It was Thanksgiving morning, 2004, when Carl and Leslee Guardino heard a radio report announcing "20,000 people downtown running and walking to benefit the needy." Here is the kicker - the radio report was about Sacramento, not Silicon Valley. Carl turned to Leslee and said, "Somebody ought to do a race like that here." Leslee gave Carl that look that said, "Maybe that somebody should be us."

Reaching out to Bob Brownstein at Working Partnerships, a think-tank arm of the Central Labor Council, a partnership was formed. Several months later, a major milestone occurred when Joe Pon of Applied Materials successfully championed the idea of Applied serving as our Multi-Year Title Sponsor within the company. With a Title Sponsor, and then several branded co-sponsors, the Applied Materials "Silicon Valley Turkey Trot - Run, or Walk for Health, Hope and a Home" was born.

Three great local charities serving local residents were selected as multi-year beneficiaries, and a volunteer Executive Steering Committee started planning the first race, set for Thanksgiving Day, 2005.

The Year One Goals were 1,000 participants, supported by 200 volunteers, with a stretch goal to raise $100,000 for charity.

The Year One Results exceeded our expectations: 1,900 participants supported by 250 volunteers, clearing $132,000 for the three charities.

Year Two Results built on that foundation: 3,200 participants, supported by 350 volunteers, raising $187,000 for charity.

Year Three saw even more growth, with 6,200 participants, supported by 450 volunteers, raising more than $200,000 for charity.

Year Four - 2008 - realized 7,614 paid participants, supported by 600 community volunteers, clearing $218,000 for charity.

Year Five - this year - our goals are to attract 9,500 paid participants, supported by 650 volunteers, to clear $250,000 for charity

To accomplish this goal, we have new race courses - wide enough for this year's participants and to grow the race for future years.

Our Title Sponsor:

We are honored that for the fifth straight year, Applied Materials - and CEO Mike Splinter - are serving as our Title Sponsor. Applied Materials "sets the bar" in terms of community service and commitment to our Valley. Thank you Applied Materials!

Raising Money for Charity:

The race is run almost exclusively by volunteers from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Central Labor Council, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, Applied Materials, numerous community partners and each branded co-sponsor and our three benefiting charities: Second Harvest Food Bank, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation' Childrens Health Initiative.

In the first four years of the Applied Materials "Silicon Valley Turkey Trot," we have donated more than $800,000 to these three great local charities meeting the needs of local residents and communities within Silicon Valley.

With YOUR help, In 2009, we anticipate raising an additional $250,000 for these three local charities.