Email: (with entry form and agency list as attachments)

UF Campaign for Charities Weight-Loss for Charity Challenge

The UF Campaign for Charities (UFCC), UF LivingWell and Dr. Bob Jerry – Dean of the College of Law, challenge you to lose pounds for charity.

Dean Jerry brought this idea to the UFCC after his own successful weight-loss challenge. Here’s his story:

The battle started innocuously enough. In early April, local attorney and then-president of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association Mac McCarty was told by his doctor that he needed to lose weight. Mac had an idea to help motivate him, and he needed a competitor – so he looked for someone whom he thought also needed to lose weight and get fitter. He settled in on the law school dean, Bob Jerry. Bob, initially reluctant, accepted after much negotiation over what the rules would be. Here’s what they finally agreed: the goal was to lose 10% of body weight within 12 weeks; each committed to make a gift to a charity of his choice; if either didn’t meet the goal, the other was allowed to redirect one-half of the other’s gift to his choice of charity. Also, each dieter’s progress was publicized to the local bar. This motivated both of them because neither wanted to endure the embarrassment of his friends knowing that he didn’t have the willpower to meet the goal for the benefit of a charity! And neither wanted to tell his charity that its gift was cut in half because he didn’t exercise once in a while and couldn’t resist eating high-calorie desserts for a few weeks.

Both tried, and they tried hard. Bob lost more than 20 pounds, and Mac lost more than 10. In a sense, they succeeded: they both feel better, and they’re both healthier. But neither met his 10% target. The final score was “stalemate,” and both charities received the full gift they hoped to receive.

Bob isn’t content with a tie. Now he has challenged Mac to a rematch, and round 2 will be a 6-week diet for charity challenge starting Monday, October 1, and lasting until Monday, November 12. Their goal for the rematch is 5% of body weight within 6 weeks.

AND here’s what is new: Mac and Bob are challenging YOU – if you need to drop a few pounds for better health – participate in the UFCC Weight-loss for Charity Challenge! UF LivingWell loved this idea and will run the challenge.

Here are the rules:

1.  Pick a Weight-loss goal for the 6-week period beginning October 1 and ending November 15. Your goal must be at least 2.5% of your October 1 weight, and it cannot be more than 5%. (Check with your doctor before starting any diet to make sure it is healthy for you to do so, and follow your doctor’s advice about any Weight-loss or exercise program you follow.)

2.  Send the attached entry form and with a check – made to UFCC - or with a credit card number included - to UF Community Relations, PO Box 113158, Gainesville, FL 32611. ($25.00 minimum. There is no top limit on the size of your gift.) On the entry form, you will specify an agency to receive your donation if you are successful in meeting your goal.

3.  Weigh in on a scale on Monday, October 1. Make a note of your weight, and calculate the number of pounds which you need to lose to meet your Weight-loss goal. You can do this on any scale, as long as it measures or enables you to report your weight in 1/10ths, as is the case with digital scales. For example, if you weigh 150.0 pounds and your goal is to lose 3% of your weight, your target is 4.5 pounds – calculated like this: 150.0 X 0.03 = 4.5. UF LivingWell will also do weigh-ins at their facility – if you prefer – at no charge.

Report weight-loss percentage goal to UF Living Well at by noon on October 1. LivingWell will add your info to the contest database that can be accessed online. We will post your goal percentage and loss percentage by college/unit on the website. The winning college/unit will be recognized at the end of the campaign.

4.  Weigh yourself at the same time of day on Monday, October 8, and send your percentage of loss to UF LivingWell – (If you prefer, you can send in your October 1 weight in pounds and report your weight weekly in pounds, and LivingWell will calculate your percentage loss for you. They will not post your weight – only your weight-loss percentage and goal)

5.  Do the same thing each Monday by noon until the competition ends on Monday, November 12.

6.  Each week, the Diet Challenge website (livingwell.ufl.edu) will list the percentage losses for everyone participating in the challenge. If you are on target to achieve your goal, your percentage will be highlighted in green. If you are off the pace, your percentage will be highlighted in yellow. If you don’t report, your box will be highlighted in red.

7. 

THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

1.  If you meet your goal, your donation will be sent to the charity you designate.

2.  If you fail to meet your goal, your money will be placed in the “biggest non-losers pot,” and this pot will be added to the undesignated gift amount in the UF Campaign for Charity and distributed to all 89 individual agencies in the same proportion that they receive in the overall UFCC campaign.

WHO WINS?

1.  Everyone!!

2.  You win!! If you are motivated in this challenge to lose weight successfully, you will be healthier and fitter, you will look better, and you will feel better!

3.  Our Community wins!! If you make your goal, good work will be done with your gift by United Way or UFCC charities you choose! If you don’t make your goal, good work will still be done with your gift by United Way or UFCC charities!

Ø  Get fit for charity

Ø  Find a weight-loss partner for inspiration

Ø  Challenge your office

We will recognize the College/Division with the most people meeting their goals!

