Red Recognition

Red was the color of the day. Balloons, signs, T-shirts and banners all displayed the same simple design of a red ribbon Saturday with one thing in mind -- promoting AIDS awareness in Bloomington. With the help and support of the community, IU students and local sponsors, the day marked the first annual Bloomington AIDS Walk and raised more than $7,000 in the process. \nStudent Global Aids Campaign, in partnership with Starbucks, worked tediously to make this first-ever event a success.\nMore than 200 people gathered in front of the Sample Gates Saturday morning to donate time and money in support of a good cause.\nHuma Ansari, SGAC secretary, said she was impressed with the overall turnout of the walk and was happy to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS in the community.\n"This was our first large event this year involving the community, so we really didn't know what to expect," Ansari said. "Since this was Bloomington's First AIDS walk, we all dove into this knowing that it would be a very enriching and educational experience, We learned a lot about how to plan an event and reach out to others outside of just IU students."\n SGAC was fortunate enough to secure a sponsorship with Starbucks and raise in between $7,000 and $8,000 to donate to Bloomington Hospital's Positive Link program.\nStarbucks Manager Michael Jones attended an SGAC meeting months ago and suggested the idea of having an AIDS walk in Bloomington -- something that currently didn't exist. Jones said he was happy to see the community and students unite for a common cause and commended SGAC on a job well done.\n"I think it was a tremendous success to see the community come together -- that is a wonderful thing," Jones said. "SGAC far exceeded our expectations; (SGAC Chapter Founder) Dan O'Neill deserves considerable recognition for putting together this walk. It was so wonderful to see families out with students, it was truly a community event."\nJones also said that the support from community members and students only goes to show the anticipation of an event of this caliber in Bloomington.\n"This walk shows that Bloomington was waiting for something like this to happen," Jones said. "To me, what I love more about this walk was it was a representation of a very diverse community. There was not any one type of particular person represented and it was complete community representation."\nTammy Dutkowski, care coordinator for Bloomington Hospital Positive Link Program, said she was very grateful for the proceeds of a worthwhile event.\n"We're very proud of being the beneficiary of the First Annual AIDS Walk in Bloomington," Dutkowski said. "The idea has been kicked around for years and thanks to Starbucks and SGAC, they rose to the challenge and stepped up to the plate, and they did a phenomenal job. For students to pull together an event of this magnitude is impressive."\nVarious IU organizations showed up to walk for a good cause, including several members of IU Dance Marathon.\nHilary Hodes, external vice president for the IU Dance Marathon said this was a cause that IUDM supported tremendously.\n"Our Internal Vice President Kyle Dietz suggested the walk to us," Hodes said. "We also raise money for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center, so it really interested us to participate."\nAnna Pizzi, public relations director for IUDM was thrilled with the overall success of the walk, and impressed with the corporate sponsorship of Starbucks adding to the cause. \nO'Neill extended thanks to SGAC for getting motivated to be involved with the community.\n"I think it's really cool how SGAC now has a more local focus and is motivated," O'Neill said. "We have a hands-on project that is having positive effects in the community and to see students so passionate about this cause is great."\nAnsari said any opportunity to promote awareness about an issue and bring together students and the community to show support is a great thing.\n"I think as students we should take every opportunity to get to know the community around us," Ansari said. "I feel that SGAC was very successful in bringing people together on Saturday. The walk was a wonderful way to meet new people and really appreciate what we are all doing for this cause."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.