LOCAL NEWS - N Touch Magazine

Doing good was never this much fun!
The 25th Anniversary of the Reno Gannon
Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza
By Luis Garcia
TUCSON - On May 12 a group of individuals
will lace up their boots and pull on their singlet
(or put on their tights) to become champions of
charity. The 25th Anniversary of the Reno Gannon
Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza and
Benefit Auction is one of Southern Arizona AIDS
Foundation (SAAF) signature fundraising events.
It started 25 years ago by the late Reno Gannon,
who was a bartender at the former Rumor
Has It bar. The Jell-O was green, and was made by
a 70-year-old woman on a single hot plate. It took
her a week to make the gelatin. Less then a dozen
good-natured individuals wrestled that first year,
raising a couple hundred dollars.
These days, teams of wrestlers raise funds, often
with extraordinary costumes and out of this world
characters. This year’s program will also include a
pre-event party with activities, food, music, and silent
auction. Last year’s event raised over $50,000.
In cooperation with Firstgiving.com, wrestlers
can set up their own Jell-O Wrestling fundraising
web page to get sponsors. Your sponsors can donate
securely online (firstgiving.com/SAAF), so there’s
less money for you to collect.
According to Ethan Smith Cox, Development
Director of SAAF, this year’s event promises to be
bigger and better than ever.
“With this being the 25th year, we wanted to
truly celebrate how far we have come since those
early days when there were little to no services for
those infected/affected with HIV/AIDS. But also
as a community, it is amazing to see that one man’s
idea can be embraced and built upon year after year.
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that one person can’t
make a difference, Reno truly did!”
Although wrestling is a huge part of the event,
it’s not all about Jell-O. Between wrestling matches
the event hostesses run a live auction with a variety
of unique items selected to please the crowd. This
year’s hostesses include Tempest DuJour, Jasmine
White, Diva, Janee Starr, and Lucinda Holliday.
There is also a silent auction open during the
course of the event. The live and silent auctions feature
more than 60 one-of-a-kind works of art, gift
certificates, gift baskets, and much more.
Don’t miss your chance to win big in this year’s
Jell-O Wrestling Raffle! This year’s prize is two
tickets to the Madonna concert in Phoenix on
October 16, at US Airways Center. Tickets are in
section #110, Row #15, Seats # 9 & 10. The prize
also incudes a two-night hotel stay (October 15 &
16) at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and
a $100 Visa gift card. Tickets are $1 each and can
be purchased online, by calling 520-628-SAAF
(7223) or at one of the following locations SAAF,
375 S Euclid Ave or Speedway Veterinary Hospital,
3736 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson. Winner will
be announced at this year’s event. You do not need
to be present to win.
All proceeds go to benefit the programs and services
of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.
Each year SAAF provides services to nearly
1,200 people and delivers targeted prevention
outreach and education programs to over 20,000
people who are at risk for infection. This number
includes men, women and children of all ethnic and
social backgrounds.
For more information about the programs and
services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation
or to schedule a tour of SAAF, please visit saaf.
org or call 520- 628-7223.
The Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling
Extravaganza and Benefit Auction will take place
at Kennedy Fiesta Park, located at 3700 South La
Cholla in Tucson, AZ. Doors for the event open at
3 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
To purchase tickets, sign up as a wrestler or for
more information, call 520-628-7223 or visit jello-
wrestling.org.