Aids Walk New York

Sunday May 15th 2011

LocalBozo.com always welcomes the opportunity to highlight socially responsible events in our fair city. This past Sunday our team, along with a large contingency of major businesses, schools, and health organizations took part in the 26th annual Aids Walk New York. The weather may have been not so friendly, but that didn’t stop the masses from coming out in unison, igniting a burning flame inside them to raise money for this very worthy cause.

Since 1986, AIDS Walk New York has raised more than $116 million for HIV programs and services in the tri-state area, and has grown into the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world. In 2010 alone, 45,000 participants, many of whom were members of 3,100 corporate and community teams, raised a record sum of over $5.6 million for GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) and 39 other local AIDS service organizations.

Sunday’s  26th annual AIDS Walk New York drew a massive crowd of over 45,000 participants to Central Park. The event began with a star-studded opening ceremony, which was followed by a 10-kilometer walk. And what a walk it was.  All of the teams snaked through Central Park, and much of the Upper West Side as one, cheering and dancing the whole time.  Music was pumped out to the crowd throughout the route, by such radio stations as Manhattan’s own HOT 97 and WCBS, keeping the crowd motivated.

“This year, New Yorkers once again united to rally and raise funds to support GMHC’s lifesaving work,” said Craig R. Miller, founder and producer of the event.  As of Sunday, the impressive total raised was $6,214,768. This number will continue to rise as more contributions filter in. Monies raised will go to GMHC (a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported, and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS) and 41 other vital AIDS service organizations in the tri-state area.

Some notable celebrities also made a strong showing at this year’s event as AIDS Walk supporters included Matt Bomer (“White Collar”); Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”); Wilson Cruz (“My So-Called Life”); Conchata Ferrell (“Two and a Half Men”); Mondo Guerra and Jack Mackenroth (“Project Runway”); Laura Innes (“The Event”); Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee”); Nyambi Nyambi (“Mike and Molly”); Lee Pace Page 2 of 3(“The Normal Heart”); Mike Ruiz (“The A-List”); and CBS 2 news anchors Mary Calvi, Don Dahler, Maurice DuBois, Rob Morrison, Dana Tyler, and weathercaster Elise Finch.

We urge all of you to take part in this highly rewarding and vital event next year. AIDS is not over. In fact, awareness is down as new infections are up — including among women, people of color and homosexual males. Collectively, we need to stay informed, practice safe sex, and support these types of events so we may one day be free of this epidermic.

-Alan Smithee