Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot organizers are watching air quality

Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino has had high hopes for the 14th annual Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. But with the Thanksgiving morning race just days away, his thoughts have naturally turned toward the tragic losses suffered by people affected by the wildfires in Butte County and elsewhere — and the blanket of particulate-filled air that has been choking the Bay Area. But for now, Guardino said Thursday’s race will go on as planned — with up to 25,000 participants on the streets of downtown San Jose. “While we are all devastated by the fires that are plaguing our state, and concerned about the current air quality from those fires, we continue to be told by air quality officials that the air quality should once again be at healthy levels on Thanksgiving morning,” Guardino said. Potential rain midway in the week could help clear skies in time for the race. If anything changes, race organizers will work to quickly get the word out through their website, social media and email. This was gearing up to be a big year for the Turkey Trot, as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation had embarked on “Mission $1 Million,” with a stretch goal of distributing that amount to its five nonprofit beneficiaries: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, the Santa Cruz County Food Bank, Healthier Kids Foundation, the Health Trust and Housing Trust Silicon Valley. In the race’s first 13 years, it has donated $7.8 million and has come close to the $1 million mark the past three years.

posted Saturday November 17th