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Pacificans don masks to help United Way’s public service effort

Janet Lucas

Athletic Director Janet Lucas.

President Christopher Callahan masks on for “Our University.”

Men’s basketball Coach Damon Stoudamire masks on for “Community.”

Regent Corwin Harper masks on for “Humanity.”

"When it comes to our total individual health and total community health, we all must think about humanity first and how we impact others,” said Harper, Kaiser Permanente senior vice president and area manager for the Central Valley.The “Mask On” project can be found on the local United Way’s Facebook page.They are three of the Pacificans who have taken part in a campaign by United Way of San Joaquin County to emphasize the importance of wearing a face covering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other members of the Pacific community who have posed for photos in the “Mask On” effort include women’s basketball Coach Bradley Davis (“Students”), Athletic Director Janet Lucas (“You”), Community Relations Director Mike Klocke (“My Family”), Director of University Events and Ceremonies Steve Whyte (“Everyone”) and Athletics Administrative Assistant Linda Vasquez (“Unity”).

"We all want our students from pre-K to university age to have a full educational experience. We also want that to be done with the health and safety of students, educators and all that they would come in contact with at the forefront of our minds,” Davis said. “I've been in education as a teacher and/or coach for about 25 years now, and I know the educational and social experiences they're missing. Mask up y'all."

United Way President and CEO Kristen Birtwhistle ’81, ’87 masks on for “Our Non-Profits.”

“The Mask On campaign was initiated as a way to widely promote, across our county the importance of wearing a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19,” she said. “The campaign was launched as a partnership between United Way of San Joaquin County, Dignity Health and the San Joaquin County Department of Public Health.”

What started as a public health message that featured a cross-section of diverse influencers and leaders from all cities in the county has also included the distribution of over 200,000 masks, hand sanitizers and literature on the critical need for social distancing, the use of masks or face coverings and hand washing. The goal is to change behavior among communities or hot spots where the risk is the greatest. The campaign will continue until we see a significant reduction in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in SJ County.