HIV AIDS Cancer Project-in-a-Box
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
for HIV/AIDS and brain cancer research and programs
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation supports research for a cure to HIV/AIDS and brain cancer. The foundation’s goals include funding research, publicizing survivors’ stories, funding clinic and orphanage infrastructure projects in Africa, and providing resources for brain cancer survivors and people with HIV/AIDS. Proceeds from events supported by The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation should be donated to the foundation.
Richard Brodsky’s story began in 1997 when he told his wife he had contracted HIV from another man. She chose to stay, with their three daughters, and supported him through HIV and later radiation treatment after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2002. A year later, Brodsky completed the New York City Marathon. After successful treatments for HIV and cancer, it occurred to him that he owed his life to the excellent medical care we have here in the United States and felt people in poorer countries should be afforded the same type of care. He created the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation and, with support from his family, continues his work through the foundation, marathons and his book “Jodi, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.”
Join AMSA’s AIDS Advocacy Network and read about C.O.R.E., AMSA’s Cancer Outreach and Relief Effort project, for resources and information.
Snack-talk with Richard
Host an afternoon or evening presentation including lunch, dinner or finger foods spotlighting Richard Brodsky. Richard speaks on topics such as his biography, surviving brain cancer and living with HIV, and ways to get involved in the cause and motivate others to do the same. A DVD addressing similar topics is available as an event introduction or as the event focal point. Contact Richard at richardbpc@yourdesign2.com to receive a copy. Most campuses have a form through a student activities department that must be completed to reserve space for an event.
See RESOURCES section below for planning guidelines.
Educational Workshops From Your Couch
CancerCare offers free, no phone charge, coping-with-cancer workshops. Pre-registration is required and workshops are offered at least once a week. A schedule of upcoming workshop topics is available on the CancerCare website.
Students can learn how to help family and friends who are affected by cancer. Although students can “attend” workshops from the comfort of their own dorm, consider organizing small groups that encourage post-discussion. If there is a large response, consider reserving a room and following similar procedures to the Snack-talk with Richard event (see above)—use several phones and designate students to each phone if necessary. Most campuses have a form through a student activities department that must be completed to reserve space for an event.
See RESOURCES section below for planning guidelines.
HIV/AIDS Social
Contact local HIV/AIDS program directors to see if upcoming social events need volunteers or if they would be willing to support you in hosting a social event, preferably at their institution because of resources and staff already in place. Possible event themes include a ladies’ day out, with nail, massage, hair, make-up and dessert stands; retro dance that focuses on a certain dance style—swing, latin, disco; or holiday/seasonal. At the event, consider having a Richard M. Brodsky Foundation donation table and a continuous pre-event showing of the foundation’s DVD. If a projector is available, provide continuous Richard M. Brodsky Foundation HIV/AIDS and Brain Cancer project powerpoint.
Start planning earlier than you think is necessary. Confirm a location, co-planner from the HIV/AIDS organization, date and time; draft a program and secure at least several solid contributors before sending out invitations. When making arrangements with contributors and the facility, confirm time availability, supply needs and contact information. Consider making a spreadsheet with the aforementioned information. Follow up with all people involved at least twice before the event and at least once several days before the event. Volunteers can help mail invitations, pick up supplies, decorate and provide services or mingle during the event, but make sure the HIV/AIDS hosting center doesn’t require volunteer release forms. Start publicity early! Send out invites to a mailing list provided by the hosting organization, contact local and campus newspapers as soon as possible if hosting organization permits outside guests, or ask if the hosting organization has a newsletter that could feature the event.
An alternate option to an HIV/AIDS Social is benefit show to support the World AIDS Marathon. See an example of the Fuzion2 dance benefit. Contact Richard Brodsky for more information by e-mailing RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com.
See RESOURCES section below for planning guidelines.
Marathon/Walk
For information on upcoming HIV/AIDS or cancer walks or marathons by you contact the Richard Brodsky at 516-770-7724 or e-mail RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com.
See RESOURCES section below for planning guidelines.
RESOURCES
Publicity is the core of a successful event but should be focused on groups that will be most interested in the event. Use the “Students Support The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation” Facebook group or create your own Facebook event, contact Richard Brodsky to promote an event on his website, post flyers around campus, make announcements before class or through professors, place an advertisement in local or campus newspapers or newsletters, call local organization and campus club directors, and send e-mails including AMSA Listservs. Building coalitions with select surrounding organizations or other AMSA chapters can be beneficial if extra hands, brains and funding are needed. Depending on school policies, facility space and food budget, consider opening the event to community members on a first come-first serve basis.
Most events need funding, supplies, volunteers and possibly several sponsors willing to donate services, decorations and food.
- On-campus catering may be available or required. However, if funding is low, try endorsing a local restaurant on the program in exchange for food donations. Use invitation and program advertising or posters at the event in exchange for cooperation from local shops. Also try to arrange for advertisements in school or local newspapers that showcase sponsors. Apply for campus and organization grants, especially through your school’s community service department and clubs.
- Check to see if your event qualifies for an AMSA grant at http://www.amsa.org/member/lpg_med.cfm. Note that food, travel and speaker costs must be excluded from the submitted budget.
- When hosting an on-campus event, contact your student organization department to reserve or obtain permission for: a room, a DVD player, a music amplification system, publicity permission, providing food, budgeting, and other campus event policies.
All forms/templates:
- opening and closing scripts
- program
- spreadsheet for keeping track of participants and organizers involved in event (add other columns as needed)
- donation table flyer
- letter to sponsors
- event flyer/newspaper ad/event invitation
- post-event discussion questions-for use at “Snack-talk with Richard” and “Educational Workshops from Your Couch”
- budget-for use with planning, grants, sponsor and campus requests
- powerpoint titled “Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, with AMSA Promotes HIV/AIDS and Brain Cancer Awareness”-for use at opening or during an event so that attendees can learn more about the event’s purpose, AMSA and the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
- Richard M. Brodsky Foundation information sheet
- sign-in/event evaluation form
AMSA project evaluation: In order to help other members who may want to host a similar project, please e-mail dsp@amsa.org with the event date, number of people in attendance, response from participants and ideas for improvement. Use feedback from the sign-in/event evaluation forms. Thank you!
Other organizations:
- CancerCare
- National Cancer Institute: Office of Communications and Education
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
- Intercultural Cancer Council
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Contact Richard Brodsky with questions and comments.
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
516-770-7724
RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com
foundation website: www.richardmbrodsky.org
marathon website: www.worldaidsmarathon.com
book website: www.trebloon.com
Comments/questions? Feel free to contact the director of student programming at dsp@amsa.org with questions at any time during event planning.