silicon Valley, Purrfect Cat Rescue, Smiley Dog Rescue, Maine Coon Adoptions, Rabbit Haven, among others.

For drop-off locations, needed supplies, and more information check here.

* The rescue groups and shelters need help year round including volunteers, food, supplies, etc.

Amazing Greys Retired Racer

Humane Society of Silicon Valley

Smiley Dog Rescue

Maine Coon Adoptions

Rabbit Haven

Purrfect Cat Rescue

Vinay Chakravarthy, who spent a large part of his life in Bay Area, is fighting for his life. Of Indian origin, he has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML, cancer of the bone marrow) and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. The problem is that a bone marrow match is likely only in the same race. South Asians have a 1 in 20,000 chance of finding a match and currently, only very few are registered for donation. This drive has been gathering momentum over the past few weeks. But time is running out and hence, a mega drive is scheduled for this weekend in the Bay Area.

The Internet has come to the rescue yet again. Check out helpvinay.org, put up to help him and other similar people. There is loads of information to understand the problem.
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Last summer I heard of a deal where I could obtain a much wanted concert ticket by donating blood. Because I had mononucleosis in high school I didn’t think I was eligible, but the lady at the Stanford Bloodmobile told me that Mono wouldn’t necessarily preclude me from giving. After filling out a health questionnaire and answering some rather scandalous sounding questions about my personal sex life, I was ready to roll up my sleeve for a blood pressure test.

The next step was to relax on what looked like a lounge chair. The actual giving only took about 10 pain free minutes, after which I was given a choice of pick-me-up refreshments. I chose orange juice, cookies, and ice cream. Total time spent at the Bloodmobile was about an hour. I did get the concert ticket, but even better I got a good feeling knowing that I may have saved a life.

The Stanford Bloodmobile will be in an area near you. They do not always have concert tickets etc., but check out Promotions & Special Events.

Another option is the Gelato Classico - An American Red Cross event. “Pint for a Pint” Blood Drives around the Bay Area this month.

The American Red Cross has a valuable site full of Summer tips including blood donor information.