Jun 2, 2023
Gift For Life/NY NOW team raises $44K during AIDS Walk NY 2023

The 19 members of Team Gift for Life/NY NOW raised $44,124 for AIDS Walk New York, finishing fourth overall in fundraising for the 38th annual event.

Thousands of people convened in Central Park on Sunday, May 21, united by the common cause of sustaining GMHC’s vital programs to serve New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. More than 10,000 participants raised $2,102,534 benefiting GMHC and other tri-state area HIV and AIDS services organizations.

“We had a beautiful day for the walk in Central Park,” said co-chair Kelly Bristol. “Those of us in NYC enjoyed the cheers from GMHC’s volunteers along the way. Our team members in other cities did their own walks, and it was fun for us all to walk together in person and remotely for a great cause. Our team looks forward to supporting GMHC and AIDS Walk New York again in 2024.”

In addition to the four-mile walk, the event featured a four-mile run, Masala Bhangra dance warm-up, free HIV testing, free food, a vogue performance by the iconic House of Miyake Mugler and a Paradise Garage dance party at its conclusion.

Team GFL/NY NOW co-captain, Caroline (Keb) Kennedy, said, “We are extremely proud of the dedicated effort on the part of all our team members for their fundraising outreach. We are also truly grateful to NY NOW + Bulletin for its matching contribution of $8,000 that provided early momentum and enabled us to surpass our $40K goal for AIDS Walk New York.”

2023 marks the 11th consecutive year that Gift for Life has fielded an AIDS Walk NY team. The 19 participants this year included both in-person participants in New York City as well as remote participants across the U.S.

Matthew Katzenson, former Gift for Life board chair and president of Fine Lines, raised $10,000, placing him as the sixth-highest overall individual fundraiser.

Another seven team members — Kelly Bristol, Sally Fisher, Kristi Forbes, Su Hilty, Caroline Kennedy, Amy Loewenberg and Ari Lowenstein — each raised more than $1,000 and achieved “Star Walker” status. Other team members were Sheila Charton, Sally Fisher, Emalee Hoffman, Zoe Maliszewski, Matthew Mathaisen, Julie McCallum. Bill McCue, Sarah Mount, Karalynn Sprouse, Carl Walsh and Lenise Willis.

“I am so very proud of our 2023 team efforts,” enthused Ari Lowenstein, chair of Gift for Life. “We are currently at just over $44,000 raised and in fourth place for overall fundraising. This truly is a testament to what teamwork can do.”

The last day of fundraising for AIDS Walk NY is June 16, 2023. Donations can be made here.

The 2023 event included a special fundraising connection to Su Hilty, team captain emeritus, who is battling PSP-Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy, a degenerative disease. In recognition of her 10-plus years of support for AIDS Walk — both as a participant and team co-captain — Hilty was presented Gift for Life’s “Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award” in February.

As a special tribute, industry friends and supporters can submit AIDS Walk NY donations in Hilty’s honor here.




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