October 8, 2011
LifeWalk Likely to Beat Fundraising Record
Eric Miller READ TIME: 10 MIN.
While a final count of the amount of money raised won't be available for a few more weeks, initial reports indicate the 2011 AIDS Arms LifeWalk benefit for those living with HIV and AIDS on Sunday, Oct. 2, exceeded the amount raised in 2010. It's the largest HIV and AIDS benefit in North Texas and second in the state only to Houston's LifeWalk event.
This year's walk included some 1,200 registered walkers, those who joined without registering and around 150 dogs. Organizer Tori Hobbs said it felt like there were more people in Robert E. Lee Park to visit the 35 vendors set up there.
"There was great energy and more volunteers than ever," she said.
Jennifer Martin, event manager for the sponsoring organization, AIDS Arms Inc., said the event raised $403,000 last year. While it's likely the 2011 LifeWalk exceeded that, participants were given two weeks to turn in their donations. In addition, some corporate sponsorship money has yet to be received.
The money provides a large portion of the operating expenses for AIDS Arms and its partner organizations; which also include AIDS Services of Dallas, Resource Center Dallas, Bryan's House, Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund, Legal Hospice of Texas, Turtle Creek Chorale and the Women's Chorus of Dallas.
"LifeWalk is a large part of our funding and has been for several years," said Martin.
Many corporations were represented and walked as groups wearing shirts with corporate logos. Those include J.C. Penney and Chase. J.C. Penney employees raised $41,000 in 2010, and they hoped to top that figure this year. Team Captain David Hearn said the final numbers are not in, but a minimum of $30,000 was raised.
The benefit organizations do not serve the LGBT community exclusively, rather anyone affected by HIV/AIDS.
"The LGBT Community is a huge part of our organization, but we want to help everyone affected by HIV and AIDS," said Martin. "We are grateful for the support from the LGBT community, they have made AIDS Arms and LifeWalk what it is today."
Funding from previous events helped the organization open a second outpatient medical clinic. The Trinity Health Center along with the Peabody Health Center provide much needed services to city residents living with HIV/AIDS. These include testing and prevention, long-term risk reduction, community outreach and education, case management, case resource management, outpatient medical care, substance abuse treatment and support and prison outreach.
The 2012 LifeWalk will be held on Oct. 7.
In Robert E. Lee Park.
In Robert E. Lee Park.
Some colorful walk participants don wedding veils.
It was a ball of fun at LifeWalk 2011 in Dallas.
At Robert E. Lee Park.
At Robert E. Lee Park.
At Robert E. Lee Park.
Guys and Dolls were among the teams who turned out to Robert E. Lee Park.
Eric Miller is a freelance writer and public relations professional based in Dallas. Eric is also publisher of www.newcolonist.com and co-creator of www.calendarofantiques.com. Eric has a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from NYU, a Masters in Urban Studies from the University of Akron and is author of a chapter on Ayn Rand's life in New York in the book Literary Trips: Following in the Footsteps of Fame. He lives with his partner and four cats. Follow Eric on twitter @ericwmiller.
