March 4, 2016—For the fifth consecutive year, Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ sole national charitable organization, has partnered with the National Stationery Show (NSS) to participate in AIDS Walk New York, a charity fundraiser in New York City on Sunday, May 15 – the opening day of the Show. The Gift For Life/National Stationery Show team will recruit walkers to raise funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS by participating in both the actual 10K course that starts and ends at Central Park as well as in a “virtual walk” through the aisles of the Show, which runs May 15-18, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Over the last four years of collaboration, the Gift for Life/NSS team has raised more than $80,000 for Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the beneficiary of AIDS Walk New York. In the last two years alone, the team has been recognized with “GOLD Team” status, which is bestowed upon teams raising more than $25,000. Their total donations included a generous $5,000 matching grant from Gift For Life’s charity partner, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. With DIFFA on board again with another $5,000 matching grant, the team has set a fundraising goal of $30,000 for 2016.
“We’re delighted to bring the walk into the National Stationery Show and to involve exhibitor and attendees directly in our fundraising efforts again this year,” said Patti Stracher, Vice President, GLM, and NSS Director. “I am personally looking forward to supporting the Gift For Life/National Stationery Show team by wearing a pedometer during the Show!”
Industry members and friends are invited to join the Gift For Life/National Stationery team as both walkers and/or as donors. The 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) AIDS Walk New York begins on Sunday, May 15, at 10am in Central Park, or at 9am at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center when the National Stationery Show opens its doors.
For four years we have consistently – and in fact exponentially – increased the amount of money we have raised for this worthy cause,” said Su Hilty, Gift for Life/NSS team co-captain and honorary GFL Board member. “With the help of my co-captain, Caroline Kennedy, the stationery industry’s support, and a matching grant from DIFFA, we hope to not only meet our 2016 fundraising goal, but also to beat the record funds raised in 2015!”
Now in its 31st year, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising more than $144 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline sustaining the prevention, care, and advocacy programs GMHC provides for the thousands of men, women, and families affected by the disease in the tri-state area. The proceeds also benefit dozens of other HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program (CPP). For more information, visit www.aidswalk.net/newyork.
To join the Gift for Life/NSS team or to donate, visit https://ny.aidswalk.net/GFLNSS2016, or contact team co-captains, Su Hilty, at HiltyBrady@aol.com, or Caroline Kennedy at kebbiekcaroline@gmail.com.
ABOUT NATIONAL STATIONERY SHOW
The National Stationery Show is North America’s most comprehensive source for greeting cards, social stationery, complementary lifestyle products and resources for creative pursuits, taking place annually at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Show, celebrating 70 years in the industry, features nearly 800 exhibiting companies. It attracts some 10,000+ buyers and industry professionals worldwide from stationery, card and gift shops; bookstores; bridal shops; party stores; department, chain and specialty stores; large chains and “big box” mass retailers; online retailers and mail order catalogs; as well as special event planners, corporate marketers, importers and distributors. The Show also presents high-caliber educational content, industry events, and networking opportunities throughout the market week, and is co-located with SURTEX, the premier event for sourcing original art and design, and ICFF®. For additional information and registration, visit http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com. Join the conversation at #NSS2016.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE and DIFFA
Gift for Life unites the gift and home industries against AIDS with more than $5 million raised since its inception in 1992. In 2008, Gift for Life selected DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., as its sole charity partner. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $41 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org and at www.diffa.org.
ABOUT GMHC
GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported, and community-based organization which provides prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City. GMHC advocates for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide. For information, visit gmhc.org.
