May 28, 2019 — Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced today that the Gift For Life/DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) team raised more than $30,000 for men, women, and families who are living with HIV/AIDS, including a generous $5,000 grant from DIFFA).
This year marked the first time that Gift for Life teamed-up with DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) to rally the design community’s support for the 2019 AIDS Walk New York. The Gift for Life/DIFFA team stepped out on Sunday, May 19, against the backdrop of NYCxDESIGN, the 13-day, city-wide celebration of design.
As of May 24, the team was ranked 8th overall in team fundraising, with a grand total of $30,158. Donations to the team included a generous $5,000 matching grant from DIFFA. Overall, the 2019 AIDS Walk NY – which was the 34rd annual event – has raised a collective $4,001,100+ for GMHC. Additional donations will be accepted through June 7 at ny.aidswalk.net/GFLDIFFA2019.
”It was a really fabulous day to walk the 10k in Central Park. Nine of us walked and five of our team were the first group to cross the finish line. WE DID IT!” enthused Su Hilty, team co-leader. “Caroline Kennedy, my team co-leader, and I are thrilled to continue being affiliated with such an energetic and enthusiastic team, and proud to represent the industry. We ask the industry to continue with post-event donations. We met our goal and now we can go above and beyond.”
More than $21,000 of the team’s total was raised by the team’s six “Star Walkers,” who each raised $1,000 or more. 2019 Star Walkers are Gift for Life board vice chair Matt Katzenson of Fine Lines; team co-leaders, Caroline Kennedy of PRESENT Magazine and Su Hilty, gift & home industry ambassador; John Stuttard, Senior Vice President/Group Show Director at Emerald Expositions; Christina Stuttard, owner of CHRISTINASTUTTARDFITNESS; and Russ Jones of Ivystone.
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Photo Caption: Gift For Life/National Stationery Show 2018 AIDS Walk NY team (L-R): Su Hilty, Team Co-Leader and gift and home industry ambassador; Kristi Forbes, SVP/Director Forty One Madison; Russ Jones, team leader for IvystoneLuxe; Caroline “Keb” Kennedy, Team Co-Leader and Co-Founder of PRESENT Magazine; Kat Krassner, Co-Founder of PRESENT Magazine; Paulette Schneider, CUMC; Christina Stuttard, owner CHRISTINASTUTTARDFITNESS; Sally Fisher of Vanderbilt Home Collection; and John Stuttard, SVP/Group Show Director at Emerald Expositions. In the spirit of team togetherness, team T-shirts were sponsored by Gifts & Decorative Accessories.
Photo available via Dropbox at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vflukv5saw4gw5t/2018%20AIDS%20Walk%20team%20photo.jpg?dl=0.
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 $40 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. In 2017, with Gift for Life’s help, DIFFA granted $331.500 to 31 organizations nationwide. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org and at www.diffa.org.
ABOUT NYCxDESIGN
NYCxDESIGN is New York City’s annual celebration of design. The event, running May 10-22, 2019, celebrates a world of design and showcases over a dozen design disciplines through events taking place across the city’s five boroughs. Among the shows and festivals under the NYCxDESIGN umbrella are Brooklyn Designs, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), Design Pavilion and WantedDesign. For additional information, visit www.nycxdesign.com
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.
