Illustration by ERICA PINTO/Daily Bruin
By Michael Rosen-Molina
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Although many people might think of arthritis as a minor ailment
suffered exclusively by the elderly, it affects a much more
significant part of the population. Forty-three million Americans
suffer from any of 120 forms of arthritis, including some 300,000
children under the age of 18. Although it is a problem that
afflicts millions, few people really know the true nature of the
ailment.
On Saturday, UCLA alumnus Josh Covitt is organizing a charity
benefit for arthritis awareness at the Theta Chi house at UCLA. All
proceeds will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation and to Joints
in Motion, a team of volunteers who plan to raise additional money
by running in this year’s Dublin Marathon in Ireland.
“Theta Chi was cool enough to host the benefit for
free,” Covitt said. “Everyone else wanted to charge
$500.” Although Theta Chi will host the evening, the event is
not a fraternity party. All proceeds go to the Arthritis
Foundation.
“Josh first approached me with this idea over the
summer,” said Theta Chi president Dana Jackson, a fifth-year
English student. “It sounded like a good idea, a great time
for a great cause.”
The alcohol-free event will feature a variety of free food as
well as live entertainment for a tax-deductible cover charge of
$10. All food and door prizes were donated by local merchants; with
no overhead, all proceeds from the night will go to the Arthritis
Foundation through the Joints in Motion Team.
“Local Westwood merchants have been really great,”
Covitt said. “A couple weeks ago things were pretty low. We
were all playing phone tag, but we finally got in touch and now
everything’s coming together. Papa John’s and Don
Antonios were kind enough to provide food. Trader Joe’s
donated insane amounts of water and chips. That was a relief; we
have lots of pizza, but what are people going to drink? It’s
going to be a real smorgasbord.”
Other local businesses, like Subway, BJ’s and Tower
Records, are also involved, donating gift certificates for the
raffle. Also involved are Pavilion’s, Westwood Brewing Co.,
Starbucks, Breadstiks, Baja Fresh, In-N-Out, Stan’s Donuts,
Nathan’s Bagels, Digital Playground and Native Foods, among
others.
Guests who pay $15 at the door receive both entry and a raffle
ticket ($20 value). The grand prize is a week-long vacation to Palm
Springs, Florida, although the winner may exchange the ticket for
an equivalent trip to Las Vegas, Arizona or the Bahamas.
“We want to get UCLA people involved,” said Covitt,
“We pushed the date back until after school started, so that
we could get more students to come. It’s early in the
quarter, there’s no football game, it’s the perfect
time. It’s a win-win situation.”
Besides an all-you-can-eat buffet, entertainment comes courtesy
of a full lineup of local bands. Rock band FL will perform, as will
Max the Cat, whose sound is a mix between Counting Crows, Live, and
the Dave Matthews Band. Local band Kara’s Flowers, frequent
players at the Westwood Brewing Co., appears, and comedy musicians
The Bicycling Mariachis, famous for their extravagant grand
finales, perform song and spoof.
Joints in Motion is a group of people who have dedicated
themselves to raising $4,200 each for the Arthritis Foundation and
running in the 2000 Dublin Marathon on Oct. 30 in Ireland.
“Josh has been just great,” said Director of
Campaign Development Krista Conti, “We suggest that people
interested in fund-raising just run letter-writing campaigns, but
Josh has done letter-writing, yard sales, and much more. His energy
is what we look for in this sort of program.”
The Arthritis Foundation is a nationwide organization, with
eight branch offices in California, dedicated to supporting
research and education on arthritis, and improving the quality of
life for arthritis sufferers. The foundation runs numerous other
programs, including Aqua, a water exercise series, and a Big Bear
camp retreat for children with arthritis.
Covitt was inspired to pursue arthritis fund-raising by his
mother, an arthritis sufferer, to whom Covitt dedicates all his
efforts.
Covitt has been tireless in organizing the benefit. Although
today is his 22nd birthday, he has been too busy with the event to
make any plans. “I’ll probably just skip it, and just
pretend that the Saturday festival is my party,” he
joked.
“You can’t get a better value,” said Covitt,
“We plan to give everyone their money’s
worth.”
The benefit takes place at UCLA Theta Chi house, 663 Gayley
Ave., on Oct. 7, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.