SF Pride’s Suzanne Ford is Honorary Starter for Zappos Bay to Breakers
Media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
SF Pride’s Suzanne Ford is Honorary Starter for Zappos Bay to Breakers
Transgender Leader “Proud to Run” for LGBTQ+ Community
112th Annual Event Takes Place Sunday, May 21, 2023
2 May 2023 — San Francisco, CA: For the first time in the storied history of San Francisco’s oldest and most iconic event, Zappos Bay to Breakers (www.baytobreakers.com), the honorary starter for the race on May 21 is a member of the Transgender Community, SF Pride (www.sfpride.org), Executive Director Suzanne Ford.
“I’m proud to run,” said Ford, herself an accomplished runner. “Bay to Breakers represents the celebration of diversity that makes San Francisco San Francisco. Here we don’t run away from our challenges, we rush forward to meet them head on.”
Ford, who assumed full time leadership of SF Pride last year, is the nonprofit organization’s first transgender head. This year’s Pride Celebration takes place June 24 and 25. Its theme is LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD.
“In one sense, Suzanne is just one of our several thousand runners, said Kyle Meyers, CEO of Silverback (www.gosilverback.com), producers for this year’s race along with Motiv Sports. “However, her participation is about much more than being a good sport. She represents everything that Bay to Breakers represents: a true reflection of the creativity, resilience and community that make San Francisco so special.”
Silverback is a San Francisco based production agency with expertise in large scale event production, permitting, logistics, course and venue management, touring productions, custom fabrication, brand activations and equipment rentals.
In October 2022, Motiv Sports acquired Bay to Breakers from Capstone Event Group and entered into a partnership with Silverback to grow and operate the San Francisco event. Bay to Breakers has been a staple in the City since 1912.
Zappos Bay to Breakers, like San Francisco, is open to everyone. Participants of all ages and abilities, and oftentimes in costume, line up on Howard Street a few blocks from The Embarcadero on the third Sunday in May (May 21, 2023). The course travels west through the City for 12 kilometers and finishes at the Great Highway, where the breakers crash into Ocean Beach. It truly is a time-honored tradition and the quintessential San Francisco experience.
Based in California, Motiv Sports produces iconic community events in destinations across the United States. Motiv Sports operates the Golden State Run Series, which features a total of eight distinctive running events in California including Bay to Breakers and the Golden Gate Half Marathon in San Francisco. For more information about the Golden State Run Series events, visit www.goldenstaterunseries.com
About Suzanne Ford:
Following a rewarding sales career in the private sector, Ford served as a board member for approximately five years, acting as treasurer for three of those years. She co-founded SF Pride’s Pro-Am Golf Tournament Fundraiser, the world’s first and currently only PGA-endorsed LGBTQ+ golf event, which has raised more than $200,000 over the past four years.
Ford was honored with the Legacy Award, Celebrating Trans Joy, TDOV (Trans Day of Visibility) in March of 2022. In addition to numerous accolades for raising awareness of the work that is needed to save and honor trans lives, she has also been recognized for her professional career — when she was profiled as one of the “Women Breaking The Mold” in the packaging industry by Plastic News.
Ford continues to build upon her professional and community sustaining success. Just a few short months after assuming the role of interim executive director in 2022, she was instrumental in coordinating the first in-person SF Pride Parade and Celebration since 2019.
About SF Pride:
The San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded to produce the SF Pride Celebration and Parade. The mission of the organization is to educate the world on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as commemorate the heritage, celebrate the culture and liberate the people of all LGBTQ+ communities. A world leader in the Pride movement, SF Pride is also a grant-giving organization through its Community Partners Program. Since 1997, SF Pride has granted over $3 million dollars in proceeds to local non-profit LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations working on issues related to HIV/AIDS, cancer, homelessness, housing rights and animal welfare.
To learn more about Bay to Breakers or sign up for the fun go www.baytobreakers.com