ENTRY FORM FOR UF CAMPAGIN FOR CHARITIES WEIGHT-LOSS CHALLENGE

(Mail to the UF Community Relations – PO Box 113158, Gainesville, FL 32611 – by 9/25/12)

Name: ______

E-mail: ______

Phone: ______

College or Overall Unit: ______

______I enclosed is my check for $______[$25 minimum] made to UFCC

______Credit Card: Name on card: ______

Card type: (VISA/MC/AMEX)______

Card number: ______

Card Verification Number ______

My donation is to be given the following charity when I reach my weight-loss goal: (See UFCC charities below)

My charity: ______

ACKLOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK, PARTICIPANT RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY: In consideration for my participation in the UF Campaign for Charities (UFCC) Weight-Loss Charity Challenge, I acknowledge and understand that participation in any weight –loss and/or exercise program may involve risks to my health, including but not limited to, serious illness, injury or disability, impairment or even death. I understand that weight-loss and exercise programs should be done under the supervision of a physician. I am aware that my weight-loss goal/percentage will be posted on the LivingWell challenge page. I further acknowledge that I am 18 years of age or older, in good physical condition, and I do not know of any medical or physical condition or other reason that I should not participate in the UFCC Weight-Loss Charity Challenge. I expressly recognize and assume all risks associated with my participation in the UFCC Weight-Loss Charity Challenge and voluntarily release, waive, discharge, covenant not to sue, and hold harmless the University of Florida, The University of Florida Board of Trustees, the United Way (fiscal agent), UFCC, any and all agencies affiliated with the United Way or UFCC, and any and all employees, volunteers, representatives, or agents affiliated with any of the above, from any and all liability for any injury, illness or death that may occur in connection with my participation in the UFCC Weight-Loss Charity Challenge.

______

SIGNATURE & DATE

UFCC 2012 Campaign for Charities Agencies

1.  ACORN Clinic

2.  Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc.

3.  Alachua County Humane Society, Inc.

4.  Alachua County Library District Foundation

5.  Alachua Habitat for Humanity

6.  ALS Association Florida Chapter, The

7.  Alzheimer's Association

8.  American Association of Kidney Patients

9.  American Cancer Society, Florida Division, Inc.

10.  American Diabetes Association

11.  American Heart Association, Greater SE

12.  American Kidney Fund

13.  American Lung Association in Florida

14.  American Red Cross, North Central FL Chapter

15.  Arbor House, Inc.

16.  Arc of Alachua County, Inc., The

17.  Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter

18.  Big Brothers Big Sisters Mid- FL

19.  Black on Black Crime Task Force

20.  Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council

21.  Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County, Inc.

22.  Brain Injury Association of Florida

23.  Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, Inc.

24.  Camp Boggy Creek

25.  Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc.

26.  CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc.

27.  Center for Independent Living of N. Central Florida

28.  Child Advocacy Center

29.  Children's Home Society of Florida

30.  Community Health Charities of Florida

31.  Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

32.  Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

33.  Dance Alive! National Ballet

34.  Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, Inc.

35.  EarthShare

36.  Easter Seals Florida, Inc.

37.  Education Foundation

38.  ElderCare of Alachua County

39.  Epilepsy Foundation of Florida

40.  Florida 4-H Club Foundation, Inc.

41.  Florida Camp for Children & Youth with Diabetes

42.  Florida Defenders of the Environment

43.  Florida SIDS Alliance

44.  Florida Wildlife Care, Inc.

45.  Foundation for AIDS Research (amfar)

46.  Friends of the Crisis Center

47.  Friends of the Micanopy Library, Inc.

48.  Gainesville Community Ministries, Inc.

49.  Gainesville Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

50.  Gainesville Harvest, Inc.

51.  Gainesville Pet Rescue

52.  Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation

53.  Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

54.  Girls Place, Inc.

55.  Haile's Angels Pet Rescue, Inc

56.  Haven Hospice

57.  Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida

58.  Hippodrome Theater

59.  Junior Achievement of Alachua County

60.  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

61.  Kids Count in Alachua County, Inc.

62.  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The

63.  March of Dimes Foundation, N. Central Division

64.  Meridian Behavioral Health

65.  Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc.

66.  National Kidney Foundation of Florida

67.  National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Florida

68.  National Parkinson Foundation, Inc.

69.  Neighborhood Housing and Development Corp.

70.  No More Homeless Pets, Inc.--Operation Petsnip

71.  Operation Catnip of Gainesville, Inc.

72.  PACE Center for Girls of Alachua

73.  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc.

74.  Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network, Inc.

75.  Planned Parenthood of North Florida, Inc.

76.  Puppy Hill Farm Animal Rescue

77.  Radiant Hands, Inc.

78.  Rebuilding Together North Central Florida

79.  Ronald McDonald House Charities of NCF

80.  Second Chance Farms, Inc.

81.  Special Olympics Florida, Inc.

82.  St. Francis House Pet Care Clinic

83.  St. Francis House, Inc.

84.  Stop! Children's Cancer, Inc.

85.  Three Rivers Legal Services

86.  Tyler's Hope for a Dystonia Cure, Inc.

87.  United Way of North Central Florida

88.  VETSPACE, Inc.

89.  YMCA, North Central Florida