ANAHEIM, CA - (May 17, 2011) - Lace up your walking shoes and join Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait as he leads the Anaheim Cares team at WALK UNITED 2011, and take steps to overcome poverty.  WALK UNITED 2011, hosted by the Orange County United Way and Angels Baseball Foundation, is a 5K family fun event which will take place on Saturday, June 25 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. 

The goal for WALK UNITED 2011 is to raise funds to support essential services provided by non-profit groups in Orange County, including Anaheim-based Anaheim Community Foundation, Community SeniorServe, Inc., Grandma's House of Hope, Orange County ARC, and the YMCA of Anaheim.  WALK UNITED's mission is to give hope, help and access to a better tomorrow to thousands of Orange County residents living below the poverty line. WALK UNITED 2011 will feature the 5K, live entertainment, a kids zone area, food, plus the opportunity to walk on the field at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

"I'm inviting all Anaheim residents to join me and make Anaheim Cares the most successful team at WALK UNITED 2011," said Mayor Tait.  "Whether you are a resident, a business owner or a visitor--we can all make a difference in our community.  Let's come together to help support a great cause and have some fun in the process." 

There are several ways to participate:

1.	WALK IN THE EVENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL:  Join Team Tait/Anaheim Cares, by clicking here
	-	Click Join Our Team
	-	Accept the WalkUnited waiver
	-	Complete the rest of the registration process
	-	You will then be a member of Team Tait under Anaheim Cares

2.	START A TEAM at your school, organization or company and support Anaheim Cares, by clicking here
	-	Accept the waiver
	-	Click Start Team
	-	Then, select the second button, "New Team Under Group"
	-	Choose Anaheim Cares from the drop down
	-	Enter your team name and fundraising goal, recruiting goal and click continue

3.	WALK IN THE EVENT AS A FAMILY and support Anaheim Cares
	-	Go to www.WalkUnited.com
	-	Click on Register and Agree to the waiver
	-	Click Register Family
	-	Join a Team
	-	From the drop down menu, select Anaheim Cares Group, hit SELECT button on right
	-	Scroll down, from Team Listing Box, Click Join Team (under "Action") on the right hand column of the team you want to join
	-	On family registration page, use site-generated username and password, which you may change later
	-	Complete information and hit SUBMIT button
	-	You may add additional family members at this time

4.	DONATE or support a walker or a team (As a corporation you may sponsor a team and we'll help to provide walkers)

5.	VOLUNTEER at the event

In February 2011, Mayor Tait announced his Make Kindness Contagious initiative to build a culture of freedom and kindness throughout Anaheim.  Make Kindness Contagious draws awareness to how an act of kindness can transform both the giver and the receiver.  To draw even greater attention to acts of selflessness, Mayor Tait and the Anaheim City Council proclaimed February 2011 as "Make Kindness Contagious Month." 

Anaheim Cares participants can register by visiting www.anaheim.net clicking on the "Anaheim Cares" banner on the homepage.  Registration is $25 per adult walker, $15 for seniors (60-and-over) and youth (ages 6-18).  Children five-and-under are free.   For additional information on WALK UNITED 2011, please visit www.WalkUnited.com

Don't delay, sign up today! To learn more about this exciting event, please visit www.WalkUnited.com.  For registration questions, please call (949) 263-6176.  For more information, contact Caroline Mayott with the Office of the Mayor at (714) 765-5138 or cmayott@anaheim.net.

Media Contact: Ruth Ruiz 714.765.5060more city news

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ABOUT ANAHEIM – The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is one of California's most populous cities. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 343,000 residents and more than 2,950 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.5 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, the 2012 Olympic Games Silver Medal winning U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, and the Professional Arena Soccer League Anaheim Bolts. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, LEED-certified and the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, City National Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In addition, Anaheim embraces its vibrant cultural arts community, including the world-renowned Anaheim Ballet. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.

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