Dear Family and Friends,

I’m kicking-off my 2013 CAP AIDS Walk with a photo of this scary spider!  The photo has not been altered, but just taken at an angle that makes the spider look huge (thanks B. for sharing).  Scary!

You know, there are more scary things out there than spiders!  Think about how fast the spread of HIV is in the world, and that’s scary!  It is totally preventable and we can help stop it!

Yes, my fundraising begins!  Please sponsor me!   We can make this one of the best years ever!  It’s not too early – - just do it now.  By the way, what are you doing to help stop the spread of HIV?

Warmly,

- – Alazar

We did it!!  Thanks to the A-Team, I won the Multnomah County Katie Jeans-Gail award for being a Health Youth Hero because of my walk, raising awareness and having the blog to educate people that HIV is totally preventable.  Together we can stop the spread of HIV!!  Below are photos of me giving a speech at the banquet and of the Multnomah County Commissioners!  Thank you all for your great support!  Thanks Erin, for nominating me!

A special thanks to Mr. Gail for setting up the Katie Jeans-Gail award!

Warmly,

- – Alazar

Dear Family and Friends,

Because of your generosity in being a part of the A-Team, and giving so much, my friend Kim nominated me for the Youth in Philanthropy Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals!  I won!  I got to speak in front of 700 people, and Michael Kaplan introduced me!  700 people gave me a standing ovation!  Way cool!  Photos are below!  Thank you so very much!!

This photo, I’m standing at the podium while getting a standing ovation!

 Standing ovation!

The speech!

Michael and Lee presenting the very nicely engraved plaque to me!!

Again, thank you all so very much!  It was a definite “high” for me!!

Warmly,

- – Alazar

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you very much! We did it! You made me the #1 Fundraiser – - Youth and Adult!!!  thank you!  Thank You!  THANK YOU!!  We raised $8,947 dollars together!  We Did It!!

I had almost 4,000 blog hits too – - so we are getting the message out to “Be Smart. Get Tested. Have Safe Behaviors”!

You know, without your great support, this would have never happened!  Thank you again!

In the last 4 years, we have raised over $21,000 for CAP and and the AIDS Walk – - thank to your generosity and support!  Really, though I won some very nice awards – - this is all thanks to you and generosity and great support!!!

THANK YOU! 

Most Warmly,

- – Alazar

Dear Family and Friends,

Here I am in my new suit and bow tie!  I am being honored at the Association of Fundraising Professional Luncheon, for “Youth in Philanthropy” award!  Lots of other people are being honored for their efforts too!

I want to thank YOU for making this happen!  YOU, my followers, my bloggers, my sponsors!  YOU made this happen and I thank you so very, very much!!   I just moved into the “second place” fundraiser for the walk this year – - thank you!  I am trailing by more than a $1000 though, so don’t think I will be #1 again!  None the less, thank you!  With more than 3,500 blog hits now, and more than $6,300 dollars raised – - we are making a difference, YOU are making a difference!!   THANK YOU!! 

If you haven’t had a chance to give, it’s not too late, we have one week left!  Thank You!  Please remember, Be Smart!  Get Tested!  Have Safe Behaviors!

Warmly,

Alazar

Dear Family and Friends,

NOW is the time to please give to my campaign!!  We have 15 days left before the walk!  Just do it!  Sponsoring me is a “Slam Dunk” experience!

One of the best things about my summer, was throwing a slam dunk and getting Michael Kaplan, Executive Director of CAP, all wet as he went “down” in the Dunk Tank!!  This was at the “Bat n’ Rouge” event, a fundraiser for Camp Starlight!  See Photo Below!!  Way fun and a great way to raise money and awareness!   Michael is such a great friend!

But then Michael challenged me to get in the tank too!  I did!!   Notice how I’m all dry!  Eventually Eric paid Ebony to throw a ball and so I went “down” too!!   And Alice got me, and maybe a couple others too!  It was fun!

NOW is the time to please give to my campaign!!  We have 15 days left before the walk!  You know you want to give!  Just do it!!  Be Smart. Get Tested. Have Safe Behaviors!  THANK YOU!!

Warmly,

Alazar

Dear Family and Friends,

I don’t care if you have to “nerd your way into the future” – -  you really should be smart, get tested and have safe behaviors!  Does this make you a nerd?  I don’t think so – - it makes you really smart!!

