Runners and walkers, visit www.aidsrunwalk.org on April 1, 2012, to register and find out more information. And if you're part of a CommunityDirect team, please make sure to contact your organization directly.

Dear Community Partners:

Whether you run or walk, please save the date of Saturday, Sept. 29,for AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2012 which will be held at a new location this year: the south lawn of Soldier Field!

We are proud to unveil the new AIDS Run & Walk Chicago logo, at right, and are taking steps to improve every aspect of the event experience.  From the website and staging area, to the advertising campaign and day-of entertainment, every aspect of the AIDS Run & Walk Chicago is getting a makeover — including the CommunityDirect program.

We are committed to making the AIDS Run & Walk Chicago an event that continues to raise much-needed visibility and essential private financial support for the local fight against HIV/AIDS. Ensuring that the fundraising model is sustainable for the future is as important as improving how we engage and support our donors, runners, walkers and other participants.

To foster the future growth and success of the AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, we are unveiling a revised CommunityDirect program, the event’s flagship partnership program that assists Chicago-based HIV organizations in raising funds for their own programs and services.

Local HIV organizations are invited to review the new CommunityDirect guidelines and submit complete applications by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 5, 2012, to be considered for selection as a CommunityDirect team.

Please download the application and guidelines at the bottom of this letter.

The simple one-page application is designed to collect better information on prospective partners. The application process will also allow us to provide increased customer services for CommunityDirect teams, empowering us to make the best impression possible for participants and donors.    

Please be sure to submit your complete application by the March 5 deadline; applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed. Agencies selected for CommunityDirect partnership will be notified no later than Monday, March 19, 2012.

Thank you for all you do in the fight against HIV/AIDS!  

Sincerely,

David Ernesto Munar
President/CEO
AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Application form for the 2012 CommunityDirect program

Overview and guidelines for CommunityDirect program