Skivvy Fun Runs: Stripping Down and Stepping Up for Good Causes

In San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Tampa and other cities across North America, the month of December has been heating up with a growing series of short, sexy fundraising runs featuring men in Speedos, women in red and green underwear and other runners in creative holiday costumes.

From Canada to South Florida, these events - usually called Holiday "Speedo" or "Skivvies" runs - seem to be even more popular in colder climates. They originated in Boston. Go figure.

The runs all seem to share certain attributes. They are short, usually around a mile, with fans and volunteers outnumbering active participants. Each features a very popular after-party, and all of these events have turned into popular fundraising events in their communities. Though some are predominantly LGBTQ-oriented, that's not always the case.

Boston - Where It Began With a Bar Bet

Straight and LGBT play together at the Father Christmas of all skivvy/Speedo runs, which started as a bar bet in Boston in 2000. This year's 16th annual event was on Saturday, December 12. The one-mile run began at 1 p.m., starting - and ending - at Lir, 903 Boylston Street.

"We've done nothing scientific to evaluate this, but we believe this is the first event of its kind," says Jennifer Harney Manickam, chief operating officer of the Play Ball Foundation, which organizes and benefits from Boston's event. "This was the age-old story of a bunch of guys in a bar."

"There were probably 20 of them who agreed to do it and five who actually showed up," she says. After they got this great response from people who came outside to cheer and clap, the original group decided they should do it the next year as a fundraiser.

Eventually it outgrew the original organizers - all of whom had families and day jobs - and the organizers turned their event over to the Play Ball Foundation, a fundraising beneficiary for several years and primary funder of sports programs in Boston's middle schools.

"At this point, we pay for more of these [athletic] programs than the city does," says Manickam, who adds that Play Ball funds 10 sports leagues - from Little League baseball and football to double dutch.

"It's a very Boston thing. We've had weddings result from people who met on the run and an engagement proposal made during the run," Manickam says. The event's biggest fundraising year was 2012, thanks in part to a tie-in with the Mark Wahlberg-Seth MacFarland movie "Ted." "We raised over $200,000 that year."

Runners are required to raise or donate a minimum of $400 to participate. Though it's demographically diverse, Manickham gives a shoutout to the LBGTQ runners. "The community has been an enormous fundraiser for this event. More than any other demographic, they do far more than just meet the $400 minimum," she says.

For more information, visit ssrunners.org

Boystown's Jingling Balls

Husbands Karl Sponholtz and Jeff Colgan founded Chicago's event five years ago. "We were supposed to go to Atlanta for the Speedo run, but it turned out we couldn't go for work reasons. So we decided to start our own run anyway," says Sponholtz. "I'm an architect, and my husband is a consultant. We are lighthearted, fun people. We thought it would be a fun thing to start in Chicago."

Initially he rounded up volunteers from his volleyball team, assuming they would raise about $500. Instead, about 150 people showed up for the event, 50 ran and the event raised around $3,000.

Since them, the event has grown dramatically, always raising money for LGBTQ causes. For the past three years, it's raised money for the Center on Halsted, including funding directed toward its new senior center - $21,000 in 2013 and $35,000 in 2014.

Boystown's enormous Sidetrack bar hosts the event, which usually features about 600 partiers. Corporate sponsorships, raffle ticket sales and a small number of ambitious fundraisers account for most of the total. About 20 guys raise more than $10,000. "Our goal is to get the $25 people to increase their fundraising to the $100 level," Sponholtz says.

This year's event took place on Saturday, December 5, at Sidetrack at 3349 North Halsted Street, from noon until 5 p.m., with the actual one-mile run through Boystown beginning at 2 p.m. "The run begins and ends at Sidetrack, with half of the running clockwise and the others counterclockwise, meeting in the middle and high-fiving," Sponholtz says.
He adds that each year they develop new fundraising incentives. For 2015, runners who raise $25 or more were set to receive a "Santa sack," with about $100 in prizes and coupons. Fundraisers who brought in $250 or more got custom-designed Speedos: "Last year it was Rudolph; this year it's a Nutcracker."

Among the standout costumes from 2014 were guys dressed as polar bears, a sexy Santa, a Rudolph, men in harnesses, and one dressed as a Christmas tree, with his shoes wrapped as presents, he says.

"We have a Sexy Santa who sits in a chair on the bar," he says. "The first year, we couldn't get a drag queen to perform. Now they're knocking each other down to participate."

For more information, visit mostfabuloussantaspeedorun.com

San Francisco's Spin on a Sexy Santa Run

While a near-naked run through the Castro sounds like a natural, San Francisco didn't launch its event until 2009, though it soon became a major fundraiser for one of the city's leading nonprofits.

"Chris Hastings, the owner of the Lookout, started Santa Skivvies Run in 2009. San Francisco AIDS Foundation has been involved since 2010, and Chris and the Lookout continue to be major partners of the event," says Sarah Cohan, director of events at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Set for December 13, this year's run began at 10:30 a.m., starting and finishing outside the Lookout at 3600 16th Street, where Noe Street meets Market Street. It's a short run of about 1.5 miles on sidewalks throughout the Castro.

"Santa Skivvies Run usually draws several hundred people who come out in groups or on their own, and we're anticipating more than 300 people this year," says Conlon. "Many people who don't want to run sign up as volunteers."

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

"Santa Skivvies Run relies on a peer-to-peer fundraising model, where participants ask friends and family to support the cause on behalf of the foundation. Many join the event as a team, and we've had corporate teams from San Francisco-based companies in the past," Conlon says.

"Fundraising has already started - our superstar fundraisers started raising money back in September!"

Conlon emphasizes that her organization offers comprehensive support for novice runners. "We know fundraising for charity can seem daunting to newcomers, and our staff is available to coach participants and provide all the online tools they need."

The money raised through registration for the event and donations solicited by participants will enable San Francisco AIDS Foundation to continue to provide its free HIV testing, prevention and support services throughout the community.

Conlon adds that there's more for runners after the race.

"Participants can stick around after the race for a Santa Skivvies Block Party. There are awards, performances, and contests - including the beloved Santa Walk-Off - and an after-party with the main sponsor, the Lookout. This year, we'll also have a hot chocolate bar to warm the cockles."

Skimpy - But Very Popular - Incentives

As incentives for participants who reach certain fundraising levels, the event is offering official Santa Skivvies Run-branded apparel: A tank top, a pair of briefs and a union suit.

"You'll be able to spot the tank top around town after the event, for sure. It's pretty darn cute, and people have already been asking how they can get one. [The answer is: fundraise or register at the tank top level.] You'll definitely see the union suit and briefs at the event, but unless you get personal with an event participant, you probably won't be able to spot them after the event, as they're a little more private, if you know what I mean."

The organization emphasizes fun and fundraising over athletic performance. "Santa Skivvies Run isn't timed, but we award prizes to our top fundraiser and top fundraising team, and to the individual and the team who recruits the most people.

We also have a fun event during the Santa Skivvies Block Party that debuted last year called 'Santa Walk-Off,' where participants strut their stuff on the red carpet," Conlon says.

"Competition is fierce in all categories."

For more information, visit santaskivviesrun.org