07.20.08 - AIDS Walk San Francisco Raises $4.5 Million
NORTHERN CAIFORNIA'S LARGEST AIDS FUNDRAISING EVENT ATTRACTS 25,000 PARTICIPANTS AND RAISES NEAR-RECORD SUM. RESULTS DEFY TROUBLED ECONOMY AND REMIND POLICY MAKERS THAT AIDS IN THE UNITED STATES REMAINS AN URGENT MATTER TO THE PUBLIC.
San Francisco, July 20, 2008 – The 22nd annual AIDS Walk San Francisco, on Sunday, July 20, was the second-largest and most successful ever. "Twenty-five thousand walkers, coupled with support from many leading Bay Area corporations, raised a near-record total of $4,512,934," announced Craig R. Miller, founder and producer of AIDS Walk San Francisco. Since its inception in 1987, the event has raised more than $70 million for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and over 60 other Bay Area AIDS organizations.
"Today's AIDS Walk is a great example of our community's relentless compassion and commitment to end AIDS," said Mark Cloutier, Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "Each year, the AIDS Walk brings together the best out of our diverse communities and shows the world that the Bay Area remains at the forefront in combating this disease. As government funding becomes scarce, the success of AIDS Walk is critical to supporting our life-sustaining programs in prevention, care and advocacy locally, nationally and internationally," Cloutier added.
"This strong result in the face of a steep economic downturn demonstrates that the fight against HIV/AIDS remains very much in the hearts and minds of Bay Area residents," said Miller. "The outpouring of contributions from nearly a quarter of a million donors from throughout California and beyond is a loud and clear statement of the public's support for the vital work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation."
The AIDS Walk Opening Ceremony featured Tony ® Winner Loretta Devine (Grey's Anatomy, Eli Stone), who sang "You'll Never Walk Alone," which has become an AIDS Walk anthem. Also appearing were ABC-7's Dan Ashley, Tony ® Winner Roger Rees (Cheers,Grey's Anatomy), the Cast of A Chorus Line, and American Idol on Tour's Gina Glocksen, Mikalah Gordon and Rickey Smith.
AIDS Walk San Francisco receives significant support from the corporate community in the form of team fundraising and sponsorships. This year's top sponsors include: ABC-7/KGO-TV/DT, Gap Inc., Nordstrom, Wachovia, Williams-Sonoma, bebe, Chevron, Energy 92.7, The Examiner, Gilead Sciences, San Francisco Marriot, SF Weekly and Wells Fargo.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation provides leadership to prevent new HIV infections. Linking community experience with science, the Foundation develops ground-breaking prevention programs and bold policy initiatives to promote health and create sustainable progress against HIV. Established in 1982, the Foundation refuses to accept that HIV transmission is inevitable.
Page last updated: 7/24/2008