(The nerd side of me needs some make-up!)  So far we are still a “contender” in fundraising for CAP – - as we are in the number 3 position!  Please consider giving to me now if you haven’t already, and thanks to all of you who have given!  So far we’ve raised $4,300 and have had almost 3,000 blog hits!!  YEAH!!  Keep reading!  Keep pledging!  Keep it safe and nerd your way into the future – - just like me!

Warmly,

Alazar

In Memory and Honor of those we love, living with HIV, AIDS, or have gone on to their next journey:

Cameron W.   Rick G.     Michael K.   Jimmy C.   Conrad K.   Bob S.   Roy R.   Michael K. Michael A.   David D.   Brian S.   Scott A.   Larry O.   Dan C.   Fr. Peter D.   Michael V.           Fr .Jack L.   Jack B.   Kevin C.   Jimmy.   Nick P.   Robbie.   Honaleigh.   Richard.   Fr. Bob A. Fr. Chris P.   Fr. Peter.   Randall O.   Larry B.   Jack.   Tim S.   Bill W.   Steve W.   Marty C.   Dr. Bob V.   Allen A.   Chris D.   George P.   Mary A.   Ryan,   Cassie S.K.,   Roger S.   Mary D. Eric O.   Lynn T.   Sean S.   Ryan W.   Keith H.   Scott P.   Warner P.   Doug F.   Lawerance B. Charlie F.   Jared C.   Lucio O.   Burton D.   Monty C.   Laurence P.   Doug T.   Jim G.   Larry T. James L.   John J.   Robert T.   Michael G.   William G.   David M.   Richard J.   Charles K. Joseph A.   Thomas R.   Christopher B.   Daniel F.   Larry A.   Jose J.   Tim R.   Gary M.  Jason D.   Mark S.   Ed E.    Steve J.   Ryan L.   John S.   Roger S.   Joe S.   Ron G.   Bert L.   Roy S.   Bruce C.   Adam A.   Harry C.   Fred J.   Billy T.   Steve P.   Randy E.   Howard S. Eugene J.   Allan T.   Marvin R.   Vincent G.   Jeff S.   Chad.   Jeff J.   James S.   John J.    Robert W.   Michael J.   Mary C.   Linda E.   William D.   David B.   Richard M.   Charles W. Deborah W.   Kim M.   Charles W.   Joseph M.   Thomas T.   Chris A.   Daniel T.   Paul J. Winter.    Mary C.   Jeff W.   Jason L.   Celia C.   Brian G.   Tenya A.   Cookie.   Amanda M. Tom M.   Gene A.   Larry K.   Ray S.   Roberto R.   Pedro G.   John T.   Richard A.   Jack S. Holly J.  Scott R.   Sylvestor D.  Bob W.   Robert W.   Larry A… and on and on…

Warmly and With Love,

- – Alazar

I spent yesterday at Champions Barber Shop, and “Community Builds Champions.  Be one!”  What a great motto!  As you know, Champions is one of my corporate sponsors!  But also as a business, they are a great community leader and a great Champion for me, as I want to be a community Champion too – - raising awareness that HIV is spreading and it can be stopped.  I set up a table for the day at Champions, helping raise awareness and money for the Cascade AIDS Project, 2012 Walk.

If you need a hair cut, Champions is the place to go!  Mostly males, but women and children and entire families go here!  It’s a very busy place, but from what I could tell, all happy customers!!

Below is a photo of me and my buddy / barber friend Art at Champions – - after my way cool hair cut I might add!

Thanks for reading.  Thanks for sponsoring me!

Warmly,

- – Alazar

Ready…. set… shoot!!  It’s time to give!  It’s time to Be Smart!  It’s time to Get Tested!  And it’s time to have Safe Behaviors!  Score!!  (Photo by Lisa!)

It’s been a fun summer!  Went on vacation!  Went to summer school!  Went to camp!  Now some play time before another camp!  But really it’s time for me to focus on my campaign and drive home the needed sponsors and money for CAP!!

I read this great article from the Center for Disease Control, and I’d like to quote part of it… “Testing Makes Us STRONGER.  Your HIV test results expires every time you have unsafe behaviors.  Stay Strong and Informed.  Get Tested.”  Sort of just like my Motto!

If you haven’t given yet, now is the time!  I appreciate all of you who read my blog regularly and all of you who have commented and all of have already sponsored me!  Thank you!  We are still #1, with $3,300 dollars – - but we still have a long way to go and I know we can do it!  We’ve had over 2,500 hits to our blog site – - which is great too!  People are reading and getting the message!

Thank you for your great support!

Warmly,

Alazar