June 3, 2015—Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced today that the Gift For Life/National Stationery Show team raised more than $27,700 for men, women, and families who are living with HIV/AIDS. With a generous $5,000 matching grant from DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS), the team is just shy of its new $30,000 target, and donations will be accepted through June 12 at ny.aidswalk.net/gflnss2015.
This year marked the 4th consecutive cooperation of Gift for Life and the National Stationery Show to participate in the AIDS Walk NY, which takes place in New York City on Opening Day of the National Stationery Show. One small, but mighty team, walked the 10K route through Central Park and the other conducted a “virtual walk” through the Javits Center aisles in support of Gay Mens’ Health Crisis (GMHC), beneficiary of AIDS Walk NY. Currently, the team is ranked 17th overall in team fundraising, and the 2015 AIDS Walk NY – which was the 30th annual event – has raised a collective $4,800,0000+ for the cause.
“It was another great AIDS Walk NY fundraising year for the GFL/NSS team, and I am proud to be affiliated with the team and the industry,” said Su Hilty, team leader. “We had four Star Walkers with the GFL/NSS team in Central Park this year, and we got the royal treatment every step of the way. Here’s to next year and another stellar performance!”
More than $12,000 of the team’s total was raised by Gift for Life board member, Matt Katzenson owner of Fine Lines and team co-leader; and the team boasted an additional four “Star Walkers” who each raised more than $1,000 for the event: Marci Bracken of GIFT SHOP Magazine; Su Hilty, team leader and gift and home industry ambassador; Michelle Aguda of VIIIR; and Stu Teller, Gift for Life Board member and principle of Right Angle Strategies.
Photos available via Dropbox at:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xx1bloebb579kmn/AAA4sUE2ie3RmKuj2sMc6Y9Ja?dl=0
Gift For Life/National Stationery Show AIDS Walk NY 2015 Central Park team (L-R): Matt Katzenson of Fine Lines and team co-leader; Jill Mara Fischer of Jill Mara Designs, Su Hilty, team leader and gift and home industry ambassador; Michelle Aguda of VIIIR, Francesca Banci of Ameriprise Financial Services, Marci Bracken of GIFT SHOP Magazine; and Caroline Kennedy, Emeritus editor of Gifts and Decorative Accessories.
Gift For Life/National Stationery Show AIDS Walk NY 2015 Javits Center team (L-R): Michele Langer of Emerald Expositions; Diane Falvey of Gifts and Decorative Accessories; Steven Williams of DIFFA; Kathy Krassner of Krassner Communications; Jill Campbell of Emerald Expositions; Matt McCallum of Great American Publishing; Trish Rivas of Emerald Expositions; Kelly Bristol of National Stationery Show; and Julie McCallum of Great American Publishing.
Four of the Gift For Life/National Stationery Show AIDS Walk NY 2015 Star Walkers (L-R): Su Hilty, team leader and gift and home industry ambassador; Matt Katzenson of Fine Lines and team co-leader; Marci Bracken of GIFT SHOP Magazine; and Michelle Aguda of VIIIR.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE
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 $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide.
